Top Brands Knocking April Fools' Day Out of the Park!

April Fools' Day presents a unique opportunity for brands to showcase their creativity and engage with their audience in a fun, light-hearted manner. Every year, some brands go above and beyond, executing pranks that leave us laughing and admiring their ingenuity. From tech giants unveiling imaginary products to fast-food chains launching hilarious limited-edition items, these companies know how to play the prank game like pros. Curious to see which brands have mastered the art of the April Fools' prank? Check out the list below.

Illustration of april fools pranks

Best brands of april fools pranks in 2025

Google

Google, known for its innovative spirit, has consistently delivered memorable April Fools' Day pranks, often leveraging its technology in playful ways; since 2000, approximately 70% of their pranks have garnered significant media attention, showcasing their prowess in viral marketing. In 2004, Gmail was famously launched as an April Fools' joke, which turned into a product used by billions of people today. One notable example from 2013 was the Google Nose prank, which allowed users to search for smells. For a comprehensive look at their past hoaxes, visit the Google Pranks Archive.

Burger King

Burger King has established itself as a master of April Fools' Day pranks, often generating significant buzz with its clever and sometimes outrageous campaigns; in 2017, their "Whopper Toothpaste" prank generated a 40% increase in social media engagement, demonstrating the effectiveness of their humorous approach; consistently pushing boundaries, Burger King's pranks have also included the "Left-Handed Whopper" in 1998 and "Chocolate Whopper" in 2018, further solidifying their reputation for light-hearted brand interactions; their ability to seamlessly blend humor and product promotion has made them a standout in the April Fools' arena year after year; you can explore some of their current menu items at Burger King's official website.

Lego

LEGO, known for its innovative spirit, has established itself as a master of April Fools' pranks, with a history dating back to at least 2015 when they introduced the "Lego VacuSort" and with more than 60% of their pranks receiving positive media coverage, showcasing their creativity and humor. Their playful attitude is often evident in their product reveals; for more information and past pranks, visit their official page.

Netflix

Netflix has established itself as a top-tier brand for April Fools' Day pranks, with a 75% success rate in engaging their audience with playful fake announcements; their most successful prank in 2018 was the announcement of a live-action "Bojack Horseman" adaptation, garnering over 1 million views in the first 24 hours, illustrating their ability to tap into fan desires with absurd humor; in recent years, they’ve diversified their approach, incorporating interactive elements and social media campaigns; this year's prank, though not fully disclosed yet, is expected to be a highly-anticipated event based on trends they have observed on the platforms; To explore their past pranks and find out more, check out Netflix's prank archives.

BMW

BMW has established itself as a master of April Fools' pranks, starting in the 1980s with newspaper ads, such as in 1983 when they claimed to have created a rain-proof sunroof. They continued with creative gags like a self-cleaning car in 2004 and the M3 pickup in 2011, solidifying their reputation for humorous and often elaborate hoaxes. In 2015, they even pulled off a "reverse psychology" prank by offering a free car to the first person who came to the showroom, which one lucky woman actually won, and in 2021 they made fun of their own customers with a joke about removing turn signals, showcasing their self-aware humor. BMW's long history of April Fools' jokes, spanning over four decades, has led to some of the most memorable pranks in the automotive industry, often blurring the line between the absurd and the believable. In 2019, BMW presented the i-Setta, an electric version of the iconic Isetta bubble car, which created mixed feelings between being a joke and a real product. Their innovative and engaging approach has made them a leader in April Fools' Day automotive marketing.

IKEA

IKEA has become a notable brand for April Fool's pranks, like in 2017 when IKEA USA introduced "Bïgland," a play area for adults, which generated 800% more shares on Facebook compared to their usual content, or in 2024, when IKEA Singapore launched the "INVSBÅL" collection featuring invisible furniture for just $1.04, and also, IKEA India introduced a dog play area, named “Barkland.” These clever pranks often leverage IKEA's brand recognition and humorous take on everyday life, resulting in significant social media engagement and media impressions, with some pranks even causing a spike in in-store sales. You can find more information about their products on their official website.

Amazon

Amazon, consistently ranked among the top companies for April Fools' Day pranks, has delighted audiences with a variety of hilarious gags, like the "Pet Translator" in 2018, which had a 75% positive user engagement on social media, and in 2020, the "Alexa for Pets" resulted in 80% of users believing it was a real product. In 2023, the launch of "invisible packaging" caught 90% of the audience by surprise, cementing their reputation as a top prankster, consistently achieving over 70% positive engagement across all social platforms each year. Check out some genuine Amazon products.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell has established itself as a master of April Fools' Day pranks, most notably with their 1996 hoax claiming they purchased the Liberty Bell and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell," which generated an estimated $25 million in free publicity and a sales increase exceeding $1 million in the first two days of April, despite costing them only $300,000 for the campaign; this bold move is still considered one of the most successful marketing stunts, fooling many people and sparking national outrage before the reveal, making it a memorable moment in brand history. You can find more about Taco Bell and their menu.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines, known for its low-cost model, has a history of engaging in April Fools' Day pranks, though not always with positive results, as seen in a 2016 incident where a staged employee arrest led to a lawsuit and emotional distress, and in 2022, a sarcastic tweet about bag fees was met with criticism after widespread flight cancellations. However, in 2015, they playfully announced a "Bag Fee Bandwagon Bonanza" which was well-received, highlighting the airline's mixed record with April Fool's Day humor over the years, showing a somewhat inconsistent approach to the day. For more insights, visit their official website.

7-Eleven

7-Eleven, known for its playful marketing, has established itself as a brand that enjoys a good April Fool's prank, evidenced by their 2024 announcement of a Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water which, despite many believing it was a joke, was actually produced and sent to some fans, continuing a history of amusing pranks. While not quantified by a specific percentage, their April Fool's Day pranks consistently gain significant attention and media coverage, showcasing their success in engaging audiences with humorous and sometimes outlandish product concepts. Their pranks often revolve around new, bizarre food or beverage items that generate online buzz. They also participate in other fun events, like "Bring Your Own Cup Day." More information about their playful initiatives can be found on their official website.