--- title: "Costco: search popularity in the United States" description: "Costco is a membership warehouse club. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/brands/costco" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Costco: search popularity in the United States Costco is a membership warehouse club. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Brand**: Costco - **Market**: United States - **Measured month**: Sep 2026 - **Share of Search among pharmacies**: 1.6% ## Where the brand sits | Competitive set | Rank | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pharmacies | 4 | 1.6% | 823K | | Tire retailers | 3 | 8.9% | 569K | | Optical retail chains | 8 | 2.9% | 110K | | Contact lens retailers | 2 | 19.3% | 160K | | Hearing aid centers | 1 | 63% | 135K | - [Pharmacies in the US](/demand/us/categories/us-pharmacies) - [Tire retailers](/demand/us/categories/us-tire-retailers) - [Optical retail chains in the US](/demand/us/categories/us-optical-retail-chains) - [Contact lens retailers in the US](/demand/us/categories/us-contact-lens-retailers) - [Hearing aid centers in the US](/demand/us/categories/us-hearing-aid-centers) ## Top pharmacies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions, Costco appeared in all three answers. Costco is the most recommended of the five. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Costco | 1st | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | | CVS Pharmacy | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | | Walmart Pharmacy | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | | Walgreens | 4th | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | | Amazon Pharmacy | 5th | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | ## Every AI answer about pharmacies - Asked ChatGPT "Which pharmacy should I use for prescriptions in the US?": 1. CVS Pharmacy, 2. Walgreens, 3. Costco, 4. Amazon Pharmacy - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best pharmacy chains in the US?": 1. Costco, 2. Walmart Pharmacy, 3. CVS Pharmacy, 4. Walgreens, 5. Amazon Pharmacy - Asked ChatGPT "What's the cheapest pharmacy for prescriptions without insurance in the US?": 1. Costco, 2. Walmart Pharmacy, 3. CVS Pharmacy, 4. Walgreens Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in United States on October 22, 2026. ## How has branded search demand for Costco changed in the United States over the last 12 months? - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Costco in the United States fell from 1.8M to 1.7M. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among pharmacies in the United States held steady at 1.6%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among tire retailers in the United States decreased from 10.1% to 8.9%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among tire retailers in the United States peaked at 10.1% in October 2025 and was lowest at 7.2% in March 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States held steady, from 2.7% to 2.9%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States decreased from 20.5% to 19.3%. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States peaked at 20.7% in November 2025 and was lowest at 17.3% in June 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among hearing aid centers in the United States peaked at 65.6% in May 2026 and was lowest at 59.9% in February 2026. ## How did search popularity change for United States pharmacies in September 2026? - Estimated monthly branded searches for Amazon Pharmacy in the United States rose 21.8% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 201K in September 2026. ## How did search popularity change for United States tire retailers in September 2026? - Estimated monthly branded searches for Costco in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 696K to 569K in September 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Tire Rack in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 673K in September 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Belle Tire in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 301K in September 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Les Schwab in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 301K in September 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Big O Tires in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 550K to 450K in September 2026. ## How did search popularity change for United States optical retail chains in September 2026? - In September 2026, Eyemart Express overtook Pearle Vision to rank 5th among optical retail chains in the United States, with 6.6% of the searches. - In September 2026, LensCrafters gained share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 24.3% to 26.8%. - In September 2026, Warby Parker gained share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 16.4% to 18%. - In September 2026, America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses lost share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 23.3% to 21.6%. - In September 2026, Visionworks lost share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 13.4% to 12.1%. - In September 2026, Pearle Vision lost share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 7.3% to 6.6%. ## How did search popularity change for United States contact lens retailers in September 2026? - In September 2026, Costco gained share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 18.3% to 19.3%. - In September 2026, Contacts Direct gained share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 3.3% to 4%. - In September 2026, Hubble gained share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 3.3% to 4%. - In September 2026, 1-800 Contacts lost share of searches among contact lens retailers in the United States, from 70.8% to 67.8%. - In September 2026, LensDirect rose from 6th to 5th among contact lens retailers in the United States. - In September 2026, Contact Lens King fell from 5th to 6th among contact lens retailers in the United States. ## How did search popularity change for United States hearing aid centers in September 2026? - In September 2026, Costco gained share of searches among hearing aid centers in the United States, from 61% to 63%. - In September 2026, HearUSA gained share of searches among hearing aid centers in the United States, from 18.3% to 18.9%. - In September 2026, Miracle-Ear lost share of searches among hearing aid centers in the United States, from 15% to 12.6%. - In September 2026, Beltone lost share of searches among hearing aid centers in the United States, from 4.5% to 3.8%. - Estimated monthly branded searches for HearingLife in the United States rose 24.