ABB vs Rockwell Automation:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, ABB had more branded searches than Rockwell Automation among VFD drives brands worldwide. ABB had about 550,000 branded searches, while Rockwell Automation had 110,000. ABB made up 19.2% of all VFD drives brand searches we track, and Rockwell Automation accounted for 3.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about VFD drives brands, ABB appeared in all five answers and Rockwell Automation in four. ABB was mentioned before Rockwell Automation in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
ABB, about 5 searches for every 1 for Rockwell Automation
Who does AI mention more?
ABB, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
ABB, named ahead of Rockwell Automation in every answer
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Top VFD drives brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, ABB appeared in all five answers. Rockwell Automation was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. ABB was listed before Rockwell Automation in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- ABB1st
- Danfoss2nd
Siemens3rd- Yaskawa4th
Schneider Electric5th
Rockwell Automation6th
Mitsubishi Electric7th
Hitachi–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- ABB5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Danfoss5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Yaskawa5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Siemens4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Schneider Electric4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Rockwell Automation4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Mitsubishi Electric3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Hitachi0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about VFD drives brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which VFD drive brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best VFD drive brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best VFD drive brand for industrial motors?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“vfd drive brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“variable frequency drive brands”
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.
Is ABB or Rockwell Automation more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for ABB and Rockwell Automation by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight VFD drives brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for ABB, Rockwell Automation. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Siemens | Schneider Electric | ABB | Danfoss | Mitsubishi Electric | Rockwell Automation | Yaskawa | Hitachi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 41.9% | 18.9% | 23.1% | 6.9% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 49% | 18% | 18% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.3% | 0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.9% | 17.3% | 21.2% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1.3% | 0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.4% | 20% | 20% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 1.5% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 44.4% | 20% | 20% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 1.5% | 0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 41.6% | 23% | 18.8% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 44% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 6% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.5% | 0.01% |
| May 2026 | 44.1% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 6% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.2% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 43.6% | 19.6% | 19.6% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 1.4% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 44% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 6% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.5% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 44.6% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 1.2% | 0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.5% | 23.5% | 19.2% | 5.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.01% |
How has the ABB and Rockwell Automation comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- ABB was ahead of Rockwell Automation in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ABB’s share of searches among VFD drives brands worldwide moved from 23.1% to 19.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 673K to 550K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rockwell Automation’s share of searches among VFD drives brands worldwide held steady at 3.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 110K.
How did search popularity change for VFD drives brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Schneider Electric overtook ABB to rank 2nd among VFD drives brands worldwide, with 23.5% of the searches.
In September 2026, ABB lost share of searches among VFD drives brands worldwide, from 20.1% to 19.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using ABB’s and Rockwell Automation’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
ABB
1 branded search term
- abb
Rockwell Automation
1 branded search term
- rockwell automation
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