River Island vs Shein:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Shein had more branded searches than River Island among online fashion retailers in the United Kingdom. Shein had about 2.7 million branded searches, while River Island had 1 million. Shein made up 19.4% of all online fashion retailer searches we track, and River Island accounted for 7.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about online fashion retailers, River Island appeared in two of the five answers and Shein in none.
Who do people search for more?
Shein, about 3 searches for every 1 for River Island
Who does AI mention more?
River Island, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Shein in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
River Island, the only one of the two named
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Top online fashion retailers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, River Island was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Shein did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
ASOS1st
H&M2nd
Next3rd
Zara4th
New Look5th
Uniqlo6th- River Island7th
Boohoo8th- Shein–
PrettyLittleThing–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Next4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- ASOS4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- H&M3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- New Look3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Uniqlo3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Zara2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- River Island2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Boohoo1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Shein0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- PrettyLittleThing0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about online fashion retailers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I shop for clothes online in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best online fashion stores in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best UK online store for affordable women's clothes?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“womens clothes”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online clothes shopping”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Is River Island or Shein more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for River Island and Shein by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten online fashion retailers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Shein, River Island. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Shein | Next | H&M | Zara | ASOS | New Look | River Island | Uniqlo | Boohoo | PrettyLittleThing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.7% | 9.8% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 5.1% | 0.25% |
| Nov 2025 | 15.4% | 10.9% | 12.6% | 15.4% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 0.23% |
| Dec 2025 | 13.6% | 11.8% | 11.1% | 16.6% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 0.25% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.3% | 11.8% | 11.1% | 13.5% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 5% | 0.24% |
| Feb 2026 | 23.4% | 11.1% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 7% | 5.7% | 0.28% |
| Mar 2026 | 20.1% | 11.8% | 11% | 13.5% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 7.4% | 4.9% | 0.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 23.6% | 11.2% | 10.6% | 12.9% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 8.6% | 7% | 4.7% | 0.23% |
| May 2026 | 21.3% | 10.1% | 11.6% | 14.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 0.26% |
| Jun 2026 | 21.9% | 12.6% | 12% | 14.7% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 8% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.8% | 13.1% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 8.3% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 0.23% |
| Aug 2026 | 19.2% | 13.5% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 7% | 4.7% | 0.23% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.4% | 16.5% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 10.6% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 0.23% |
How has the River Island and Shein comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Shein was ahead of River Island in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, River Island’s share of searches among online fashion retailers in the United Kingdom moved from 9.3% to 7.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shein’s share of searches among online fashion retailers in the United Kingdom moved from 20.7% to 19.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.4M to 2.7M.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom online fashion retailers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, River Island lost share of searches among online fashion retailers in the United Kingdom, from 8.6% to 7.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Shein in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 3.4M to 2.7M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using River Island’s and Shein’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.
River Island
1 branded search term
- river island
Shein
1 branded search term
- shein
Other head-to-heads among online fashion retailers
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