Brandwave

Fanatec vs Thrustmaster:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Fanatec had more branded searches than Thrustmaster among sim racing brands worldwide. Fanatec had about 201,000 branded searches, while Thrustmaster had 45,900. Fanatec made up 20.2% of all sim racing brand searches we track, and Thrustmaster accounted for 4.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sim racing brands, Fanatec and Thrustmaster each appeared in two of the four answers. Fanatec was mentioned before Thrustmaster in two out of three answers.

Among sim racing brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Fanatec, about 4 searches for every 1 for Thrustmaster

Fanatec 201K searchesThrustmaster 45.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 4 answers.

Fanatec in 2 of 4Thrustmaster in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Fanatec, named ahead of Thrustmaster in 2 of 3 answers

Fanatec first in 2Thrustmaster first in 1

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Top sim racing brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Fanatec was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Thrustmaster was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Fanatec was listed before Thrustmaster in two out of three answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Moza1st
  2. Logitech2nd
  3. Fanatec3rd
  4. Simagic4th
  5. Thrustmaster5th
  6. Simucube6th
  7. Playseat–
  8. Next Level Racing–
  9. Trak Racer–
  10. Sim-Lab–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Moza4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Logitech3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Fanatec2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Thrustmaster2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Simagic1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Simucube1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Playseat0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Next Level Racing0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Trak Racer0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Sim-Lab0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about sim racing brands

4 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 27, 2026.

Is Fanatec or Thrustmaster more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Fanatec and Thrustmaster by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 sim racing brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Fanatec and Thrustmaster among sim racing brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Fanatec, Thrustmaster. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLogitechFanatecMozaPlayseatSimagicThrustmasterNext Level RacingSimucubeTrak RacerSim-LabHeusinkveldAsetek SimSports
Oct 202536%25.8%6.5%6.3%6.3%5.7%4.2%4.2%2.3%1.6%0.69%0.39%
Nov 202535.1%29.1%7%5.8%5.8%5.2%3.9%3.2%2.6%1.2%0.64%0.36%
Dec 202537.9%25.8%6.4%7.7%5.2%5.6%4.2%2.8%2.3%1%0.57%0.23%
Jan 202636.4%26.2%8%6.4%5.3%5.7%4.3%2.9%2.4%1.3%0.86%0.28%
Feb 202637.1%25.2%7.7%6.2%5.1%5.6%5.1%2.8%2.8%1.5%0.83%0.27%
Mar 202635.3%25.4%7.8%6.3%6.3%5.7%5.1%2.8%2.8%1.5%0.84%0.3%
Apr 202637%26.7%8.2%5.4%5.4%4.9%4.4%2.9%2.4%1.6%0.88%0.28%
May 202638.8%24.7%8.8%5%6.1%5.6%4.1%2.7%2.2%1.2%0.66%0.27%
Jun 202636.5%24.7%8.3%5%7.4%5.6%4.1%2.7%3.3%1.5%0.66%0.26%
Jul 202641%19.8%9.1%4.9%7.3%5.4%4%2.7%3.3%1.5%0.8%0.29%
Aug 202639.3%20%10.8%4.9%6%4.6%4.9%2.7%4%1.8%0.8%0.26%
Sep 202639.8%20.2%10.9%6.1%6.1%4.6%4.1%2.7%2.7%1.8%0.81%0.23%

How has the Fanatec and Thrustmaster comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Fanatec was ahead of Thrustmaster in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fanatec’s share of searches among sim racing brands worldwide moved from 25.8% to 20.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 201K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Thrustmaster’s share of searches among sim racing brands worldwide moved from 5.7% to 4.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 80.6K to 45.9K.

How did search popularity change for sim racing brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Thrustmaster rose from 7th to 6th among sim racing brands worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Fanatec worldwide fell 45.4% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 201K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fanatec’s and Thrustmaster’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.

Fanatec

1 branded search term

  • fanatec

Thrustmaster

2 branded search terms

  • thrustmaster t300
  • thrustmaster wheel

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sim racing brands

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