Ice cream chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Dairy Queen was the most searched ice cream chain in the United States, accounting for 46.9% of all searches among the eight chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Cold Stone Creamery and Handel's were mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three responses that gave a list.
Dairy QueenShare of searches 46.9%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
Cold Stone CreameryShare of searches 23.4%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Baskin-RobbinsShare of searches 21%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
Salt & StrawShare of searches 2.8%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd- Culver'sShare of searches 2.4%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
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Top ice cream chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Cold Stone Creamery and Handel's were mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams was recommended most often, coming first in one out of three answers that gave a list. Salt & Straw was second, and Handel's was third. Marble Slab Creamery, which ranked seventh in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Cold Stone Creamery3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Handel's3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Salt & Straw2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Culver's2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Dairy Queen1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Baskin-Robbins1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Marble Slab Creamery0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about ice cream chains
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best ice cream chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which ice cream shop chain in the US has the best ice cream?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular ice cream chains in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ice cream shops”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“soft serve”
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 ice cream chains do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each ice cream chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight ice cream chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Dairy Queen, Cold Stone Creamery, Baskin-Robbins, Salt & Straw, Culver's, Handel's. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Dairy Queen | Cold Stone Creamery | Baskin-Robbins | Salt & Straw | Culver's | Handel's | Marble Slab Creamery | Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 48.3% | 24.1% | 17.6% | 4.3% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.58% | 0.56% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.1% | 22.1% | 24.1% | 4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 0.65% | 0.52% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.4% | 23.2% | 20.7% | 4.2% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 0.69% | 0.55% |
| Jan 2026 | 50% | 22.3% | 18.2% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.6% | 0.49% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.4% | 22.5% | 18.3% | 3% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.61% | 0.49% |
| Mar 2026 | 51.8% | 21.2% | 19% | 3.1% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.51% | 0.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 47% | 23.5% | 21% | 2.8% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.57% | 0.66% |
| May 2026 | 49.5% | 24.8% | 18.1% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.49% | 0.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 45.3% | 25.7% | 20.3% | 3.3% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 0.55% | 0.56% |
| Jul 2026 | 44.5% | 27.2% | 19.9% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 0.54% | 0.49% |
| Aug 2026 | 45.6% | 25.9% | 20.4% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 0.55% | 0.54% |
| Sep 2026 | 46.9% | 23.4% | 21% | 2.8% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.57% | 0.51% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 46.9% | 3.4M | -18.1% | +1.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 23.4% | 1.7M | -28% | -2.5 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 21% | 1.5M | -18% | +0.6 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 2.8% | 201K | -18.3% | +0.1 points | |
| 5, moved from 6th to 5th | 2.4% | 170K | -0.7% | +0.5 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 5th to 6th | 2.4% | 169K | -20.1% | 0 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.57% | 40.5K | -18.2% | 0 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.51% | 36.7K | -24.5% | 0 points |
46.9%
Held 1st. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share +1.3 points.
23.4%
Held 2nd. 1.7M estimated branded searches, -28% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.
21%
Held 3rd. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
2.8%
Held 4th. 201K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
5.Culver's
2.4%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 170K estimated branded searches, -0.7% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
6.
Handel's2.4%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 169K estimated branded searches, -20.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.57%
Held 7th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.51%
Held 8th. 36.7K estimated branded searches, -24.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among ice cream chains in the United States?
8 brands
In September 2026, Dairy Queen was the most searched among ice cream chains in the United States, with an estimated 3.4M branded searches, 46.9% of all searches for the eight we track. Cold Stone Creamery is in 2nd place, 23.5 percentage points behind at 23.4%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy Queen | 48.3% → 46.9% | 51.8%Mar 2026 | 44.1%Nov 2025 | 1st |
| Cold Stone Creamery | 24.1% → 23.4% | 27.2%Jul 2026 | 21.2%Mar 2026 | 2nd |
| Baskin-Robbins | 17.6% → 21% | 24.1%Nov 2025 | 17.6%Oct 2025 | 3rd |
| Salt & Straw | 4.3% → 2.8% | 4.3%Oct 2025 | 2.4%May 2026 | 4th |
| Culver's | 2.5% → 2.4% | 2.5%Feb 2026 | 1.8%Mar 2026 | 5th |
| Handel's | 2% → 2.4% | 2.8%Jul 2026 | 2%Oct 2025 | 6th |
| Marble Slab Creamery | 0.58% → 0.57% | 0.69%Dec 2025 | 0.49%May 2026 | 7th |
| Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams | 0.56% → 0.51% | 0.66%Apr 2026 | 0.49%Jan 2026 | 8th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dairy Queen’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States decreased from 48.3% to 46.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cold Stone Creamery’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States decreased from 24.1% to 23.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Baskin-Robbins’ share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States increased from 17.6% to 21%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Salt & Straw’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States decreased from 4.3% to 2.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dairy Queen’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States peaked at 51.8% in March 2026 and was lowest at 44.1% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cold Stone Creamery’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States peaked at 27.2% in July 2026 and was lowest at 21.2% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Baskin-Robbins’ share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States peaked at 24.1% in November 2025 and was lowest at 17.6% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Salt & Straw’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States peaked at 4.3% in October 2025 and was lowest at 2.4% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Culver's, Handel's, Marble Slab Creamery and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams held steady: their share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States ice cream chains in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Dairy Queen gained share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States, from 45.6% to 46.9%.
In September 2026, Baskin-Robbins gained share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States, from 20.4% to 21%.
In September 2026, Cold Stone Creamery lost share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States, from 25.9% to 23.4%.
In September 2026, Culver's rose from 6th to 5th among ice cream chains in the United States.
In September 2026, Handel's fell from 5th to 6th among ice cream chains in the United States.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Salt & Straw in the United States fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 301K to 201K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Dairy Queen vs Cold Stone Creamery: compare popularity
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- Cold Stone Creamery vs Baskin-Robbins: compare popularity
- Cold Stone Creamery vs Salt & Straw: compare popularity
- Cold Stone Creamery vs Culver's: compare popularity
- Baskin-Robbins vs Salt & Straw: compare popularity
- Baskin-Robbins vs Culver's: compare popularity
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