Brandwave

Bubly vs Polar:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Polar had more branded searches than Bubly among sparkling water brands in the United States. Polar had about 27,100 branded searches, while Bubly had 18,100. Polar made up 5.2% of all sparkling water brand searches we track, and Bubly accounted for 3.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sparkling water brands, Bubly and Polar each appeared in three of the five answers. Bubly and Polar were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among sparkling water brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Polar, about 50% more searches than Bubly

Polar 27.1K searchesBubly 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Bubly in 3 of 5Polar in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Bubly first in 2Polar first in 2

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Top sparkling water brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Bubly was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Polar was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Bubly and Polar were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. LaCroix1st
  2. Polar2nd
  3. San Pellegrino3rd
  4. Bubly4th
  5. Perrier5th
  6. Spindrift6th
  7. Waterloo7th
  8. Sparkling Ice8th
  9. Liquid Death–
  10. Hint–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Spindrift3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • LaCroix3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • San Pellegrino3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Polar3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bubly3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Perrier2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sparkling Ice1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Waterloo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Liquid Death0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hint0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about sparkling water 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 Bubly or Polar more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Bubly and Polar by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten sparkling water brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Bubly and Polar among sparkling water brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Polar, Bubly. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLiquid DeathSpindriftLaCroixSan PellegrinoHintSparkling IcePolarWaterlooBublyPerrier
Oct 202538.8%11.7%11.7%7.8%5.2%7.8%4.3%5.2%5.2%2.3%
Nov 202534.8%12.8%12.8%8.6%5.7%8.6%3.8%4.7%5.7%2.6%
Dec 202519.8%8.9%8.9%5.9%4%5.9%2.6%3.2%4.8%36%
Jan 202631.9%14.3%14.3%7.8%6.4%7.8%4.3%5.2%4.3%3.5%
Feb 202637.5%11.3%11.3%9.2%6.2%7.6%5.1%5.1%4.1%2.8%
Mar 202630.1%13.5%13.5%11%7.4%7.4%4.9%4.9%4%3.3%
Apr 202629.9%13.4%13.4%11%7.3%7.3%6%4.9%4%2.7%
May 202629.3%13.1%13.1%8.8%8.8%7.2%7.2%5.9%3.9%2.6%
Jun 202628.7%12.9%12.9%8.6%8.6%7%8.6%7%3.1%2.6%
Jul 202629.3%13.1%13.1%8.8%8.8%7.2%7.2%7.2%2.6%2.6%
Aug 202632.7%12%12%8%6.6%8%5.4%9.8%2.9%2.4%
Sep 202631.9%14.3%11.7%9.6%7.8%7.8%5.2%5.2%3.5%2.9%

How has the Bubly and Polar comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Polar took it in February 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bubly’s share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States moved from 5.2% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Polar’s share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States moved from 4.3% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 27.1K.

How did search popularity change for United States sparkling water brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Bubly gained share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States, from 2.9% to 3.5%.

  2. Polar’s share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 8.6% to 5.2% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bubly’s and Polar’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.

Bubly

1 branded search term

  • bubly

Polar

1 branded search term

  • polar seltzer

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sparkling water brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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