Brandwave

Nationwide vs Root:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Nationwide and Root were level in searches among car insurance brands in the United States, with an estimated 165K versus 150K branded searches, at 3.8% and 3.4% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car insurance brands, Nationwide appeared in two of the five answers and Root in none.

Among car insurance brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Nationwide, about 10% more searches than Root

Nationwide 165K searchesRoot 150K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Nationwide, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Root in 0

Nationwide in 2 of 5Root in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Nationwide, the only one of the two named

Nationwide first in 2Root never named

Follow Nationwide vs Root and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top car insurance brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nationwide was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Root did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. GEICO1st
  2. Travelers2nd
  3. USAA3rd
  4. Progressive4th
  5. State Farm5th
  6. Erie Insurance6th
  7. Nationwide7th
  8. Root–
  9. Allstate–
  10. Liberty Mutual–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • GEICO5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Progressive5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • USAA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Erie Insurance3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Travelers3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Nationwide2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • State Farm2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Root0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Allstate0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Liberty Mutual0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about car insurance 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 22, 2026.

Is Nationwide or Root more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Nationwide and Root by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 car insurance brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Nationwide and Root among car insurance brands in the United States, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGEICOProgressiveErie InsuranceNationwideRootUSAAState FarmTravelersAllstateLiberty MutualFarmers Insurance
Oct 202554.3%24.2%6.8%4.5%4.1%2%1.7%0.61%0.75%0.75%0.22%
Nov 202558.1%21.7%5.9%3.9%4.4%2.2%1.4%0.96%0.64%0.64%0.19%
Dec 202556.7%21.5%5.3%4.4%3.9%2.9%1.6%1.3%0.59%0.72%1.1%
Jan 202654.8%23.7%6.1%4.1%3.7%2.8%1.5%1%0.67%0.67%0.83%
Feb 202656%19.8%6%4%3.7%4.9%1.5%2.7%0.66%0.54%0.16%
Mar 202653.7%21.4%5.8%3.2%3.5%3.9%2.6%2.1%2.1%0.64%1.2%
Apr 202655.5%24%6.2%3.4%3.1%2.8%1.2%1.5%1.5%0.56%0.14%
May 202659.3%20.6%5.4%3.6%3.3%2.4%1.6%1.6%1.3%0.6%0.15%
Jun 202659.8%20.6%6.9%3.8%3.4%1.7%1.7%0.93%0.51%0.62%0.15%
Jul 202658.1%21%5.7%3.9%3.4%1.7%2.1%2.1%1.2%0.63%0.15%
Aug 202657.3%21%7.1%3.9%3.5%2.1%1.4%2.1%0.78%0.64%0.19%
Sep 202655.1%24.3%5.6%3.8%3.4%2.5%1.4%1.4%1.1%1.1%0.19%

How has the Nationwide and Root comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Root took it in November 2025, Nationwide took it in December 2025, Root took it in March 2026, Nationwide took it in April 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nationwide’s share of searches among car insurance brands in the United States moved from 4.5% to 3.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 165K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Root’s share of searches among car insurance brands in the United States moved from 4.1% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 183K to 150K.

How did search popularity change for United States car insurance brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Root in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 183K to 150K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Nationwide in the United States fell 17.9% over 12 measured months, from 201K to 165K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nationwide’s and Root’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.

Nationwide

1 branded search term

  • nationwide insurance

Root

2 branded search terms

  • root car insurance
  • root insurance

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among car insurance brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free