ChatGPT Has 12% of Google’s Search Volume but Google Sends 190x More Traffic to Websites

02/11/26
Source: Data & Studies – SEO Blog by Ahrefs by Patrick Stox. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of ChatGPT vs Google Search: Usage, Traffic, and CTR Comparison in 2025

ChatGPT processes 2.5 billion prompts daily, capturing nearly 18% of Google’s search volume, but users interact with the platforms differently. Despite its growth, ChatGPT drives 190 times less website traffic and has a 96% lower click-through rate (CTR) compared to Google. This highlights contrasting business models: Google connects users to websites, while ChatGPT prioritizes conversational engagement, signaling potential shifts in the future of online search and web traffic dynamics.

Optimixed’s Overview: Analyzing the Shifting Landscape of Search Traffic and User Intent Between ChatGPT and Google in 2025

Daily Search Volume and Usage Breakdown

As of July 2025, ChatGPT handles 2.5 billion prompts per day, which represents about 18% of Google’s 13.7 billion daily searches. However, not all ChatGPT prompts qualify as traditional searches. Based on detailed analysis:

  • 65% of ChatGPT usage aligns with traditional search queries (facts, products, recipes, advice).
  • Google continues to dominate with over 5 trillion annual searches, compared to ChatGPT’s estimated 912 billion annual prompts.

Traffic and Click-Through Rate (CTR) Disparity

One of the most significant differences lies in the impact on website traffic:

  • Google drives nearly 40% of total website traffic, whereas ChatGPT accounts for just 0.21%.
  • This equates to Google sending approximately 190 times more traffic to websites than ChatGPT.
  • The estimated CTR for ChatGPT is dramatically lower — roughly 96% less than Google’s CTR.

Different User Experiences and Business Models

The data reveals fundamentally different user engagement approaches:

  • Google functions primarily as a gateway to websites, encouraging users to click through and explore external content.
  • ChatGPT aims to keep users within conversational AI interactions, often providing direct answers without directing users to external sites.

This shift in search behavior could challenge traditional website traffic models and raise questions about the sustainability of current digital marketing strategies.

Implications for the Future of Search and Web Traffic

While ChatGPT has quickly surpassed competitors like Bing in daily search volume, the massive gap in traffic referral and CTR suggests that website owners and marketers face new challenges. The rise of AI-driven search interfaces may require:

  • Reevaluating how content is optimized for AI platforms versus traditional search engines.
  • Anticipating potential declines in referral traffic from AI conversational models.
  • Developing strategies that balance user engagement on AI platforms with website visits.

Ultimately, the evolving search landscape calls for adaptability as platforms like ChatGPT redefine how users seek and consume information online.