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 3.6K in September 2026. ## Historical estimated branded-search demand | Month | Competitive set | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.6% | 4 | | Nov 2025 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.8% | 4 | | Dec 2025 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.5% | 4 | | Jan 2026 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.8% | 4 | | Feb 2026 | Pharmacies | 673K | 1.6% | 4 | | Mar 2026 | Pharmacies | 673K | 1.3% | 4 | | Apr 2026 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.8% | 4 | | May 2026 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.6% | 4 | | Jun 2026 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.8% | 4 | | Jul 2026 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.8% | 4 | | Aug 2026 | Pharmacies | 1M | 2% | 4 | | Sep 2026 | Pharmacies | 823K | 1.6% | 4 | | Oct 2025 | Tire retailers | 696K | 10.1% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | Tire retailers | 696K | 8.8% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | Tire retailers | 569K | 8.7% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | Tire retailers | 533K | 8.4% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | Tire retailers | 436K | 8% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | Tire retailers | 466K | 7.2% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | Tire retailers | 466K | 8.4% | 3 | | May 2026 | Tire retailers | 466K | 7.4% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | Tire retailers | 466K | 7.6% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | Tire retailers | 466K | 7.6% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | Tire retailers | 569K | 8.9% | 3 | | Sep 2026 | Tire retailers | 569K | 8.9% | 3 | | Oct 2025 | Optical retail chains | 110K | 2.7% | 8 | | Nov 2025 | Optical retail chains | 110K | 2.6% | 8 | | Dec 2025 | Optical retail chains | 135K | 3.1% | 8 | | Jan 2026 | Optical retail chains | 135K | 2.8% | 8 | | Feb 2026 | Optical retail chains | 110K | 2.7% | 8 | | Mar 2026 | Optical retail chains | 135K | 2.9% | 8 | | Apr 2026 | Optical retail chains | 135K | 3.4% | 8 | | May 2026 | Optical retail chains | 110K | 2.9% | 8 | | Jun 2026 | Optical retail chains | 110K | 3% | 8 | | Jul 2026 | Optical retail chains | 135K | 3.5% | 8 | | Aug 2026 | Optical retail chains | 135K | 3.3% | 8 | | Sep 2026 | Optical retail chains | 110K | 2.9% | 8 | | Oct 2025 | Contact lens retailers | 160K | 20.5% | 2 | | Nov 2025 | Contact lens retailers | 160K | 20.7% | 2 | | Dec 2025 | Contact lens retailers | 185K | 20.7% | 2 | | Jan 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 185K | 20.6% | 2 | | Feb 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 160K | 18.7% | 2 | | Mar 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 185K | 18.1% | 2 | | Apr 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 185K | 20.4% | 2 | | May 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 160K | 18.1% | 2 | | Jun 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 160K | 17.3% | 2 | | Jul 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 185K | 19.5% | 2 | | Aug 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 185K | 18.3% | 2 | | Sep 2026 | Contact lens retailers | 160K | 19.3% | 2 | | Oct 2025 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 63.1% | 1 | | Nov 2025 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 63.1% | 1 | | Dec 2025 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 65.5% | 1 | | Jan 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 62.9% | 1 | | Feb 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 110K | 59.9% | 1 | | Mar 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 60.6% | 1 | | Apr 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 63.6% | 1 | | May 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 65.6% | 1 | | Jun 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 63.2% | 1 | | Jul 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 61.5% | 1 | | Aug 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 61% | 1 | | Sep 2026 | Hearing aid centers | 135K | 63% | 1 | ## How are Costco’s branded searches counted? Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Costco’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. - “costco contacts” - “costco hearing aid center” - “costco optical” - “costco pharmacy” - “costco tire center” - “costco tires” ## Which pharmacies compete with Costco? - [CVS Pharmacy](/demand/us/brands/cvs-pharmacy): Head-to-head: /demand/us/compare/costco-vs-cvs-pharmacy - [Walgreens](/demand/us/brands/walgreens): Head-to-head: /demand/us/compare/costco-vs-walgreens - [Walmart Pharmacy](/demand/us/brands/walmart-pharmacy): Head-to-head: /demand/us/compare/costco-vs-walmart-pharmacy - [Amazon Pharmacy](/demand/us/brands/amazon-pharmacy): Head-to-head: /demand/us/compare/amazon-pharmacy-vs-costco ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Costco: search popularity in the United States". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/brands/costco This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/us/brands/costco. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.