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Gen Z’s Top 15 Most-Recommended Brands

Recommendations are everything to Gen Z, and YPulse’s Brand Tracker data shows their top recommended brands are the ones that fit their budget and social feeds…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Jul 29 2025
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Gen Z relies heavily on recommendations—whether it’s from friends, family, or someone on their feed—when deciding what brands to buy from
YPulse’s Brand Tracker shows Chick-fil-A is a top recommended brand, thanks to its affordability and viral menu hacks from content creators
Dr Pepper has earned its top recommended ranking with its unique flavor and social media hype

Recommendations are the (not-so) secret sauce driving brand success with young consumers. Before hitting “buy,” young consumers are doing their homework—scrolling through reviews, checking social media, and talking to friends and family. YPulse data shows 65% of 13-17-year-olds and 70% of 18-24-year-olds say it’s important for the brands they purchase from to be recommended by others. But those “others” don’t have to be celebrities or mega-influencers like many brands think—they’re just as often friends, siblings, or relatable creators with few followers on their FYP. Gen Z isn’t just taking in recommendations—they’re giving them, too. They’re proud to hype up the...