Seagate vs Western Digital:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Seagate had more branded searches than Western Digital among hard drive brands in New Zealand. Seagate had about 480 branded searches, while Western Digital had 210. Seagate made up 44.4% of all hard drive brand searches we track, and Western Digital accounted for 19.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hard drive brands, Seagate appeared in all five answers and Western Digital in four. Western Digital was mentioned before Seagate in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Seagate, about 2 searches for every 1 for Western Digital
Who does AI mention more?
Seagate, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Western Digital, named ahead of Seagate in 3 of 4 answers
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Top hard drive brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Seagate appeared in all five answers. Western Digital was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Western Digital was listed before Seagate in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Western Digital1st
- Seagate2nd
Samsung3rd
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Seagate5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Western Digital4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Samsung1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about hard drive brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hard drive brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hard drive brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best hard drive brand in New Zealand for more storage?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“external hard drive”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hard drive nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Seagate or Western Digital more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Seagate and Western Digital by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all three hard drive brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Seagate, Western Digital. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Seagate | Samsung | Western Digital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 45.3% | 33.3% | 21.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 43.1% | 35% | 21.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 49.3% | 33.8% | 16.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.1% | 24.4% | 27.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 43% | 21.5% | 35.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 43.9% | 29.5% | 26.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 45.7% | 30.2% | 24% |
| May 2026 | 51.4% | 22.5% | 26.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 47.7% | 24.6% | 27.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 41% | 33.3% | 25.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 43.5% | 36.6% | 19.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 44.4% | 36.1% | 19.4% |
How has the Seagate and Western Digital comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Seagate was ahead of Western Digital in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Seagate’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand moved from 45.3% to 44.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 530 to 480.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Digital’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand moved from 21.4% to 19.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 250 to 210.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand hard drive brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Seagate gained share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand, from 43.5% to 44.4%.
Western Digital’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 27.7% to 19.4% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
9 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Seagate’s and Western Digital’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.
Seagate
6 branded search terms
- one touch seagate
- seagate
- seagate 2t
- seagate barracuda
- seagate expansion
- seagate ironwolf
Western Digital
3 branded search terms
- western digital
- western digital disk
- westerndigital
Other head-to-heads among hard drive brands
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