Kilohearts vs Output:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Kilohearts had more branded searches than Output among audio plugin brands worldwide. Kilohearts had about 9,900 branded searches, while Output had 6,300. Kilohearts made up 2.5% of all audio plugin brand searches we track, and Output accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about audio plugin brands, neither Kilohearts nor Output appeared in any of the five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Kilohearts, about 57% more searches than Output
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 0 of 5 answers.
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Top audio plugin brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Kilohearts nor Output showed up in any of the five 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.
FabFilter3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
iZotope3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Soundtoys3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Waves3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Plugin Alliance2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Universal Audio2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Native Instruments2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
u-he1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Kilohearts0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Output0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about audio plugin brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best VST plugins for mixing?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which companies make the best audio plugins?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What plugins should I buy for music production?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“vst plugins”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“audio plugins”
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 Kilohearts or Output more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Kilohearts and Output by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 audio plugin brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Kilohearts, Output. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | FabFilter | Plugin Alliance | Slate Digital | iZotope | u-he | Soundtoys | Valhalla DSP | Waves | Universal Audio | Xfer Records | Kilohearts | Spectrasonics | Native Instruments | Output | Eventide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 15.1% | 12.4% | 5.6% | 12.4% | 8.6% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 2.6% | 2% | 3.1% | 2% | 1.4% | 0.26% |
| Dec 2025 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 4% | 13.5% | 6.4% | 36.8% | 5% | 3.3% | 5% | 2% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.23% |
| Jan 2026 | 16.2% | 13.2% | 7.2% | 13.2% | 8.1% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2% | 0.22% |
| Feb 2026 | 16.4% | 13.4% | 7.3% | 13.4% | 8.2% | 7.3% | 9% | 6% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2% | 0.27% |
| Mar 2026 | 15.3% | 12.5% | 6.9% | 15.3% | 8.9% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.25% |
| Apr 2026 | 15% | 12.3% | 6.7% | 12.3% | 10.2% | 10.1% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 0.25% |
| May 2026 | 16.2% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 13.2% | 11% | 7.2% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.27% |
| Jun 2026 | 17.7% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 11.8% | 10.3% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 2% | 0.29% |
| Jul 2026 | 14.5% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 14.5% | 10.3% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.29% |
| Aug 2026 | 15.2% | 12.5% | 6.8% | 12.5% | 10.8% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2.1% | 0.31% |
| Sep 2026 | 15.6% | 10.4% | 7% | 12.8% | 11.1% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 0.31% |
| Oct 2026 | 15% | 15% | 15% | 10% | 8.7% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.25% |
How has branded search for Kilohearts and Output changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kilohearts was ahead of Output in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Kilohearts’ share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide moved from 2% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 9.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Output’s share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide moved from 1.4% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10.2K to 6.3K.
How did search popularity change for audio plugin brands worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, Kilohearts lost share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide, from 3.1% to 2.5%.
In October 2026, Output lost share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide, from 2.1% to 1.6%.
How are Kilohearts’ and Output’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kilohearts’ and Output’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.
Kilohearts
1 branded search term
- kilohearts
Output
2 branded search terms
- output arcade
- output portal
Other head-to-heads among audio plugin brands
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