You're not alone in asking this question but it remains almost pointless.
Both brands make a bewildering range of cameras, some of which are better than others.
In fact, I have a strong suspicion that many models are shared between several brands with only cosmetic changes as they roll off the same production lines in China.
Canon and Sony are, by no means, the only good brands on the market and often seem expensive compared with similar spec competitors (perhaps precisely because potential buyers are so blinkered).
If I were looking for a new camera I would have to consider Nikon, Fujifilm, Pentax and Panasonic. Then there are niche players like Sigma and Ricoh.
I currently use an Olympus and had one before -- both secondhand, tough as old boots, easy to use and take nice pictures