Brandwave

Ghost vs Optimum Nutrition:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Optimum Nutrition had more branded searches than Ghost among protein powder brands in the United States. Optimum Nutrition had about 49,500 branded searches, while Ghost had 14,800. Optimum Nutrition made up 13.5% of all protein powder brand searches we track, and Ghost accounted for 4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about protein powder brands, Optimum Nutrition appeared in all five answers and Ghost in one. Optimum Nutrition was mentioned before Ghost in every answer.

Among protein powder brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Optimum Nutrition, about 3 searches for every 1 for Ghost

Optimum Nutrition 49.5K searchesGhost 14.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Optimum Nutrition, mentioned in every answer we collected

Optimum Nutrition in 5 of 5Ghost in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Optimum Nutrition, named ahead of Ghost in every answer

Optimum Nutrition first in 5Ghost never first

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Top protein powder brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Optimum Nutrition appeared in all five answers. Ghost was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Optimum Nutrition was listed before Ghost in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Optimum Nutrition1st
  2. Dymatize2nd
  3. Transparent Labs3rd
  4. Vega4th
  5. Naked Nutrition5th
  6. Orgain6th
  7. Isopure7th
  8. Ghost8th
  9. Momentous9th
  10. Clean Simple Eats–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Optimum Nutrition5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Dymatize3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Transparent Labs3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Orgain2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vega2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Naked Nutrition2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Isopure1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ghost1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Momentous1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clean Simple Eats0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about protein powder brands

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 26, 2026.

Is Ghost or Optimum Nutrition more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ghost and Optimum Nutrition by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 protein powder brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Ghost and Optimum Nutrition among protein powder brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Optimum Nutrition, Ghost. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthClean Simple EatsOptimum NutritionOrgainDymatizeMyproteinRyseTransparent LabsIsopurePremier ProteinGhostVegaNaked NutritionMuscle MilkGarden of LifeMomentous
Oct 202522.9%10.3%15.3%4.6%8.4%8.4%4.6%5.6%3.7%3.1%4.6%3.1%2.1%2.1%1.4%
Nov 202531.8%9.5%9.5%4.3%11.7%9.5%4.3%4.3%2.9%2.9%3.5%2.3%1.6%1.3%0.68%
Dec 202522.4%10%12.2%5.5%10%10%4.5%5.5%3.7%3.7%5.5%3%2%1.3%0.88%
Jan 202622.7%10.2%15.3%5.6%8.4%8.4%4.6%5.6%3.7%3.1%4.6%3.7%2%1.4%0.74%
Feb 202621.8%9.8%14.6%5.4%8%9.8%4.4%6.5%4.4%3.6%4.4%3.6%2%1.3%0.7%
Mar 202624.4%11%13.4%4.9%7.4%7.4%4.9%6%4%4%4%4%2.2%1.5%0.8%
Apr 202624.7%9.1%13.6%6.1%7.4%7.4%6.1%6.1%4.1%3.3%4.1%4.1%1.8%1.2%0.81%
May 202625.1%11.3%11.3%6.2%7.5%7.5%6.2%6.2%4.1%3.4%4.1%3.4%1.8%1.2%0.66%
Jun 202618.9%12.7%12.7%6.9%6.9%8.5%5.7%6.9%4.6%3.8%3.8%3.8%2.5%1.4%0.92%
Jul 202616.3%10.9%24.3%6%6%7.3%6%6%4%3.3%2.7%3.3%2.2%0.97%0.8%
Aug 202617.2%11.5%14%7.7%7.7%7.7%7.7%6.3%5.1%4.2%3.4%3.4%2.3%1%0.83%
Sep 202616.5%13.5%13.5%7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%6.1%5%4%4%3.3%2.7%0.79%0.79%

How has the Ghost and Optimum Nutrition comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United States protein powder brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Optimum Nutrition overtook Orgain to rank 2nd among protein powder brands in the United States, with 13.5% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ghost in the United States rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 12.1K to 14.8K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ghost’s and Optimum Nutrition’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.

Ghost

1 branded search term

  • ghost protein

Optimum Nutrition

1 branded search term

  • optimum nutrition

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among protein powder brands

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