Culver's vs Dairy Queen:Which is more popular?

Name: Culver's vs Dairy Queen: Which is searched more in the United States?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, Dairy Queen had more branded searches than Culver's among ice cream chains in the United States. Dairy Queen had about 3.4 million branded searches, while Culver's had 170,000. Dairy Queen made up 46.9% of all ice cream chain searches we track, and Culver's accounted for 2.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ice cream chains, Culver's appeared in two of the four answers and Dairy Queen in one. Culver's and Dairy Queen were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among ice cream chains in the United States in September 2026

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Top ice cream chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Culver's was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Dairy Queen was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Culver's and Dairy Queen were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.

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.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Cold Stone Creamery	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	3 of 4
Handel's	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	3 of 4
Salt & Straw	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	2 of 4
Culver's	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	2 of 4
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	2 of 4
Dairy Queen	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	1 of 4
Baskin-Robbins	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	1 of 4
Marble Slab Creamery	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	0 of 4

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:

Marble Slab Creamery

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.

Is Culver's or Dairy Queen more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Culver's and Dairy Queen 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.

Culver's and Dairy Queen among ice cream chains in the United States, by month

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%

How has the Culver's and Dairy Queen comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

Dairy Queen was ahead of Culver's in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Culver's’ share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States moved from 2.5% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 170K.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dairy Queen’s share of searches among ice cream chains in the United States moved from 48.3% to 46.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 3.4M.

How did search popularity change for United States ice cream chains in September 2026?

2 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, Culver's rose from 6th to 5th among ice cream chains in the United States.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Culver's’ and Dairy Queen’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.