Brandwave

Costco vs CVS Pharmacy:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, CVS Pharmacy had more branded searches than Costco among pharmacies in the United States. CVS Pharmacy had about 26.5 million branded searches, while Costco had 823,000. CVS Pharmacy made up 52.3% of all pharmacy searches we track, and Costco accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pharmacies, both Costco and CVS Pharmacy appeared in all three answers. Costco was mentioned before CVS Pharmacy in two out of three answers.

Among pharmacies in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

CVS Pharmacy, about 32 searches for every 1 for Costco

CVS Pharmacy 26.5M searchesCostco 823K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Costco in 3 of 3CVS Pharmacy in 3 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Costco, named ahead of CVS Pharmacy in 2 of 3 answers

Costco first in 2CVS Pharmacy first in 1

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Top pharmacies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, both Costco and CVS Pharmacy showed up in all three answers. Costco was listed before CVS Pharmacy in two of them.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Costco1st
  2. CVS Pharmacy2nd
  3. Walmart Pharmacy3rd
  4. Walgreens4th
  5. Amazon Pharmacy5th

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about pharmacies

3 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.

Is Costco or CVS Pharmacy more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Costco and CVS Pharmacy by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five pharmacies we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Costco and CVS Pharmacy among pharmacies in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for CVS Pharmacy, Costco. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCVS PharmacyWalgreensWalmart PharmacyCostcoAmazon Pharmacy
Oct 202552.4%40.3%5.4%1.6%0.33%
Nov 202547.8%45.1%5%1.8%0.3%
Dec 202548.1%45.2%5%1.5%0.3%
Jan 202647.6%45%4.9%1.8%0.66%
Feb 202652.3%40.2%5.4%1.6%0.49%
Mar 202653%40.8%4.5%1.3%0.4%
Apr 202648.5%43.5%5.8%1.8%0.43%
May 202652.3%40.2%5.4%1.6%0.4%
Jun 202648.5%43.5%5.8%1.8%0.43%
Jul 202648.5%43.5%5.8%1.8%0.43%
Aug 202652.1%40.1%5.4%2%0.4%
Sep 202652.3%40.2%5.4%1.6%0.4%

How has the Costco and CVS Pharmacy comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • CVS Pharmacy was ahead of Costco in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costco’s share of searches among pharmacies in the United States held steady at 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 823K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CVS Pharmacy’s share of searches among pharmacies in the United States moved from 52.4% to 52.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 26.5M.

How did search popularity change for United States pharmacies in September 2026?

0 changes

Neither Costco nor CVS Pharmacy moved beyond provider rounding among pharmacies in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Costco’s and CVS Pharmacy’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.

Costco

1 branded search term

  • costco pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy

2 branded search terms

  • cvs
  • cvs pharmacy

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among pharmacies

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