Brandwave

Festool vs Makita:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Makita had more branded searches than Festool among hand planer brands in New Zealand. Makita had about 8,980 branded searches, while Festool had 3,000. Makita made up 44.1% of all hand planer brand searches we track, and Festool accounted for 14.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hand planer brands, Makita appeared in two of the five answers and Festool in one. Makita was mentioned before Festool in every answer that named either.

Among hand planer brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Makita, about 3 searches for every 1 for Festool

Makita 9K searchesFestool 3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Makita, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Festool in 1

Makita in 2 of 5Festool in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Makita, named ahead of Festool in 2 of 2 answers

Makita first in 2Festool never first

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Top hand planer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Makita was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Festool was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Makita was listed before Festool in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Stanley1st
  2. Veritas2nd
  3. Lie-Nielsen3rd
  4. Makita4th
  5. Festool5th
  6. Ryobi6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Stanley5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lie-Nielsen3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Veritas3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Makita2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ryobi1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Festool1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about hand planer brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Festool or Makita more popular in search?

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

Festool and Makita among hand planer brands in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMakitaRyobiFestoolStanleyLie-NielsenVeritas
Oct 202544.2%41.2%13.3%0.68%0.43%0.18%
Nov 202536.1%53.1%9.9%0.46%0.36%0.1%
Dec 202536.7%54%8.3%0.57%0.36%0.1%
Jan 202641.7%47.3%9.6%0.71%0.53%0.12%
Feb 202645.1%41.3%12.4%0.56%0.44%0.19%
Mar 202640.9%45%13%0.51%0.28%0.23%
Apr 202644.8%42.5%11.3%0.76%0.44%0.19%
May 202647.1%37.4%14.3%0.79%0.33%0.2%
Jun 202646.1%36.9%15.4%0.88%0.57%0.19%
Jul 202646.7%35.5%15.9%1.1%0.58%0.19%
Aug 202643.9%41.2%13.4%0.84%0.42%0.18%
Sep 202644.1%40.3%14.7%0.54%0.25%0.15%

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

3 findings
  • Makita was ahead of Festool in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Festool’s share of searches among hand planer brands in New Zealand moved from 13.3% to 14.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2K to 3K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Makita’s share of searches among hand planer brands in New Zealand moved from 44.2% to 44.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7.2K to 9K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand hand planer brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Festool gained share of searches among hand planer brands in New Zealand, from 13.4% to 14.7%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Makita in New Zealand rose 24.9% over 12 measured months, from 7.2K to 9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

14 search terms

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

Festool

12 branded search terms

  • festool
  • festool chop saw
  • festool domino
  • festool orbital sander
  • festool planer
  • festool plunge saw
  • festool router
  • festool sander
  • festool track
  • festool track saw
  • festool vacuum
  • festool wall sander

Makita

2 branded search terms

  • makita
  • makita planer

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among hand planer brands

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