Brandwave

Fleischmann vs Kato:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Kato had more branded searches than Fleischmann among model railway brands worldwide. Kato had about 6,800 branded searches, while Fleischmann had 980. Kato made up 3.4% of all model railway brand searches we track, and Fleischmann accounted for 0.49%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about model railway brands, Kato appeared in four of the five answers and Fleischmann in none.

Among model railway brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Kato, about 7 searches for every 1 for Fleischmann

Kato 6.8K searchesFleischmann 980 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kato, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Fleischmann in 0

Kato in 4 of 5Fleischmann in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kato, the only one of the two named

Kato first in 3Fleischmann never named

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Top model railway brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kato was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Fleischmann did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Kato1st
  2. Bachmann2nd
  3. Hornby3rd
  4. Marklin4th
  5. Roco5th
  6. PIKO6th
  7. Athearn7th
  8. Atlas Model Railroad8th
  9. Lionel9th
  10. +5 more
  11. Fleischmann–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Bachmann4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kato4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hornby3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Marklin2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Athearn2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PIKO2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Lionel1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Atlas Model Railroad1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Roco1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Fleischmann0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about model railway brands

5 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 21, 2026.

Is Fleischmann or Kato more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Fleischmann and Kato by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 model railway brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Fleischmann and Kato among model railway brands worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHornbyMTHLionelMarklinBachmannRapido TrainsAthearnKatoWalthersAtlas Model RailroadRocoGraham FarishPecoPIKOFleischmann
Nov 202528.8%10.5%26.3%8.6%7.1%4.7%3%2.8%3.3%2.1%0.66%0.6%0.55%0.51%0.36%
Dec 202526.4%9.7%27.3%9.7%7.9%4.3%3.4%3.1%3.4%1.9%0.61%0.7%0.59%0.55%0.39%
Jan 202633.4%12.2%16.7%10%6.7%4.5%4.1%3.1%3.6%2.4%0.86%0.7%0.73%0.59%0.47%
Feb 202629.7%16.3%14.9%8.9%7.3%4.9%4.7%3.5%4%2.7%0.73%0.79%0.67%0.49%0.51%
Mar 202629.7%16.2%15.7%8.9%5.9%5.9%3.8%3.9%4%2.6%0.68%0.93%0.69%0.43%0.51%
Apr 202631.4%17.2%14.3%9.4%6.3%5.1%3.8%3.7%3.6%2.3%0.77%0.83%0.55%0.46%0.41%
May 202631.9%17.4%13%9.5%6.4%5.2%3.8%3.7%3.7%2.3%0.72%0.84%0.48%0.46%0.52%
Jun 202633.5%15%13.7%10%6.7%5.5%3.3%3.4%3.7%2.4%0.61%0.72%0.51%0.49%0.47%
Jul 202632.8%14.7%15.6%8%6.6%5.4%4%3.5%3.6%2.9%0.8%0.7%0.56%0.48%0.46%
Aug 202630.5%16.7%14.5%9.1%7.5%5%3.4%3.6%3.8%2.7%0.8%0.81%0.69%0.5%0.56%
Sep 202631.8%17.4%13.8%9.5%6.4%5.2%3.6%3.6%3.9%1.9%0.67%0.84%0.57%0.53%0.42%
Oct 202630%16.4%15%11%6%6%3.4%3.4%3.2%2.2%0.94%0.79%0.66%0.64%0.49%

How has branded search for Fleischmann and Kato changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Kato was ahead of Fleischmann in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Fleischmann’s share of searches among model railway brands worldwide moved from 0.36% to 0.49%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.1K to 980.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Kato’s share of searches among model railway brands worldwide moved from 2.8% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.7K to 6.8K.

How did search popularity change for model railway brands worldwide in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Kato rose from 9th to 8th among model railway brands worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Fleischmann worldwide fell 14% over 12 measured months, from 1.1K to 980 in October 2026.

How are Fleischmann’s and Kato’s branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fleischmann’s and Kato’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.

Fleischmann

2 branded search terms

  • fleischmann model railway
  • fleischmann trains

Kato

3 branded search terms

  • kato model trains
  • kato n scale
  • kato trains

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among model railway brands

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