Polar vs Spindrift:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Spindrift had more branded searches than Polar among sparkling water brands in the United States. Spindrift had about 74,000 branded searches, while Polar had 27,100. Spindrift made up 14.3% of all sparkling water brand searches we track, and Polar accounted for 5.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sparkling water brands, Polar and Spindrift each appeared in three of the five answers. Polar was mentioned before Spindrift in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Spindrift, about 3 searches for every 1 for Polar
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Polar, named ahead of Spindrift in 3 of 3 answers
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Top sparkling water brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Polar was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Spindrift was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Polar was listed before Spindrift in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
LaCroix1st- Polar2nd
San Pellegrino3rd- Bubly4th
Perrier5th- Spindrift6th
Waterloo7th
Sparkling Ice8th
Liquid Death–
Hint–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Spindrift3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- LaCroix3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- San Pellegrino3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Polar3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Bubly3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Perrier2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Sparkling Ice1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Waterloo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Liquid Death0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Hint0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about sparkling water brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which sparkling water should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best sparkling water brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best tasting seltzer?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sparkling water”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“seltzer water”
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 Polar or Spindrift more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Polar and Spindrift by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten sparkling water brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Spindrift, Polar. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Liquid Death | Spindrift | LaCroix | San Pellegrino | Hint | Sparkling Ice | Polar | Waterloo | Bubly | Perrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 38.8% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 2.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.8% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 8.6% | 5.7% | 8.6% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.8% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 4% | 5.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 36% |
| Jan 2026 | 31.9% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 7.8% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 3.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.5% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 6.2% | 7.6% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 2.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 30.1% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 11% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4% | 3.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.9% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 11% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6% | 4.9% | 4% | 2.7% |
| May 2026 | 29.3% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 2.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 28.7% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 7% | 8.6% | 7% | 3.1% | 2.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 29.3% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 32.7% | 12% | 12% | 8% | 6.6% | 8% | 5.4% | 9.8% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 31.9% | 14.3% | 11.7% | 9.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 2.9% |
How has the Polar and Spindrift comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Spindrift was ahead of Polar in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Polar’s share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States moved from 4.3% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Spindrift’s share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States moved from 11.7% to 14.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for United States sparkling water brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Spindrift overtook LaCroix to rank 2nd among sparkling water brands in the United States, with 14.3% of the searches.
Polar’s share of searches among sparkling water brands in the United States has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 8.6% to 5.2% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Polar’s and Spindrift’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.
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