Brandwave

Costco vs Visionworks:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Visionworks had more branded searches than Costco among optical retail chains in the United States. Visionworks had about 450,000 branded searches, while Costco had 110,000. Visionworks made up 12.1% of all optical retail chain searches we track, and Costco accounted for 2.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about optical retail chains, Costco appeared in all three answers and Visionworks in none.

Among optical retail chains in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Visionworks, about 4 searches for every 1 for Costco

Visionworks 450K searchesCostco 110K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Costco, mentioned in every answer we collected

Costco in 3 of 3Visionworks in 0 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Costco, the only one of the two named

Costco first in 3Visionworks never named

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Top optical retail chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Costco appeared in all three answers. Visionworks did not appear in any of the three answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Costco1st
  2. America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses2nd
  3. Warby Parker3rd
  4. LensCrafters4th
  5. Walmart5th
  6. Pearle Vision6th
  7. Visionworks–
  8. Eyemart Express–

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about optical retail chains

3 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 22, 2026.

Is Costco or Visionworks more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Costco and Visionworks by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight optical retail chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Costco and Visionworks among optical retail chains in the United States, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLensCraftersAmerica's Best Contacts & EyeglassesWarby ParkerVisionworksEyemart ExpressPearle VisionWalmartCostco
Oct 202524.9%24.6%16.7%13.7%5%7.5%5%2.7%
Nov 202529%22.7%16%13.1%4.8%7.1%4.8%2.6%
Dec 202527.6%22.4%18.6%12.4%4.5%6.8%4.5%3.1%
Jan 202625.6%24.5%17.3%14.1%5.2%6.3%4.2%2.8%
Feb 202624.9%24.6%16.7%13.7%5%7.5%5%2.7%
Mar 202626%24.9%17.6%11.7%5.2%6.4%5.2%2.9%
Apr 202624.9%23.8%16.7%13.7%5%7.5%5%3.4%
May 202626.2%24.5%17.6%11.8%5.3%6.4%5.3%2.9%
Jun 202627.3%21.4%18.4%12.3%5.5%6.7%5.5%3%
Jul 202625.7%24%17.3%11.6%6.3%6.3%5.2%3.5%
Aug 202624.3%23.3%16.4%13.4%6%7.3%6%3.3%
Sep 202626.8%21.6%18%12.1%6.6%6.6%5.4%2.9%

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

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United States optical retail chains in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Visionworks lost share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 13.4% to 12.1%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Costco’s and Visionworks’ 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 optical

Visionworks

1 branded search term

  • visionworks

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among optical retail chains

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