Brandwave

Sharpie vs uni-ball:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Sharpie had more branded searches than uni-ball among pen and stationery brands in New Zealand. Sharpie had about 1,930 branded searches, while uni-ball had 970. Sharpie made up 21.8% of all pen and stationery brand searches we track, and uni-ball accounted for 11%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pen and stationery brands, uni-ball appeared in all five answers and Sharpie in none.

Among pen and stationery brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Sharpie, about 2 searches for every 1 for uni-ball

Sharpie 1.9K searchesuni-ball 970 searches

Who does AI mention more?

uni-ball, mentioned in every answer we collected

uni-ball in 5 of 5Sharpie in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

uni-ball, the only one of the two named

uni-ball first in 5Sharpie never named

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Top pen and stationery brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, uni-ball appeared in all five answers. Sharpie 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. Pilot1st
  2. uni-ball2nd
  3. Lamy3rd
  4. Parker4th
  5. Zebra5th
  6. IRO6th
  7. Sharpie–
  8. BIC–
  9. Staedtler–
  10. Moleskine–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • uni-ball5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pilot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lamy4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • IRO3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Parker2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Zebra2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sharpie0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BIC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Staedtler0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Moleskine0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about pen and stationery 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 21, 2026.

Is Sharpie or uni-ball more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Sharpie and uni-ball by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten pen and stationery brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Sharpie and uni-ball among pen and stationery brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Sharpie, uni-ball. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSharpieBICStaedtlerParkeruni-ballPilotMoleskineIROLamyZebra
Oct 202523.6%18.8%11.8%11.2%7.2%7.5%10%4.9%2.7%2.3%
Nov 202520.9%17.2%11.7%11.9%7.2%6.6%12.1%6.5%3.5%2.4%
Dec 202519.9%15.8%11.7%13.7%5.8%5.5%16.1%6.6%3.6%1.4%
Jan 202621.3%17.1%19.2%7.9%8.2%6.5%11.2%5.2%2.3%1.1%
Feb 202623.5%16%13.4%9.8%13.2%7.7%6.9%5.3%2.8%1.4%
Mar 202623.9%18.9%10.7%10%10.4%9%7%4.4%2.4%3.2%
Apr 202621.5%24.5%10.7%9.8%9.7%7.4%7.3%4.4%2.9%1.9%
May 202621.1%20.5%12.6%10.6%9.8%10.4%6%4.7%2.5%1.7%
Jun 202622.2%18.8%13.9%11%9.1%8.3%6.9%4.9%2.6%2.3%
Jul 202620.3%19.5%12.3%10.7%11.1%7.8%8.5%4.8%3.2%1.7%
Aug 202619.5%19.2%12.6%10.7%13.3%8.2%8.1%4.2%2.2%1.9%
Sep 202621.8%18.9%12.8%11.3%11%8%7.5%4.4%2.4%2%

How has the Sharpie and uni-ball comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand pen and stationery brands in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Parker overtook uni-ball to rank 4th among pen and stationery brands in New Zealand, with 11.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Sharpie gained share of searches among pen and stationery brands in New Zealand, from 19.5% to 21.8%.

  3. In September 2026, uni-ball lost share of searches among pen and stationery brands in New Zealand, from 13.3% to 11%.

How are branded searches counted?

22 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sharpie’s and uni-ball’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.

Sharpie

9 branded search terms

  • felt tip sharpie
  • fine tip sharpie
  • sharpie
  • sharpie highlighters
  • sharpie markers
  • sharpie pencils
  • sharpie pens
  • sharpie s gel
  • ultra fine sharpie

uni-ball

13 branded search terms

  • uni ball
  • uni ball jetstream
  • uni ball markers
  • uni ball pencils
  • uni ball pens
  • uni ball signo
  • uniball
  • uniball 207
  • uniball ball pen
  • uniball jetstream
  • uniball markers
  • uniball pencils
  • uniball pens

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among pen and stationery brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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