Petco vs PetSmart:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PetSmart had more branded searches than Petco among pet groomers in the United States. PetSmart had about 301,000 branded searches, while Petco had 165,000. PetSmart made up 56.4% of all pet groomer searches we track, and Petco accounted for 30.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pet groomers, Petco and PetSmart each appeared in one of the three answers.
Who do people search for more?
PetSmart, about 82% more searches than Petco
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 1 of 3 answers.
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Top pet groomers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Petco and PetSmart were each mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Woof Gang Bakery2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers- PetSmart1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Petco1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Scenthound0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about pet groomers
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Where's the best place to get my dog groomed?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which pet grooming chain is best?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best dog groomers near me?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“dog groomers near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“dog grooming”
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.
Is Petco or PetSmart more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Petco and PetSmart by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all four pet groomers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for PetSmart, Petco. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PetSmart | Petco | Woof Gang Bakery | Scenthound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 53.8% | 29.5% | 10.8% | 5.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 53.1% | 29.1% | 10.7% | 7.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 58% | 26% | 9.5% | 6.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.1% | 29.1% | 10.7% | 7.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 53.8% | 29.5% | 10.8% | 5.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 52% | 34.7% | 8.6% | 4.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 56.4% | 30.9% | 7.6% | 5.1% |
| May 2026 | 57.3% | 31.3% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 57.8% | 31.6% | 6.4% | 4.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 57.8% | 31.6% | 6.4% | 4.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.8% | 31.6% | 6.4% | 4.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 56.4% | 30.9% | 7.6% | 5.1% |
How has the Petco and PetSmart comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- PetSmart was ahead of Petco in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Petco’s share of searches among pet groomers in the United States moved from 29.5% to 30.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 165K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PetSmart’s share of searches among pet groomers in the United States moved from 53.8% to 56.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 301K.
How did search popularity change for United States pet groomers in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, PetSmart lost share of searches among pet groomers in the United States, from 57.8% to 56.4%.
In September 2026, Petco lost share of searches among pet groomers in the United States, from 31.6% to 30.9%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Petco’s and PetSmart’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.
Other head-to-heads among pet groomers
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