How popular isMSC Industrial Supply?
In September 2026, people searched for MSC Industrial Supply by name about 22,200 times worldwide, an 18.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 1.4% of all global PPE and safety gear supplier searches, placing MSC Industrial Supply fourth out of six suppliers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PPE and safety gear suppliers, MSC Industrial Supply appeared in three of the four answers and was the third most recommended of the six.
MSC Industrial Supply is the fourth most searched of 6 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.
- GraingerShare of searches 78%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
- FastenalShare of searches 15.7%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Steel BlueShare of searches 3.9%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –- MSC Industrial SupplyShare of searches 1.4%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Total SafetyShare of searches 0.77%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top PPE and safety gear suppliers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, MSC Industrial Supply was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. MSC Industrial Supply is the third most recommended of the six.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Grainger4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Fastenal3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- MSC Industrial Supply3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Steel Blue0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Total Safety0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
ProChoice0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about PPE and safety gear suppliers
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which PPE supplier should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best PPE suppliers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best PPE supplier for workplace safety gear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“safety gear suppliers”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“industrial safety gear”
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 21, 2026.
Which PPE and safety gear suppliers compete with MSC Industrial Supply?
Share of searches by month for Grainger, Fastenal, Steel Blue, MSC Industrial Supply. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Grainger | Fastenal | Steel Blue | MSC Industrial Supply | Total Safety | ProChoice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 75.1% | 18.5% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.74% | 0.27% |
| Nov 2025 | 74.7% | 18.4% | 4.5% | 1.4% | 0.74% | 0.33% |
| Dec 2025 | 74.7% | 18.4% | 4.5% | 1.4% | 0.74% | 0.27% |
| Jan 2026 | 75.3% | 18.6% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.75% | 0.22% |
| Feb 2026 | 75.3% | 18.6% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.75% | 0.22% |
| Mar 2026 | 74.7% | 18.4% | 4.5% | 1.4% | 0.74% | 0.22% |
| Apr 2026 | 75.3% | 18.6% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.75% | 0.22% |
| May 2026 | 78% | 15.7% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.77% | 0.23% |
| Jun 2026 | 75.3% | 18.6% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.75% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 78.1% | 15.8% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.63% | 0.19% |
| Aug 2026 | 78% | 15.7% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.77% | 0.23% |
| Sep 2026 | 78% | 15.7% | 3.9% | 1.4% | 0.77% | 0.23% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 78% | 1.2M | 0% | 0 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 15.7% | 246K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 3.9% | 60.5K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 1.4% | 22.2K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 0.77% | 12.1K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 0.23% | 3.6K | 0% | 0 points |
1.Grainger
78%
Held 1st. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
2.Fastenal
15.7%
Held 2nd. 246K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
3.9%
Held 3rd. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
1.4%
Held 4th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.77%
Held 5th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.23%
Held 6th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between MSC Industrial Supply and its closest rivals
- MSC Industrial Supply vs Grainger: compare popularity
- MSC Industrial Supply vs Fastenal: compare popularity
MSC Industrial Supply vs Steel Blue: compare popularity
MSC Industrial Supply vs Total Safety: compare popularity
MSC Industrial Supply vs ProChoice: compare popularity- Compare MSC Industrial Supply with any brand
Every comparison with MSC Industrial Supply
5 comparisons
How has branded search demand for MSC Industrial Supply changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for MSC Industrial Supply worldwide fell from 27.1K to 22.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MSC Industrial Supply’s share of searches among PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide held steady, from 1.7% to 1.4%.
How did search popularity change for PPE and safety gear suppliers worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Fastenal worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 301K to 246K in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for ProChoice worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 3.6K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for MSC Industrial Supply worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 22.2K in September 2026.
How are MSC Industrial Supply’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MSC Industrial Supply’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- msc industrial supply
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