Brandwave

Billabong vs Rip Curl:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Billabong had more branded searches than Rip Curl among wetsuit brands in New Zealand. Billabong had about 5,860 branded searches, while Rip Curl had 5,780. Billabong made up 43.2% of all wetsuit brand searches we track, and Rip Curl accounted for 42.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wetsuit brands, Rip Curl appeared in all five answers and Billabong in two. Rip Curl was mentioned before Billabong in every answer.

Among wetsuit brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Billabong and Rip Curl are searched for about as often as each other.

Billabong 5.9K searchesRip Curl 5.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Rip Curl, mentioned in every answer we collected

Rip Curl in 5 of 5Billabong in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Rip Curl, named ahead of Billabong in every answer

Rip Curl first in 5Billabong never first

Follow Billabong vs Rip Curl and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top wetsuit brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Rip Curl appeared in all five answers. Billabong was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Rip Curl was listed before Billabong in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Rip Curl1st
  2. O'Neill2nd
  3. Xcel3rd
  4. Billabong4th
  5. Seventhwave4th
  6. Roxy6th
  7. Quiksilver7th
  8. Cressi8th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Rip Curl5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • O'Neill5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Xcel5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Seventhwave4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Billabong2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Quiksilver1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Roxy1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cressi1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about wetsuit 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 Billabong or Rip Curl more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Billabong and Rip Curl by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight wetsuit brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Billabong and Rip Curl among wetsuit brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Billabong, Rip Curl. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBillabongRip CurlO'NeillQuiksilverRoxySeventhwaveCressiXcel
Oct 202537.5%46%4.8%4.6%2.6%2.1%1.8%0.59%
Nov 202538.3%46.2%4%3.9%3.1%2.1%1.7%0.74%
Dec 202535.1%49.2%4.1%3.5%2.7%2.7%2%0.64%
Jan 202636.3%47.2%5%3.4%2.6%2.6%2.1%0.77%
Feb 202637.5%44.6%5.8%4.3%2.5%2.5%1.7%1.1%
Mar 202637.7%45.7%5.8%4.1%1.7%2.5%1.1%1.4%
Apr 202641.8%42.4%5.5%3.7%1.6%2.9%0.74%1.6%
May 202641.3%40.4%6.3%4.5%1.8%2.7%1.2%1.8%
Jun 202636.5%45.2%6.9%4.9%2%2.4%1.1%1%
Jul 202637%44.6%6.9%4.7%2.4%2.4%1.1%0.84%
Aug 202641.6%40.5%6.2%4.5%2.7%2.2%1.5%0.77%
Sep 202643.2%42.6%5.4%3.1%2.4%1.5%1.3%0.52%

How has the Billabong and Rip Curl comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Billabong took it in May 2026, Rip Curl took it in June 2026, Billabong took it in August 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Billabong’s share of searches among wetsuit brands in New Zealand moved from 37.5% to 43.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.7K to 5.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rip Curl’s share of searches among wetsuit brands in New Zealand moved from 46% to 42.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7K to 5.8K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Rip Curl gained share of searches among wetsuit brands in New Zealand, from 40.5% to 42.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Billabong gained share of searches among wetsuit brands in New Zealand, from 41.6% to 43.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

20 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Billabong’s and Rip Curl’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.

Billabong

12 branded search terms

  • billabong
  • billabong backpacks
  • billabong bathers
  • billabong hat
  • billabong hoodies
  • billabong jackets
  • billabong one piece
  • billabong shorts
  • billabong sundress
  • billabong t shirt
  • billabong wet suits
  • shirt billabong

Rip Curl

8 branded search terms

  • rip curl
  • rip curl outlet
  • rip curl sale
  • rip curl shirts
  • rip curl swimwear
  • rip curl togs
  • ripcurl
  • ripcurl rashvest

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among wetsuit brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free