Barnes & Noble vs Books-A-Million:Which is searched more in United States?
In September 2026, Barnes & Noble had more branded searches than Books-A-Million among bookstores in United States. Barnes & Noble was estimated to have 7.5M branded searches compared to Books-A-Million’s 673K, and held an 81.8% Share of Search versus Books-A-Million’s 7.3%.
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Which is more popular in search, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million?
Compare the bookstores shoppers use. 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.
Share of Search by month for Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Barnes & Noble | Half Price Books | Books-A-Million |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 80.4% | 10.8% | 8.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 83.4% | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 84.8% | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 80.5% | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 80.4% | 10.8% | 8.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 82% | 9% | 9% |
| Apr 2026 | 80.4% | 10.8% | 8.8% |
| May 2026 | 80.5% | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 83.4% | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 81.8% | 10.9% | 7.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 80.5% | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 81.8% | 10.9% | 7.3% |
How has the Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Barnes & Noble was ahead of Books-A-Million in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barnes & Noble’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States moved from 80.4% to 81.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.1M to 7.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Books-A-Million’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States moved from 8.8% to 7.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 673K.
How did search popularity change for United States bookstores in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Barnes & Noble gained estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States, from 80.5% to 81.8%.
In September 2026, Books-A-Million lost estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States, from 8.8% to 7.3%.
Other head-to-heads among bookstores
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Barnes & Noble’s and Books-A-Million’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.
Barnes & Noble
2 branded search terms
- barnes and noble
- barnes noble
Books-A-Million
1 branded search term
- books a million
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.