How popular isThe Alley?
In September 2026, people searched for The Alley by name about 3,220 times in the United States, a 32.8% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.35% of all United States bubble tea chain searches, placing The Alley ninth out of nine chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bubble tea chains, The Alley appeared in two of the four answers and was the sixth most recommended of the nine.
The Alley is the ninth most searched of 9 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.
Kung Fu TeaShare of searches 32.4%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Gong chaShare of searches 26.5%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Happy LemonShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th- Feng ChaShare of searches 9.7%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
The AlleyShare of searches 0.35%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
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Top bubble tea chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, The Alley was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. The Alley is the sixth most recommended of the nine.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Gong cha1st
- Kung Fu Tea2nd
Sharetea3rd- Happy Lemon4th
- Feng Cha5th
- The Alley6th
Tiger Sugar7th
Boba Guys8th
Presotea–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Kung Fu Tea4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Gong cha3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Sharetea3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Happy Lemon2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Feng Cha2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- The Alley2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Tiger Sugar1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Boba Guys1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Presotea0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about bubble tea chains
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best bubble tea chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which boba chain in the US has the best milk tea?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular bubble tea chains in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bubble tea”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“boba near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Which bubble tea chains compete with The Alley?
Share of searches by month for Kung Fu Tea, Gong cha, Happy Lemon, Feng Cha, Sharetea, Tiger Sugar, The Alley. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Kung Fu Tea | Gong cha | Happy Lemon | Feng Cha | Sharetea | Tiger Sugar | Boba Guys | Presotea | The Alley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30.5% | 30.5% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 32.3% | 26.4% | 11.9% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.29% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.9% | 24.7% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 6.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.26% |
| Jan 2026 | 32.2% | 26.4% | 11.8% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 6.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.35% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.8% | 29.8% | 10.9% | 9% | 10.9% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.8% | 24.6% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.33% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.9% | 24.7% | 11.1% | 9% | 9% | 6.1% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| May 2026 | 31.4% | 25.7% | 14.1% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| Jun 2026 | 33% | 27% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.7% | 28.7% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.31% |
| Aug 2026 | 28.7% | 28.7% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.32% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.4% | 26.5% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.35% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, moved from 2nd to 1st | 32.4% | 301K | 0% | +3.7 pointsmoved from 2nd to 1st | |
| 2, moved from 1st to 2nd | 26.5% | 246K | -18.3% | -2.2 pointsmoved from 1st to 2nd | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.8% | 110K | -18.5% | -1 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 9.7% | 90.5K | 0% | +1.1 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 9.7% | 90.5K | -17.7% | -0.8 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 6.5% | 60.5K | -18.2% | -0.5 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.6% | 14.8K | -18.2% | -0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 1.3% | 12.1K | -18.2% | -0.1 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.35% | 3.2K | -4.7% | 0 points |
32.4%
Moved from 2nd to 1st. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3.7 points.
2.
Gong cha26.5%
Moved from 1st to 2nd. 246K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -2.2 points.
11.8%
Held 3rd. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -1 points.
4.Feng Cha
9.7%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.
5.
Sharetea9.7%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
6.5%
Held 6th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
1.6%
Held 7th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
8.
Presotea1.3%
Held 8th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
0.35%
Held 9th. 3.2K estimated branded searches, -4.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between The Alley and its closest rivals
Every comparison with The Alley
8 comparisons
How has branded search demand for The Alley changed in the United States over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for The Alley in the United States fell from 4.8K to 3.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Alley’s share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States held steady, from 0.4% to 0.35%.
How did search popularity change for United States bubble tea chains in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Kung Fu Tea overtook Gong cha to become the leader among bubble tea chains in the United States, with 32.4% of the searches.
In September 2026, Feng Cha overtook Sharetea to rank 4th among bubble tea chains in the United States, with 9.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, Gong cha lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 28.7% to 26.5%.
In September 2026, Happy Lemon lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 12.9% to 11.8%.
In September 2026, Sharetea lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 10.5% to 9.7%.
In September 2026, Tiger Sugar lost share of searches among bubble tea chains in the United States, from 7.1% to 6.5%.
How are The Alley’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using The Alley’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.
- the alley boba
- the alley bubble tea
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