Brandwave

Milwaukee vs Ryobi:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Ryobi had more branded searches than Milwaukee among SDS drill brands in New Zealand. Ryobi had about 6,600 branded searches, while Milwaukee had 2,950. Ryobi made up 27.8% of all SDS drill brand searches we track, and Milwaukee accounted for 12.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about SDS drill brands, Milwaukee appeared in four of the five answers and Ryobi in two. Milwaukee was mentioned before Ryobi in two out of three answers that named either.

Among SDS drill brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Ryobi, about 2 searches for every 1 for Milwaukee

Ryobi 6.6K searchesMilwaukee 3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Milwaukee, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Ryobi in 2

Milwaukee in 4 of 5Ryobi in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Milwaukee, named ahead of Ryobi in 2 of 3 answers

Milwaukee first in 2Ryobi first in 1

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Top SDS drill brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Milwaukee was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Ryobi 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 listed before Ryobi 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.

  1. Makita1st
  2. DeWalt2nd
  3. Bosch Professional3rd
  4. Milwaukee4th
  5. Ryobi5th

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
  • DeWalt4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Milwaukee4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bosch Professional3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ryobi2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about SDS drill 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 Milwaukee or Ryobi more popular in search?

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

Milwaukee and Ryobi among SDS drill brands in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMakitaRyobiDeWaltMilwaukeeBosch Professional
Oct 202539.1%27.7%21.5%11.3%0.36%
Nov 202531.4%33.4%24.8%10.1%0.37%
Dec 202534.2%36.5%19.4%9.6%0.32%
Jan 202637.2%32.8%20.8%8.8%0.35%
Feb 202638.5%27.8%22.2%11.1%0.46%
Mar 202635.8%31.6%21.4%10.8%0.34%
Apr 202638.9%28.1%21.8%11%0.36%
May 202639.8%23%22.6%14.1%0.37%
Jun 202637.8%21.9%26.2%13.8%0.35%
Jul 202639.7%23.3%22.9%13.7%0.37%
Aug 202634.8%24.8%22.9%17.2%0.32%
Sep 202638.4%27.8%21%12.4%0.3%

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

3 findings
  • Ryobi was ahead of Milwaukee in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Milwaukee’s share of searches among SDS drill brands in New Zealand moved from 11.3% to 12.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.2K to 3K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ryobi’s share of searches among SDS drill brands in New Zealand moved from 27.7% to 27.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 6.6K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand SDS drill brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Ryobi gained share of searches among SDS drill brands in New Zealand, from 24.8% to 27.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Milwaukee lost share of searches among SDS drill brands in New Zealand, from 17.2% to 12.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

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

Milwaukee

5 branded search terms

  • milwaukee tool
  • milwaukee tool bag
  • milwaukee tool box
  • milwaukee tool kit
  • milwaukee tool set

Ryobi

1 branded search term

  • ryobi

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among SDS drill brands

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