Voice Search Statistics (2026): Usage, Adoption & Trends

Voice search is on the rise. As of 2026, around 20.5% of global internet users actively use voice search, and there are approximately 8.4 billion voice assistants installed worldwide across smartphones, smart speakers, cars, and other devices. 

Around 11–12% of U.S. smart speaker owners report using voice assistants for shopping-related activities on a monthly basis, including product research and repeat purchases.

More and more people are using voice search because it’s faster and easier to talk to your phone than to type.

In this post, we’ll delve into key voice search statistics, including global and U.S. adoption rates, and examine the growing popularity of voice assistants worldwide.

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Voice Search Key Statistics 2026 (Top 10 Picks)

1. More than 1 billion voice searches are performed each month globally, while daily usage varies by region and age group, with younger users reporting the highest adoption rates.
2. Voice search adoption is highest among 18–34-year-olds, with around 77% reporting mobile voice search usage, according to GWI data.
3. As of 2026, the global number of active voice assistants reached approximately 8.4 billion.
4. Amazon Alexa continues to lead the U.S. smart speaker market, accounting for over 60% of installed smart speakers, largely driven by Amazon Echo devices.
5. Voice assistant usage in the US is projected to reach 162.7 million users by 2027.
6. A significant share of Google Assistant voice answers are sourced from top-ranking pages and featured snippets, highlighting the importance of strong SEO and structured content.
7. A significant portion of the population, 27%, uses voice search on their mobile phones.
8. Featured snippets and top search results account for roughly 40–41% of voice search responses, making snippet optimization crucial for voice SEO.
9. Nearly 5 in 10 consumers rely on voice search to discover local businesses.
10. Voice-assisted shopping is expected to grow steadily over the coming years, particularly for repeat and convenience-based purchases, though exact revenue estimates vary across studies.

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How many people use voice search?

Voice search is becoming super popular! Here’s what we know about the number of people worldwide who use it, how frequently they use it, and how its usage is changing over time.

1. In 2025–2026, approximately 20–21% of global internet users reported using voice search, indicating steady but moderate growth worldwide. This is just a slight increase from the 20.3% who used it in the first quarter of 2024. (Data Reportal)

2. Approximately 27% of the online global population uses voice search on mobile devices. (Think With Google)

3. Usage Trends Over Time:

• 2019: There were about 3.25 billion voice assistants in use globally. 
• 2020: A big jump! The number of these devices soared to 4.2 billion.
• 2022: Popularity peaked in the first half of the year, with 22.5% of internet users trying voice search. However, use went up and down a bit after that, staying between 19% and 20%.
• 2023: In the United States, 146 million people use voice assistants. This represents a slight increase from the previous year.
• 2024: It’s expected that 149.8 million people in the U.S. will use voice assistants. This is a slight increase compared to 2023.

Source: GWI Report

4. People between 18 and 34 years old are most likely to use voice search on their phones. A whopping 77% of them do it! (GWI Report)

5. Emerging markets such as Indonesia, China, and India show higher-than-average mobile voice search adoption, driven by mobile-first internet usage and regional language support. These countries have much higher adoption rates than the global average. (GWI)

5. According to GWI, around 25% of people who use the internet in the United States have used voice search or given commands to their phones.

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Demographics of Voice Search Users

Here are key voice search stats on age groups, geographic distribution, and device preferences.

1. Millennials and Gen Z dominate voice search usage, with 33% of 18-34-year-olds using voice assistants daily compared to 28% of users aged 35-54. (Source: eMarketer)

2. According to the Global Web Index, voice search is most popular in the Asia-Pacific region, with 60% of internet users using it, compared to 45% in North America and 40% in Europe.

3. Voicebot.ai reports that smartphones are the leading device for voice search, with 72% of users opting for them, compared to 35% who use smart speakers.

4. According to PwC Consumer Insights, voice assistant usage is higher in urban areas (68%) than in rural regions (48%), likely due to better internet access and technology.

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Voice Search Usage Statistics

Voice search is commonly used on smartphones, particularly for quick, hands-free tasks such as navigation, weather updates, and local searches, though daily usage varies by user segment, and 65% of voice searches happen on the go, particularly while driving or multitasking. Here are some key stats on voice search usage.

1. According to PwC, 65% of people use voice search while driving to take advantage of the hands-free feature. They use it for tasks such as finding directions and locating nearby places.

2. Perficient reports that over 50% of smartphone users conduct voice searches daily, primarily to obtain quick information such as weather updates, directions, or fun facts.

3. According to Statista, 43% of people who use voice assistants use them for shopping-related tasks, such as researching products, comparing prices, and finding deals.

4. Over 60% of smart speaker owners use voice assistants to control smart home devices, including lights, alarms, and thermostats, like lights and alarms. (Source: Voicebot.ai)

5. Our latest website statistics of 2026 reveal that most voice search responses are drawn from the top three results on Google.

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How Many Voice Assistants Are There?

Voice assistants use AI-powered software to process and respond to various voice commands.

Using voice assistants, you can perform tasks such as setting reminders, playing music, and asking questions.

Global Number of Voice Assistants

As of 2026, there are approximately 8.4 billion active voice assistants worldwide. This demonstrates that voice technology is ubiquitous – you can find it in your phone, smart speakers, car, and many other devices.

Top Players in the Voice Assistant Market and Their Trends

Here’s a list of the top-used voice assistants along with their market share.

1. Amazon Alexa

• Initially launched in 2014, Amazon is known for its Amazon Echo devices.
• Market Share: ~27% globally in smart speakers, and has an 84% market share in the US.

2. Google Assistant

• Launched in 2016, integrated into Android devices, smart speakers (Google Nest), etc.
• Market Share: ~23% globally in smart speakers.

