Faber-Castell vs Holbein:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Faber-Castell had more branded searches than Holbein among watercolor brands worldwide. Faber-Castell had about 368,000 branded searches, while Holbein had 13,900. Faber-Castell made up 82.8% of all watercolor brand searches we track, and Holbein accounted for 3.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about watercolor brands, Holbein appeared in two of the four answers and Faber-Castell in none.
Who do people search for more?
Faber-Castell, about 26 searches for every 1 for Holbein
Who does AI mention more?
Holbein, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Faber-Castell in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Holbein, the only one of the two named
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Top watercolor brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Holbein was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Faber-Castell did not appear in any of the four answers.
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.
Winsor & Newton4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Daniel Smith4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- Holbein2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- M. Graham2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Faber-Castell0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about watercolor brands
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which watercolor brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best watercolor brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best watercolor brand for beginner painting?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best watercolours”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“watercolour paint set”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
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 Faber-Castell or Holbein more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Faber-Castell and Holbein by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six watercolor brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Faber-Castell, Holbein. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Faber-Castell | Winsor & Newton | Holbein | Daniel Smith | M. Graham |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 83% | 11.2% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 0.23% |
| Nov 2025 | 81.9% | 11% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 0.22% |
| Dec 2025 | 79.7% | 13.1% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 0.28% |
| Jan 2026 | 84.5% | 9.3% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 0.24% |
| Feb 2026 | 84.5% | 9.3% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 0.23% |
| Mar 2026 | 78.9% | 13% | 4% | 3.9% | 0.23% |
| Apr 2026 | 79.5% | 13.1% | 4% | 3.2% | 0.19% |
| May 2026 | 79.5% | 13.1% | 4% | 3.2% | 0.23% |
| Jun 2026 | 76.4% | 15.4% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 81.4% | 11% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 0.24% |
| Aug 2026 | 85.1% | 9.4% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 0.14% |
| Sep 2026 | 82.8% | 11.1% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 0.16% |
How has the Faber-Castell and Holbein comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Faber-Castell was ahead of Holbein in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Faber-Castell’s share of searches among watercolor brands worldwide moved from 83% to 82.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 368K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Holbein’s share of searches among watercolor brands worldwide moved from 2.9% to 3.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.9K to 13.9K.
How did search popularity change for watercolor brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Faber-Castell lost share of searches among watercolor brands worldwide, from 85.1% to 82.8%.
Holbein’s share of searches among watercolor brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4.2% to 3.1% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Faber-Castell’s and Holbein’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.
Faber-Castell
1 branded search term
- faber castell
Holbein
3 branded search terms
- holbein gouache
- holbein paint
- holbein watercolor
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