Brandwave

Plusnet vs Sky:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Sky had more branded searches than Plusnet among broadband providers in the United Kingdom. Sky had about 135,000 branded searches, while Plusnet had 110,000. Sky made up 5.5% of all broadband provider searches we track, and Plusnet accounted for 4.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about broadband providers, Plusnet appeared in four of the five answers and Sky in one. Plusnet was mentioned before Sky in every answer that named either.

Among broadband providers in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Sky, about 23% more searches than Plusnet

Sky 135K searchesPlusnet 110K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Plusnet, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Sky in 1

Plusnet in 4 of 5Sky in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Plusnet, named ahead of Sky in 4 of 4 answers

Plusnet first in 4Sky never first

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Top broadband providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Plusnet was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sky was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Plusnet was listed before Sky in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Zen1st
  2. EE2nd
  3. Vodafone3rd
  4. Plusnet4th
  5. Virgin Media5th
  6. Hyperoptic6th
  7. Community Fibre7th
  8. YouFibre8th
  9. BT9th
  10. +1 more
  11. Sky11th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • EE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Zen5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Plusnet4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vodafone4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Virgin Media3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hyperoptic3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • TalkTalk2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • BT2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Community Fibre2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sky1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about broadband providers

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.

Is Plusnet or Sky more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Plusnet and Sky by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 broadband providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

Plusnet and Sky among broadband providers in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for Sky, Plusnet. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthVirgin MediaTalkTalkEEHyperopticSkyBTPlusnetCommunity FibreVodafoneYouFibreZen
Oct 202550.2%12.3%5.5%3.7%5.5%4.5%4.5%3.7%6.7%2.5%0.91%
Nov 202547.9%14.4%5.3%3.6%6.5%5.3%5.3%3.6%3.6%3.6%1.1%
Dec 202554.6%13.5%4.9%3.3%4.9%4.1%4.9%3.3%2.7%2.7%0.99%
Jan 202648.6%14.7%5.4%4.4%5.4%4.4%6.6%3.6%2.9%2.9%1.1%
Feb 202651.3%12.7%5.7%3.8%5.7%4.6%5.7%3.8%3.1%2.5%1.1%
Mar 202653.5%13.1%4.8%3.9%4.8%3.9%4.8%3.2%3.2%3.2%1.4%
Apr 202650.5%12.5%5.6%3.7%5.6%4.6%5.6%3.7%3.1%3.7%1.4%
May 202652.3%10.6%5.8%4.7%4.7%4.7%5.8%3.9%3.2%3.2%1.2%
Jun 202651.5%10.4%7%4.6%4.6%4.6%5.7%3.8%3.1%3.1%1.4%
Jul 202652.2%10.5%5.8%4.7%4.7%4.7%5.8%3.9%3.2%3.2%1.4%
Aug 202651.8%10.4%5.7%4.7%5.7%4.7%4.7%3.8%3.8%3.1%1.4%
Sep 202650.1%12.4%5.5%5.5%5.5%4.5%4.5%3.7%3.7%3%1.4%

How has the Plusnet and Sky comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Plusnet took it in January 2026, Sky took it in August 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Plusnet’s share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom held steady at 4.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 110K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sky’s share of searches among broadband providers in the United Kingdom held steady at 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.

How did search popularity change for United Kingdom broadband providers in September 2026?

3 changes
  1. In September 2026, Hyperoptic overtook Sky and BT to rank 4th among broadband providers in the United Kingdom, with 5.5% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Plusnet in the United Kingdom fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 110K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sky in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Plusnet’s and Sky’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Plusnet

1 branded search term

  • plusnet

Sky

1 branded search term

  • sky broadband

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among broadband providers

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