Brandwave

Makita vs Ryobi:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Makita had more branded searches than Ryobi among belt sander brands in New Zealand. Makita had about 8,100 branded searches, while Ryobi had 7,480. Makita made up 33.3% of all belt sander brand searches we track, and Ryobi accounted for 30.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about belt sander brands, Makita appeared in all five answers and Ryobi in four. Makita was mentioned before Ryobi in every answer.

Among belt sander brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Makita, about 8% more searches than Ryobi

Makita 8.1K searchesRyobi 7.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Makita, mentioned in every answer we collected

Makita in 5 of 5Ryobi in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Makita, named ahead of Ryobi in every answer

Makita first in 5Ryobi never first

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Top belt sander brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Makita appeared in all five answers. Ryobi was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Makita was listed before Ryobi in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Makita1st
  2. Bosch2nd
  3. DeWalt3rd
  4. Ryobi4th
  5. Festool–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Makita5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bosch5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ryobi4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DeWalt4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Festool0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about belt sander brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is Makita or Ryobi more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Makita and Ryobi by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five belt sander brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Makita and Ryobi among belt sander brands in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMakitaRyobiDeWaltFestoolBosch
Oct 202533.6%31.1%23.8%11.1%0.36%
Nov 202526.8%38.2%26.8%7.9%0.28%
Dec 202529.3%41.7%21.8%7.1%0.22%
Jan 202632.5%36.1%23%8.1%0.25%
Feb 202634.1%30.9%24.3%10.4%0.26%
Mar 202631.4%34.2%23.2%11%0.24%
Apr 202634.7%31.5%24.1%9.4%0.26%
May 202635.4%26.7%25.7%11.8%0.37%
Jun 202632.7%26.2%28.6%12.2%0.35%
Jul 202634.9%26.4%25.4%13%0.26%
Aug 202631.6%30.1%27.3%10.8%0.24%
Sep 202633.3%30.7%23.5%12.2%0.29%

How has the Makita and Ryobi comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Ryobi took it in November 2025, Makita took it in February 2026, Ryobi took it in March 2026, Makita took it in April 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Makita’s share of searches among belt sander brands in New Zealand moved from 33.6% to 33.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 8.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ryobi’s share of searches among belt sander brands in New Zealand moved from 31.1% to 30.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.1K to 7.5K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand belt sander brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Makita gained share of searches among belt sander brands in New Zealand, from 31.6% to 33.3%.

  2. In September 2026, Ryobi gained share of searches among belt sander brands in New Zealand, from 30.1% to 30.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Makita’s and Ryobi’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.

Makita

1 branded search term

  • makita

Ryobi

2 branded search terms

  • ryobi
  • ryobi tool

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among belt sander brands

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