---
title: "FabFilter vs iZotope: Which is more popular?"
description: "Is FabFilter or iZotope more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Audio plugin brands set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/fabfilter-vs-izotope"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# FabFilter vs iZotope: Which is more popular?

Is FabFilter or iZotope more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Audio plugin brands set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Compared**: FabFilter and iZotope
- **Competitive set**: Audio plugin brands
- **Market**: Global
- **Month measured**: Oct 2026
- **FabFilter Share of Search**: 15%
- **iZotope Share of Search**: 10%

## Is FabFilter or iZotope more popular in search?

- In October 2026, FabFilter had more branded searches than iZotope among audio plugin brands worldwide. FabFilter had about 60,500 branded searches, while iZotope had 40,500. FabFilter made up 15% of all audio plugin brand searches we track, and iZotope accounted for 10%.
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: iZotope took it in December 2025, FabFilter took it in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, FabFilter’s share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide moved from 15.1% to 15%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 60.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, iZotope’s share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide moved from 12.4% to 10%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 40.5K.

## Top audio plugin brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FabFilter was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. iZotope was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. FabFilter was listed before iZotope in three out of four answers that named either.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FabFilter | 1st | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Waves | 2nd | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Soundtoys | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Universal Audio | 4th | 2 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| iZotope | 5th | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Native Instruments | 6th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| Xfer Records | 7th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| Plugin Alliance | 8th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| Valhalla DSP | 9th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| u-he | 10th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| Slate Digital | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Kilohearts | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Spectrasonics | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Output | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Eventide | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about audio plugin brands

- Asked ChatGPT "What are the best VST plugins for mixing?": 1. FabFilter, 2. Soundtoys, 3. Universal Audio, 4. iZotope
- Asked ChatGPT "Which companies make the best audio plugins?": 1. FabFilter, 2. Universal Audio, 3. iZotope, 4. Soundtoys, 5. Valhalla DSP, 6. Waves, 7. Plugin Alliance, 8. u-he
- Asked ChatGPT "What plugins should I buy for music production?": 1. Xfer Records, 2. FabFilter, 3. Soundtoys, 4. Native Instruments
- Searched Google, AI Overview "vst plugins": 1. Native Instruments, 2. Waves, 3. iZotope
- Searched Google, AI Overview "audio plugins": 1. Waves, 2. Plugin Alliance

Not named in any answer: Slate Digital, Kilohearts, Spectrasonics, Output and Eventide.

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 27, 2026.

## How did search popularity change for audio plugin brands worldwide in October 2026?

- In October 2026, Plugin Alliance overtook iZotope and u-he to rank 2nd among audio plugin brands worldwide, with 15% of the searches.
- In October 2026, Slate Digital overtook iZotope and 3 others to rank 3rd among audio plugin brands worldwide, with 15% of the searches.
- In October 2026, iZotope lost share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide, from 12.8% to 10%.
- In October 2026, FabFilter lost share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide, from 15.6% to 15%.

## How has branded search for FabFilter and iZotope changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

| Month | FabFilter estimated searches | FabFilter Share of Search | FabFilter rank | iZotope estimated searches | iZotope Share of Search | iZotope rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nov 2025 | 110K | 15.1% | 1 | 90.5K | 12.4% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | 74K | 9.1% | 3 | 110K | 13.5% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | 74K | 16.2% | 1 | 60.5K | 13.2% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | 60.5K | 16.4% | 1 | 49.5K | 13.4% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | 60.5K | 15.3% | 1 | 60.5K | 15.3% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | 60.5K | 15% | 1 | 49.5K | 12.3% | 2 |
| May 2026 | 60.5K | 16.2% | 1 | 49.5K | 13.2% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | 60.5K | 17.7% | 1 | 40.5K | 11.8% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | 49.5K | 14.5% | 1 | 49.5K | 14.5% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | 49.5K | 15.2% | 1 | 40.5K | 12.5% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | 49.5K | 15.6% | 1 | 40.5K | 12.8% | 2 |
| Oct 2026 | 60.5K | 15% | 1 | 40.5K | 10% | 4 |

## How are FabFilter’s and iZotope’s branded searches counted?

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FabFilter’s and iZotope’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.

- **FabFilter**: Measured on the search term “fabfilter”.
- **iZotope**: Measured on the search term “izotope”.

- [FabFilter profile](/demand/global-en/brands/fabfilter)
- [iZotope profile](/demand/global-en/brands/izotope)
- [All audio plugin brands worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/audio-plugin-brands): The set both shares are measured inside, 15 brands.

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is FabFilter or iZotope more popular in search?

In October 2026, FabFilter had more branded searches than iZotope among audio plugin brands worldwide. FabFilter had about 60,500 branded searches, while iZotope had 40,500. FabFilter made up 15% of all audio plugin brand searches we track, and iZotope accounted for 10%.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "FabFilter vs iZotope: Which is more popular?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/fabfilter-vs-izotope

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/fabfilter-vs-izotope. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.
