Brandwave

Clean Simple Eats vs Optimum Nutrition:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Clean Simple Eats had more branded searches than Optimum Nutrition among protein powder brands in the United States. Clean Simple Eats had about 60,500 branded searches, while Optimum Nutrition had 49,500. Clean Simple Eats made up 16.5% of all protein powder brand searches we track, and Optimum Nutrition accounted for 13.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about protein powder brands, Optimum Nutrition appeared in all five answers and Clean Simple Eats in none.

Among protein powder brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Clean Simple Eats, about 22% more searches than Optimum Nutrition

Clean Simple Eats 60.5K searchesOptimum Nutrition 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Optimum Nutrition, mentioned in every answer we collected

Optimum Nutrition in 5 of 5Clean Simple Eats in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Optimum Nutrition, the only one of the two named

Optimum Nutrition first in 5Clean Simple Eats never named

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Top protein powder brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Optimum Nutrition appeared in all five answers. Clean Simple Eats did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Optimum Nutrition1st
  2. Dymatize2nd
  3. Transparent Labs3rd
  4. Vega4th
  5. Naked Nutrition5th
  6. Orgain6th
  7. Isopure7th
  8. Ghost8th
  9. Momentous9th
  10. Clean Simple Eats–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Optimum Nutrition5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Dymatize3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Transparent Labs3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Orgain2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vega2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Naked Nutrition2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Isopure1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ghost1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Momentous1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clean Simple Eats0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about protein powder brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is Clean Simple Eats or Optimum Nutrition more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Clean Simple Eats and Optimum Nutrition by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 protein powder brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Clean Simple Eats and Optimum Nutrition among protein powder brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Clean Simple Eats, Optimum Nutrition. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthClean Simple EatsOptimum NutritionOrgainDymatizeMyproteinRyseTransparent LabsIsopurePremier ProteinGhostVegaNaked NutritionMuscle MilkGarden of LifeMomentous
Oct 202522.9%10.3%15.3%4.6%8.4%8.4%4.6%5.6%3.7%3.1%4.6%3.1%2.1%2.1%1.4%
Nov 202531.8%9.5%9.5%4.3%11.7%9.5%4.3%4.3%2.9%2.9%3.5%2.3%1.6%1.3%0.68%
Dec 202522.4%10%12.2%5.5%10%10%4.5%5.5%3.7%3.7%5.5%3%2%1.3%0.88%
Jan 202622.7%10.2%15.3%5.6%8.4%8.4%4.6%5.6%3.7%3.1%4.6%3.7%2%1.4%0.74%
Feb 202621.8%9.8%14.6%5.4%8%9.8%4.4%6.5%4.4%3.6%4.4%3.6%2%1.3%0.7%
Mar 202624.4%11%13.4%4.9%7.4%7.4%4.9%6%4%4%4%4%2.2%1.5%0.8%
Apr 202624.7%9.1%13.6%6.1%7.4%7.4%6.1%6.1%4.1%3.3%4.1%4.1%1.8%1.2%0.81%
May 202625.1%11.3%11.3%6.2%7.5%7.5%6.2%6.2%4.1%3.4%4.1%3.4%1.8%1.2%0.66%
Jun 202618.9%12.7%12.7%6.9%6.9%8.5%5.7%6.9%4.6%3.8%3.8%3.8%2.5%1.4%0.92%
Jul 202616.3%10.9%24.3%6%6%7.3%6%6%4%3.3%2.7%3.3%2.2%0.97%0.8%
Aug 202617.2%11.5%14%7.7%7.7%7.7%7.7%6.3%5.1%4.2%3.4%3.4%2.3%1%0.83%
Sep 202616.5%13.5%13.5%7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%6.1%5%4%4%3.3%2.7%0.79%0.79%

How has the Clean Simple Eats and Optimum Nutrition comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United States protein powder brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Optimum Nutrition overtook Orgain to rank 2nd among protein powder brands in the United States, with 13.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Clean Simple Eats lost share of searches among protein powder brands in the United States, from 17.2% to 16.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Clean Simple Eats’ and Optimum Nutrition’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.

Clean Simple Eats

1 branded search term

  • clean simple eats

Optimum Nutrition

1 branded search term

  • optimum nutrition

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among protein powder brands

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