3. Apple Siri

• Launched in 2011 as the first principal smartphone voice assistant.
• Market Share: Dominates within Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs).

4. Others:

• Microsoft Cortana and Samsung Bixby: Both are lagging in global adoption.

Source: Statista

How Many People Use Voice Assistants?

Voice assistants are now a significant part of our daily lives, and an increasing number of people around the world are utilizing them. Here are five stats that show this is happening.

1. By the end of 2026, the number of voice assistants in use worldwide is projected to reach 8.4 billion, surpassing the global population. (Juniper Research)

2. More Americans will use voice assistants in the future. eMarketer predicts that 162.7 million Americans will use voice assistants by 2027, compared to 149.1 million in 2026.

3. Demographic Insights: (Source: Huddle Creative)

• Millennials: 61.9% of U.S. Millennials use voice assistants monthly, primarily on smartphones.
• Gen Z: 55.2% report monthly usage.
• Gen X: 51.9% engage with voice assistants monthly.
• Baby Boomers: 31.5% use voice assistants monthly.

4. 30% of people around the world who use the internet and are between 16 and 64 years old use voice assistants every week. This shows that voice assistants are now a big part of how many people live their daily lives. (Backlinko)

5. In the United States and the United Kingdom, 28% of people say they use voice assistants every day. This suggests that voice assistants are becoming increasingly integral to how we conduct our daily activities. (Huddle Creative)

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Voice Search SEO Statistics

Here are some of the latest voice search SEO stats to help you better optimize your website for voice queries.

1. Eight out of ten times, over 80% of Google Assistant’s voice search answers come from the top three search results. (Search Engine Land)
2. Want to boost your voice search ranking? Focus on PageSpeed! Voice search result pages tend to load faster than average web pages, emphasizing the importance of page speed and performance optimization. (Backlinko)
3. According to PWC research, voice search is gaining popularity, with 90% of users finding it easier, 89% more convenient, and 87% faster than traditional text-based search.
4. Pages that perform well in voice search typically feature clear, well-structured, and informative content, rather than relying solely on word count. (Backlinko)
5. Content ranking well in desktop search often appears in voice search results, especially within the top 3. (Backlinko)
6. Aim for Google Featured Snippets. A significant 40.7% of voice search answers come directly from Featured Snippets or top rankings, and 55% of pages that rank in the top 10 Google results have at least one backlink. (Link Building Stats)
7. Seventy-five % of voice search results come from secure HTTPS websites.(Keywords Everywhere)

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Purchasing Trends Using Voice Search

Can voice search help you sell more? Let’s explore some of the purchasing trends using voice search.

How Voice Impacts E-Commerce

1. 21% of US consumers have used voice assistants to complete a purchase, according to PYMNTS.

2. 43% of individuals who own voice-enabled devices utilize them for online purchasing. (Synup)

3. 25% of people who own smart speakers have shopped using voice commands to purchase goods or services online. (Synup)

4. 71% of consumers would rather use voice search to check product prices. (G2 Learning Hub)

5. Home decor and appliances were the most popular voice-shopping category, with 76% of voice shoppers making purchases. Other popular categories included toiletries and beauty products (75%), home essentials (74%), clothing (67%), and pet supplies (68%). (Coupon Follow)

Voice Search in Retail and Marketing

Here are some key ways voice search is transforming the retail and marketing landscape.

1. A staggering 75% of smart speaker owners use their devices for local businesses weekly, while a surprising 53% rely on them daily. (Search Engine Journal)

2. 56% of people rely on voice assistants to locate dining options. (Small Biz Trends)

3. Voice search-generated revenue is projected to approach $40 billion by 2026. (G2)

4. A significant 82% of smartphone users rely on search engines to locate local shops, while 58% discover them through voice search. (G2)

5. By 2026, consumers are expected to spend over $164 billion through voice assistant-powered purchases. (VoiceBot)

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Predictions for Voice Search in 2026 and Beyond

Voice search is expected to continue growing alongside traditional text-based search, driven by AI improvements and increased mobile usage, driven by advancements in AI. Here are some insightful stats about it.

AI and Voice Search Evolution 

1. As of 2026, 71% of consumers prefer voice search over traditional methods, according to a PwC study. 

2. Voice searches are expected to see a 20% increase in specific keywords like ‘best,’ ‘easy,’ and ‘free.’ (WebFX)

3. By 2026, the global AI market is expected to reach $900 billion, primarily driven by advancements in generative AI, conversational AI, and voice technologies (Source: Gartner).

4. The global voice recognition market is set to explode, reaching a staggering $26.8 billion by 2026. (Globe News Wire)

5. Google’s voice recognition technology now boasts a 95% accuracy rate, which is very close to how well humans understand. (Source: Google AI Research)

6. According to McKinsey, 63% of people expect AI to improve their daily lives, and voice assistants are a key factor in this.

Voice Search in Marketing and SEO 

1. While voice search adoption is increasing, text-based search remains dominant, with voice search complementing rather than replacing traditional search behavior, which is a big deal for how companies market their products. (Semrush)

2. According to BrightLocal, 58% of voice search users are looking for local businesses. This means companies need to optimize their online presence for voice search to be found.

3. By 2026, people in the U.S. are expected to spend $40 billion using their voice to shop online, thanks to voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. (Source: OC&C Strategy Consultants)

Bing statistics 2026 show rising voice search use, especially among U.S. users. Check out the data.

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Conclusion: The Future of Voice Search In 2026

By 2026, voice search is expected to experience significant growth in popularity, primarily driven by advancements in AI and the increasing demand for personalized experiences.

Businesses that optimize for voice search will grow by connecting with customers more quickly and efficiently.

So, will you use voice search to your advantage? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments.

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FAQs | Essential Voice Search Stats