Brandwave

Costco vs Walmart:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Walmart had more branded searches than Costco among optical retail chains in the United States. Walmart had about 201,000 branded searches, while Costco had 110,000. Walmart made up 5.4% 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, both Costco and Walmart appeared in all three answers. Costco was mentioned before Walmart in two out of three answers.

Among optical retail chains in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Walmart, about 83% more searches than Costco

Walmart 201K searchesCostco 110K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Costco in 3 of 3Walmart in 3 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Costco, named ahead of Walmart in 2 of 3 answers

Costco first in 2Walmart first in 1

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Top optical retail chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

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 Walmart more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Costco and Walmart 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 Walmart among optical retail chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Walmart, 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 Walmart 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, Walmart lost share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 6% to 5.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

Walmart

1 branded search term

  • walmart vision center

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among optical retail chains

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