CVS Pharmacy vs Walgreens:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, CVS Pharmacy had more branded searches than Walgreens among prescription delivery services in the United States. CVS Pharmacy had about 6.1 million branded searches, while Walgreens had 3.4 million. CVS Pharmacy made up 59.4% of all prescription delivery service searches we track, and Walgreens accounted for 32.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prescription delivery services, CVS Pharmacy appeared in all five answers and Walgreens in three. CVS Pharmacy was mentioned before Walgreens in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
CVS Pharmacy, about 82% more searches than Walgreens
Who does AI mention more?
CVS Pharmacy, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
CVS Pharmacy, named ahead of Walgreens in 4 of 5 answers
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Top prescription delivery services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, CVS Pharmacy appeared in all five answers. Walgreens was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. CVS Pharmacy was listed before Walgreens in four out of five answers.
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.
- CVS Pharmacy5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Walgreens3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Express Scripts3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Amazon Pharmacy3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Capsule2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
PillPack1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Alto Pharmacy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about prescription delivery services
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which prescription delivery service should I use in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best prescription delivery services in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best prescription delivery service in the US for regular prescription refills?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“prescription delivery”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“prescription delivery service”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 19, 2026.
Is CVS Pharmacy or Walgreens more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight prescription delivery services we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | CVS Pharmacy | Walgreens | Express Scripts | Amazon Pharmacy | Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company | Alto Pharmacy | Capsule | PillPack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 58.8% | 32.6% | 5.3% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.32% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.9% | 32.3% | 5.3% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.39% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| Dec 2025 | 59.1% | 32.4% | 5.3% | 1.6% | 0.95% | 0.26% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| Jan 2026 | 52.3% | 35.2% | 7% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| Feb 2026 | 57.4% | 31.5% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 1.7% | 0.38% | 0.25% | 0.14% |
| Mar 2026 | 58.8% | 32.2% | 5.3% | 1.9% | 1.2% | 0.32% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.4% | 28% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 0.34% | 0.23% | 0.12% |
| May 2026 | 59.2% | 32.5% | 4.4% | 1.9% | 1.4% | 0.32% | 0.21% | 0.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 59.4% | 32.5% | 4.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.32% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 59.4% | 32.6% | 4.4% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.26% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.4% | 32.5% | 4.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.32% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 59.4% | 32.6% | 4.4% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.26% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
How has the CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- CVS Pharmacy was ahead of Walgreens in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CVS Pharmacy’s share of searches among prescription delivery services in the United States moved from 58.8% to 59.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Walgreens’ share of searches among prescription delivery services in the United States held steady at 32.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 3.4M.
How did search popularity change for United States prescription delivery services in September 2026?
0 changes
Neither CVS Pharmacy nor Walgreens moved beyond provider rounding among prescription delivery services in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CVS Pharmacy’s and Walgreens’ 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.
CVS Pharmacy
1 branded search term
- cvs pharmacy
Walgreens
3 branded search terms
- walgreens pharmacy
- walgreens pharmacy delivery
- walgreens prescription delivery
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