Costco vs Warby Parker:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Warby Parker had more branded searches than Costco among optical retail chains in the United States. Warby Parker had about 673,000 branded searches, while Costco had 110,000. Warby Parker made up 18% 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 Warby Parker in two. Costco was mentioned before Warby Parker in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Warby Parker, about 6 searches for every 1 for Costco
Who does AI mention more?
Costco, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Costco, named ahead of Warby Parker in every answer
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Top optical retail chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Costco appeared in all three answers. Warby Parker was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Costco was listed before Warby Parker in every answer.
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.
America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Walmart3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Costco3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
LensCrafters2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Warby Parker2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Pearle Vision1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Visionworks0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Eyemart Express0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about optical retail chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I get an eye exam and glasses in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best optical store chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which optical chain in the US has the cheapest glasses and eye exams?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“eye doctor near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“glasses near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 Warby Parker more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Costco and Warby Parker 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.
Share of searches by month for Warby Parker, Costco. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | LensCrafters | America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses | Warby Parker | Visionworks | Eyemart Express | Pearle Vision | Walmart | Costco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.9% | 24.6% | 16.7% | 13.7% | 5% | 7.5% | 5% | 2.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 29% | 22.7% | 16% | 13.1% | 4.8% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 2.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 27.6% | 22.4% | 18.6% | 12.4% | 4.5% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 25.6% | 24.5% | 17.3% | 14.1% | 5.2% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 2.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 24.9% | 24.6% | 16.7% | 13.7% | 5% | 7.5% | 5% | 2.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 26% | 24.9% | 17.6% | 11.7% | 5.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.9% |
| Apr 2026 | 24.9% | 23.8% | 16.7% | 13.7% | 5% | 7.5% | 5% | 3.4% |
| May 2026 | 26.2% | 24.5% | 17.6% | 11.8% | 5.3% | 6.4% | 5.3% | 2.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.3% | 21.4% | 18.4% | 12.3% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3% |
| Jul 2026 | 25.7% | 24% | 17.3% | 11.6% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 3.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.3% | 23.3% | 16.4% | 13.4% | 6% | 7.3% | 6% | 3.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 26.8% | 21.6% | 18% | 12.1% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 2.9% |
How has the Costco and Warby Parker comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Warby Parker 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 optical retail chains in the United States moved from 2.7% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 110K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Warby Parker’s share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States moved from 16.7% to 18%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 673K.
How did search popularity change for United States optical retail chains in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Warby Parker gained share of searches among optical retail chains in the United States, from 16.4% to 18%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Costco’s and Warby Parker’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
Warby Parker
1 branded search term
- warby parker
Other head-to-heads among optical retail chains
- LensCrafters vs America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses: compare popularity
- LensCrafters vs Warby Parker: compare popularity
- LensCrafters vs Visionworks: compare popularity
- LensCrafters vs Eyemart Express: compare popularity
- America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses vs Warby Parker: compare popularity
- America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses vs Visionworks: compare popularity
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