Bud Light Seltzer vs Michelob Ultra Seltzer:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Bud Light Seltzer had more branded searches than Michelob Ultra Seltzer among hard seltzer brands in the United States. Bud Light Seltzer had about 5,400 branded searches, while Michelob Ultra Seltzer had 3,600. Bud Light Seltzer made up 1.9% of all hard seltzer brand searches we track, and Michelob Ultra Seltzer accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hard seltzer brands, neither Bud Light Seltzer nor Michelob Ultra Seltzer appeared in any of the five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Bud Light Seltzer, about 50% more searches than Michelob Ultra Seltzer
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 0 of 5 answers.
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Top hard seltzer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Bud Light Seltzer nor Michelob Ultra Seltzer showed up in any of the 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.
White Claw5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
High Noon5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Truly4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- NÜTRL3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Vizzy2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Bud Light Seltzer0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Michelob Ultra Seltzer0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Smirnoff0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Corona0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about hard seltzer brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hard seltzer brand should I buy in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hard seltzer brands in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best hard seltzer brand in the US for a summer party?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hard seltzer”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best hard seltzer”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Is Bud Light Seltzer or Michelob Ultra Seltzer more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bud Light Seltzer and Michelob Ultra Seltzer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine hard seltzer brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Bud Light Seltzer, Michelob Ultra Seltzer. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | NÜTRL | White Claw | High Noon | Truly | Vizzy | Bud Light Seltzer | Michelob Ultra Seltzer | Smirnoff | Corona |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39.4% | 39.4% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1% | 1.6% | 0.11% |
| Nov 2025 | 40.3% | 40.3% | 6% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.12% |
| Dec 2025 | 39.8% | 39.8% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 4.4% | 2.4% | 0.83% | 1.6% | 0.21% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.4% | 36.5% | 5.9% | 5% | 4% | 2.2% | 0.77% | 0.97% | 0.16% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.3% | 37.1% | 4.5% | 4% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.13% |
| Mar 2026 | 45.3% | 37.3% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 41.7% | 41.7% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.18% |
| May 2026 | 36.2% | 44.4% | 6.6% | 4.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.16% |
| Jun 2026 | 33.2% | 40.7% | 12.4% | 6.1% | 2.4% | 2% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.14% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.3% | 39.7% | 14.3% | 5.9% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.17% |
| Aug 2026 | 43% | 35% | 11.2% | 4.3% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.15% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.3% | 38.5% | 4.2% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.14% |
How has the Bud Light Seltzer and Michelob Ultra Seltzer comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Bud Light Seltzer was ahead of Michelob Ultra Seltzer in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bud Light Seltzer’s share of searches among hard seltzer brands in the United States moved from 2.4% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Michelob Ultra Seltzer’s share of searches among hard seltzer brands in the United States moved from 1% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 3.6K.
How did search popularity change for United States hard seltzer brands in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Michelob Ultra Seltzer in the United States rose 24.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 3.6K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bud Light Seltzer in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 5.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bud Light Seltzer’s and Michelob Ultra Seltzer’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.
Bud Light Seltzer
1 branded search term
- bud light seltzer
Michelob Ultra Seltzer
1 branded search term
- michelob ultra seltzer
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