Brandwave

Capital One vs SoFi:Which is more popular in the United States?

In October 2026, SoFi had more branded searches than Capital One among online banks in the United States. SoFi had about 115,000 branded searches, while Capital One had 87,600. SoFi made up 11.3% of all online bank searches we track, and Capital One accounted for 8.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about online banks, Capital One appeared in all five answers and SoFi in four. SoFi was mentioned before Capital One in four out of five answers.

Among online banks in the United States in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

SoFi, about 32% more searches than Capital One

SoFi 115K searchesCapital One 87.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Capital One, mentioned in every answer we collected

Capital One in 5 of 5SoFi in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

SoFi, named ahead of Capital One in 4 of 5 answers

SoFi first in 4Capital One first in 1

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Top online banks in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Capital One appeared in all five answers. SoFi was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. SoFi was listed before Capital One in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. SoFi1st
  2. Capital One2nd
  3. Ally Bank3rd
  4. Chime4th
  5. Varo–
  6. Dave–
  7. Current–
  8. Discover–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Capital One5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SoFi4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ally Bank3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Chime2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Varo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Dave0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Current0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Discover0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about online banks

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 27, 2026.

Is Capital One or SoFi more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Capital One and SoFi by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight online banks we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Capital One and SoFi among online banks in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for SoFi, Capital One. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAlly BankChimeVaroSoFiCapital OneDaveCurrentDiscover
Nov 202538.6%20.8%17.2%9.9%9.2%3%0.77%0.58%
Dec 202536.6%19.7%18.3%11.4%10%2.7%0.73%0.55%
Jan 202639.3%17.9%17.5%12.3%9.4%2.4%0.64%0.59%
Feb 202636.4%20.3%17.9%11.3%10.6%2.3%0.72%0.54%
Mar 202640%18.2%16.1%12.4%10.2%2.1%0.65%0.46%
Apr 202637.5%21.8%16.7%11.6%8.9%2.3%0.61%0.43%
May 202639.8%18.2%16.3%12.4%9.7%2.4%0.65%0.46%
Jun 202639.8%21.4%13.4%10.1%11.9%2.4%0.62%0.43%
Jul 202638.5%20.7%13.6%11.9%11.5%2.8%0.6%0.36%
Aug 202639.3%21.1%13.9%12.3%9.6%2.8%0.72%0.34%
Sep 202636.3%23.8%15.7%11.3%9.2%2.6%0.66%0.34%
Oct 202636.1%24.6%15.6%11.3%8.6%2.7%0.8%0.27%

Capital One sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “capital one 360”.

How has branded search for Capital One and SoFi changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: Capital One took it in June 2026, SoFi took it in July 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Capital One’s share of searches among online banks in the United States moved from 9.2% to 8.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 87.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SoFi’s share of searches among online banks in the United States moved from 9.9% to 11.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 94.1K to 115K.

How did search popularity change for United States online banks in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Capital One lost share of searches among online banks in the United States, from 9.2% to 8.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for SoFi in the United States rose 22.6% over 12 measured months, from 94.1K to 115K in October 2026.

How are Capital One’s and SoFi’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Capital One’s and SoFi’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.

Capital One

2 branded search terms

  • capital one 360
  • capital one 360 checking

SoFi

2 branded search terms

  • sofi bank
  • sofi checking

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among online banks

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