Brandwave

MAC vs Wusthof:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Wusthof had more branded searches than MAC among chef knife brands in New Zealand. Wusthof had about 520 branded searches, while MAC had 30. Wusthof made up 23.6% of all chef knife brand searches we track, and MAC accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about chef knife brands, Wusthof appeared in all five answers and MAC in three. Wusthof was mentioned before MAC in four out of five answers.

Among chef knife brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Wusthof, about 17 searches for every 1 for MAC

Wusthof 520 searchesMAC 30 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Wusthof, mentioned in every answer we collected

Wusthof in 5 of 5MAC in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Wusthof, named ahead of MAC in 4 of 5 answers

Wusthof first in 4MAC first in 1

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Top chef knife brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Wusthof appeared in all five answers. MAC was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Wusthof was listed before MAC in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Victorinox1st
  2. Wusthof1st
  3. MAC3rd
  4. Shun4th
  5. ZWILLING5th
  6. GLOBAL–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Victorinox5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Wusthof5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Shun4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • MAC3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ZWILLING1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • GLOBAL0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about chef knife 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 20, 2026.

Is MAC or Wusthof more popular in search?

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

MAC and Wusthof among chef knife brands in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthVictorinoxWusthofGLOBALZWILLINGShunMAC
Oct 202552.6%17%19.4%6.9%2%2%
Nov 202545.9%21.2%20.8%7.4%3.2%1.4%
Dec 202549.2%19.4%18.2%8%4.3%0.92%
Jan 202649.8%19.9%18.4%6.5%3.4%1.9%
Feb 202647.1%22.5%17.1%7.5%3.7%2.1%
Mar 202646.5%24.2%14.9%7.9%5.1%1.4%
Apr 202647.6%22.4%15.2%10%3.3%1.4%
May 202649.3%21.7%15.8%8.4%3.4%1.5%
Jun 202647.6%18.6%18.6%10%4.3%0.95%
Jul 202643.9%25%19.9%7.1%2.4%1.7%
Aug 202643.5%26.4%19.7%5.7%3%1.7%
Sep 202645.5%23.6%17.7%7.7%4.1%1.4%

How has the MAC and Wusthof comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Wusthof was ahead of MAC in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MAC’s share of searches among chef knife brands in New Zealand moved from 2% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 50 to 30.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wusthof’s share of searches among chef knife brands in New Zealand moved from 17% to 23.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 420 to 520.

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

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Wusthof lost share of searches among chef knife brands in New Zealand, from 26.4% to 23.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for MAC in New Zealand fell 40% over 12 measured months, from 50 to 30 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MAC’s and Wusthof’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.

MAC

1 branded search term

  • mac knives

Wusthof

3 branded search terms

  • wusthof
  • wusthof classic
  • wusthof knife

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among chef knife brands

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