Brandwave

Next Level Racing vs Thrustmaster:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Thrustmaster had more branded searches than Next Level Racing among sim racing brands worldwide. Thrustmaster had about 45,900 branded searches, while Next Level Racing had 40,500. Thrustmaster made up 4.6% of all sim racing brand searches we track, and Next Level Racing accounted for 4.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sim racing brands, Thrustmaster appeared in two of the four answers and Next Level Racing in none.

Among sim racing brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Thrustmaster, about 13% more searches than Next Level Racing

Thrustmaster 45.9K searchesNext Level Racing 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Thrustmaster, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Next Level Racing in 0

Thrustmaster in 2 of 4Next Level Racing in 0 of 4

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Top sim racing brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Thrustmaster was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Next Level Racing 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.

  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 Next Level Racing or Thrustmaster more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Next Level Racing 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.

Next Level Racing and Thrustmaster among sim racing brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Thrustmaster, Next Level Racing. 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 Next Level Racing and Thrustmaster comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Next Level Racing took it in August 2026, Thrustmaster took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Next Level Racing’s share of searches among sim racing brands worldwide moved from 4.2% to 4.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 40.5K.
  • 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?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Playseat overtook Simagic and Next Level Racing to rank 4th among sim racing brands worldwide, with 6.1% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Next Level Racing lost share of searches among sim racing brands worldwide, from 4.9% to 4.1%.

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

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Next Level Racing’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.

Next Level Racing

1 branded search term

  • next level racing

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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