Brandwave

How popular isApplebee's?

In September 2026, people searched for Applebee's by name about 4.5 million times in the United States, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 11.8% of all United States casual dining chain searches, placing Applebee's fifth out of ten chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about casual dining chains, Applebee's did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Applebee's is the fifth most searched of 10 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.

  1. Texas RoadhouseShare of searches 19.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Chili'sShare of searches 17.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. Buffalo Wild WingsShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. Olive GardenShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. Applebee'sShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top casual dining chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Applebee's did not appear in any of the three answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. The Cheesecake Factory1st
  2. Texas Roadhouse2nd
  3. Olive Garden3rd
  4. Chili's4th
  5. LongHorn Steakhouse5th
  6. Cracker Barrel6th
  7. Buffalo Wild Wings–
  8. Applebee's–
  9. Red Lobster–
  10. TGI Fridays–

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about casual dining chains

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

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

Which casual dining chains compete with Applebee's?

Applebee's against casual dining chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Olive Garden, Applebee's, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTexas RoadhouseChili'sBuffalo Wild WingsOlive GardenApplebee'sLongHorn SteakhouseThe Cheesecake FactoryCracker BarrelRed LobsterTGI Fridays
Oct 202520.6%18.4%13.8%11.2%12.3%7.5%6.2%5%4.1%0.83%
Nov 202522.8%20.5%12.6%10.3%11.2%6.9%5.6%5.6%3.8%0.76%
Dec 202523.6%17.4%13%10.6%11.7%7.1%7.1%4.8%3.9%0.78%
Jan 202623.8%17.6%13.1%10.7%11.8%7.2%7.2%3.9%3.9%0.79%
Feb 202623.8%17.5%10.7%10.7%11.8%8.8%7.2%3.9%4.8%0.79%
Mar 202624.1%17.8%10.9%10.9%11.9%8.9%6%4%4.9%0.8%
Apr 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.6%8.3%5.5%4.5%5.5%0.75%
May 202623.7%17.5%10.7%8.7%14.3%8.7%5.8%3.9%5.8%0.79%
Jun 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.6%8.3%5.5%4.5%5.5%0.75%
Jul 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.5%8.3%6.8%4.5%4.5%0.74%
Aug 202622.6%16.6%12.4%10.1%13.5%8.3%6.8%4.5%4.5%0.74%
Sep 202619.6%17.6%13.1%13.1%11.8%7.2%7.2%4.8%4.8%0.79%

  1. 1.Texas Roadhouse

    19.6%

    Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -3 points.

  2. 2.Chili's

    17.6%

    Held 2nd. 6.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  3. 3.Buffalo Wild Wings

    13.1%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  4. 4.Olive Garden

    13.1%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3 points.

  5. 5.Applebee's

    11.8%

    Moved from 3rd to 5th. 4.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.

  6. 6.LongHorn Steakhouse

    7.2%

    Held 6th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  7. 7.The Cheesecake Factory

    7.2%

    Held 7th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  8. 8.Cracker Barrel

    4.8%

    Held 8th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  9. 9.Red Lobster

    4.8%

    Held 9th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  10. 10.TGI Fridays

    0.79%

    Held 10th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Applebee's and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Applebee's

9 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Applebee's changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Applebee's in the United States fell from 5.5M to 4.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Applebee's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States decreased from 12.3% to 11.8%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Applebee's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 14.3% in May 2026 and was lowest at 11.2% in November 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Applebee's fell from 4th to 5th among casual dining chains in the United States.

How did search popularity change for United States casual dining chains in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Buffalo Wild Wings overtook Applebee's to rank 3rd among casual dining chains in the United States, with 13.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Olive Garden overtook Applebee's to rank 4th among casual dining chains in the United States, with 13.1% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Chili's gained share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 16.6% to 17.6%.

  4. In September 2026, Texas Roadhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 22.6% to 19.6%.

  5. In September 2026, Applebee's lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 13.5% to 11.8%.

  6. In September 2026, LongHorn Steakhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 8.3% to 7.2%.

How are Applebee's’ branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

  • applebee's
  • applebees

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