Brandwave

BIC vs Faber-Castell:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, BIC and Faber-Castell were level in searches among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 1.4K branded searches each, at 26.3% and 26.6% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ballpoint pen brands, BIC appeared in three of the five answers and Faber-Castell in two. BIC was mentioned before Faber-Castell in three out of four answers.

Among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Faber-Castell and BIC are searched for about as often as each other.

Faber-Castell 1.4K searchesBIC 1.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

BIC, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Faber-Castell in 2

BIC in 3 of 5Faber-Castell in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

BIC, named ahead of Faber-Castell in 3 of 4 answers

BIC first in 3Faber-Castell first in 1

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Top ballpoint pen brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BIC was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Faber-Castell was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. BIC was listed before Faber-Castell in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. uni-ball1st
  2. Pilot2nd
  3. BIC3rd
  4. Parker4th
  5. Faber-Castell5th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • uni-ball4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pilot4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • BIC3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Parker3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Faber-Castell2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about ballpoint pen brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is BIC or Faber-Castell more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BIC and Faber-Castell by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five ballpoint pen brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

BIC and Faber-Castell among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Faber-Castell, BIC. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFaber-CastellBICParkeruni-ballPilot
Oct 202524.8%29.3%21%12.4%12.6%
Nov 202530.7%25.8%21.3%11.6%10.6%
Dec 202535.3%23.7%23.7%8.8%8.5%
Jan 202629.5%28.2%15.7%14.8%11.8%
Feb 202625.7%22.8%17.3%22.1%12.2%
Mar 202622.6%28.5%17.9%17.3%13.6%
Apr 202628%32.3%15.5%13.8%10.3%
May 202626%27.3%17.2%14.3%15.2%
Jun 202625.3%27.3%19.6%14.9%12.9%
Jul 202623.4%28.2%18.9%17.8%11.6%
Aug 202624%25.1%17.9%20.8%12.2%
Sep 202626.6%26.3%18.8%16.3%12%

How has the BIC and Faber-Castell comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Faber-Castell took it in November 2025, BIC took it in March 2026, Faber-Castell took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BIC’s share of searches among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand moved from 29.3% to 26.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2K to 1.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Faber-Castell’s share of searches among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand moved from 24.8% to 26.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1K to 1.4K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Faber-Castell overtook BIC to become the leader among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand, with 26.6% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, BIC gained share of searches among ballpoint pen brands in New Zealand, from 25.1% to 26.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BIC’s and Faber-Castell’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.

BIC

3 branded search terms

  • bic lighter
  • bic pen
  • bic pen clic

Faber-Castell

5 branded search terms

  • faber castell
  • faber castell erasers
  • faber castell pen
  • faber castell polychromos
  • fabercastell

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among ballpoint pen brands

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