Brandwave

How popular isBIC?

In September 2026, people searched for BIC by name about 505,000 times worldwide, a 5.2% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 30% of all global ballpoint pen brand searches, placing BIC first out of ten brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ballpoint pen brands, BIC appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the ten.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

BIC is the most searched of 10 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. BICShare of searches 30%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Faber-CastellShare of searches 25%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
  3. ParkerShare of searches 20.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. PilotShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. CrossShare of searches 3.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th

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Top ballpoint pen brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BIC appeared in all five answers. BIC is the second most recommended of the ten.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. uni-ball1st
  2. BIC2nd
  3. Parker3rd
  4. Pilot4th
  5. Zebra5th
  6. Fisher Space Pen6th
  7. Cross7th
  8. Lamy8th
  9. Faber-Castell9th
  10. Muji–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • BIC5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • uni-ball5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Parker4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pilot4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cross3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Zebra3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lamy2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fisher Space Pen2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Faber-Castell1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Muji0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about ballpoint pen brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which ballpoint pen brands compete with BIC?

BIC against ballpoint pen brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for BIC, Faber-Castell, Parker, Pilot, Cross, Lamy. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBICFaber-CastellParkerPilotCrossLamyFisher Space PenZebraMujiuni-ball
Oct 202532.3%27.8%15.2%10.7%3.7%3.7%2%2%1.4%1.1%
Nov 202531.8%27.3%14.9%10.6%4.5%3.7%2.5%2%1.6%1.1%
Dec 202530.5%25.4%17%11.2%5.1%4.2%2.3%1.9%1.5%1%
Jan 202630.4%31%13.8%10.2%3.4%3.4%3.4%1.9%1.5%1%
Feb 202628.6%29.1%15.9%11.7%3.9%3.9%2.1%1.8%1.4%1.4%
Mar 202633.6%23.6%15.7%11.1%3.9%3.9%2.6%2.1%2.1%1.4%
Apr 202634.9%24.5%13.4%12.4%4%3.3%2.7%1.8%1.8%1.2%
May 202631.3%26%14.3%13.2%4.3%3.5%2.3%1.9%1.9%1.3%
Jun 202632.4%22%18%12.3%4.4%3.6%3%1.6%1.6%1.1%
Jul 202628.3%23.5%19.2%13.1%3.9%4.7%2.6%1.7%1.7%1.2%
Aug 202629%29.5%16.1%11.9%3.2%4%2.2%1.8%1.5%0.97%
Sep 202630%25%20.4%11.7%3.4%3.4%1.8%1.8%1.5%1%

  1. 1.BIC

    30%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 442K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  2. 2.Faber-Castell

    25%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 368K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -4.5 points.

  3. 3.Parker

    20.4%

    Held 3rd. 301K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +4.3 points.

  4. 4.Pilot

    11.7%

    Held 4th. 173K estimated branded searches, -4.5% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.Cross

    3.4%

    Moved from 6th to 5th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  6. 6.Lamy

    3.4%

    Moved from 5th to 6th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  7. 7.Fisher Space Pen

    1.8%

    Held 7th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  8. 8.Zebra

    1.8%

    Held 8th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  9. 9.Muji

    1.5%

    Held 9th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  10. 10.uni-ball

    1%

    Held 10th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between BIC and its closest rivals

Every comparison with BIC

25 comparisons

How has branded search demand for BIC changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for BIC worldwide rose from 480K to 505K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BIC’s share of searches among ballpoint pen brands worldwide decreased from 32.3% to 30%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BIC’s share of searches among ballpoint pen brands worldwide peaked at 34.9% in April 2026 and was lowest at 28.3% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for ballpoint pen brands worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, BIC overtook Faber-Castell to become the leader among ballpoint pen brands worldwide, with 30% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Parker gained share of searches among ballpoint pen brands worldwide, from 16.1% to 20.4%.

  3. In September 2026, Faber-Castell lost share of searches among ballpoint pen brands worldwide, from 29.5% to 25%.

  4. In September 2026, Lamy lost share of searches among ballpoint pen brands worldwide, from 4% to 3.4%.

  5. Fisher Space Pen’s share of searches among ballpoint pen brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3% to 1.8% in September 2026.

  6. In September 2026, Cross rose from 6th to 5th among ballpoint pen brands worldwide.

How are BIC’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BIC’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • bic
  • bic highlighter pens
  • bic lighter
  • bic pen

Do you work for BIC? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does BIC compete?

BIC is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Pen and stationery brands1st of 1328.1%Show ranking
Pen brands1st of 932.7%Show ranking
Ballpoint pen brands1st of 1030%Shown above
Razor blade brands2nd of 731%Show ranking
Stationery1st of 942.2%Show ranking
Highlighter brands4th of 50.66%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is BIC your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

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