Brandwave

Slate Digital vs Waves:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Slate Digital had more branded searches than Waves among audio plugin brands worldwide. Slate Digital had about 60,500 branded searches, while Waves had 22,200. Slate Digital made up 15% of all audio plugin brand searches we track, and Waves accounted for 5.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about audio plugin brands, Waves appeared in three of the five answers and Slate Digital in none.

Among audio plugin brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Slate Digital, about 3 searches for every 1 for Waves

Slate Digital 60.5K searchesWaves 22.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Waves, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Slate Digital in 0

Waves in 3 of 5Slate Digital in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Waves, the only one of the two named

Waves first in 3Slate Digital never named

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Top audio plugin brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Waves was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Slate Digital 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. FabFilter1st
  2. Waves2nd
  3. Soundtoys3rd
  4. Universal Audio4th
  5. iZotope5th
  6. Native Instruments6th
  7. Xfer Records7th
  8. Plugin Alliance8th
  9. Valhalla DSP9th
  10. +1 more
  11. Slate Digital–
  12. +4 more

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
  • Valhalla DSP1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Slate Digital0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about audio plugin 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 27, 2026.

Is Slate Digital or Waves more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Slate Digital and Waves 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.

Slate Digital and Waves among audio plugin brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Slate Digital, Waves. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFabFilterPlugin AllianceSlate DigitaliZotopeu-heSoundtoysValhalla DSPWavesUniversal AudioXfer RecordsKiloheartsSpectrasonicsNative InstrumentsOutputEventide
Nov 202515.1%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 20259.1%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 202616.2%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 202616.4%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 202615.3%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 202615%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 202616.2%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 202617.7%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 202614.5%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 202615.2%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 202615.6%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 202615%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 Slate Digital and Waves changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending October 2026: Slate Digital took it in December 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Slate Digital’s share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide moved from 5.6% to 15%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 60.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Waves’ share of searches among audio plugin brands worldwide moved from 6.8% to 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 22.2K.

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

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Slate Digital overtook iZotope and 3 others to rank 3rd among audio plugin brands worldwide, with 15% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Waves worldwide fell 55.2% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 22.2K in October 2026.

How are Slate Digital’s and Waves’ branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Slate Digital’s and Waves’ 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.

Slate Digital

1 branded search term

  • slate digital

Waves

1 branded search term

  • waves plugins

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among audio plugin brands

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