Festool vs Milwaukee:Which is more popular?

Name: Festool vs Milwaukee: Which is searched more in New Zealand?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, Festool and Milwaukee were level in searches among orbital sander brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 3K branded searches each, at 10.1% and 9.8% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about orbital sander brands, Festool and Milwaukee each appeared in two of the five answers. Festool was mentioned before Milwaukee in two out of three answers that named either.

Among orbital sander brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Festool and Milwaukee are searched for about as often as each other.

Festool 3K searchesMilwaukee 3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Festool in 2 of 5Milwaukee in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Festool, named ahead of Milwaukee in 2 of 3 answers

Festool first in 2Milwaukee first in 1

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Top orbital sander brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

Most recommended by AI

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

Mentioned by AI

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

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Makita	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Bosch	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Ryobi	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
DeWalt	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Festool	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Milwaukee	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5

Makita4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Bosch4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Ryobi3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
DeWalt2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Festool2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Milwaukee2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about orbital sander brands

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which orbital sander brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
1. 1Makita
2. 2Bosch
3. 3Ryobi
4. 4DeWalt
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best orbital sander brands in New Zealand?”
1. 1Makita
2. 2Bosch
3. 3DeWalt
4. 4Festool
5. 5Milwaukee
6. 6Ryobi
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best orbital sander brand in New Zealand for wood sanding?”
1. 1Makita
2. 2Bosch
3. 3Festool
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sander for wood”
1. 1Bosch
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cordless orbital sander”
1. 1Makita
2. 2Milwaukee
3. 3Ryobi

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Festool or Milwaukee more popular in search?

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

Festool and Milwaukee among orbital sander brands in New Zealand, by month

Month	Makita	Ryobi	DeWalt	Festool	Milwaukee	Bosch
Oct 2025	34.1%	27.5%	19.5%	9.2%	9.2%	0.58%
Nov 2025	28%	33.8%	22.6%	6.7%	8.4%	0.48%
Dec 2025	30.4%	36.7%	18.2%	6.1%	7.9%	0.63%
Jan 2026	33.3%	32.6%	19.2%	6.9%	7.3%	0.7%
Feb 2026	34.3%	27.5%	20%	8.7%	9.1%	0.47%
Mar 2026	31.9%	30%	19.3%	9.3%	8.9%	0.55%
Apr 2026	34.8%	27.9%	19.7%	7.8%	9.1%	0.6%
May 2026	34.9%	22.9%	20.5%	9.6%	11.5%	0.6%
Jun 2026	32.7%	22.6%	23%	10%	11.1%	0.56%
Jul 2026	34.3%	23.2%	20.4%	10.6%	11%	0.59%
Aug 2026	30.7%	25.4%	21.1%	8.5%	13.8%	0.52%
Sep 2026	33.2%	27.3%	19%	10.1%	9.8%	0.57%

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

3 findings

The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Milwaukee took it in November 2025, Festool took it in March 2026, Milwaukee took it in April 2026, Festool took it in September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Festool’s share of searches among orbital sander brands in New Zealand moved from 9.2% to 10.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2K to 3K.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Milwaukee’s share of searches among orbital sander brands in New Zealand moved from 9.2% to 9.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2K to 3K.

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

2 changes

In September 2026, Festool overtook Milwaukee to rank 4th among orbital sander brands in New Zealand, with 10.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Milwaukee lost share of searches among orbital sander brands in New Zealand, from 13.8% to 9.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

18 search terms

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