Pentel vs uni-ball:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, uni-ball had more branded searches than Pentel among pen brands in New Zealand. uni-ball had about 870 branded searches, while Pentel had 90. uni-ball made up 19.3% of all pen brand searches we track, and Pentel accounted for 2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pen brands, Pentel and uni-ball each appeared in four of the five answers. uni-ball was mentioned before Pentel in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
uni-ball, about 10 searches for every 1 for Pentel
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
uni-ball, named ahead of Pentel in 4 of 5 answers
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Top pen brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pentel was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. uni-ball was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. uni-ball was listed before Pentel in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Pentel4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
BIC3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Zebra3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Faber-Castell0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about pen brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which pen brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best pen brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best pen brand in New Zealand for everyday writing?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pen brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ballpoint pens nz”
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 Pentel or uni-ball more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pentel and uni-ball by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six pen brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for uni-ball, Pentel. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Faber-Castell | BIC | uni-ball | Pilot | Pentel | Zebra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 29.3% | 34.6% | 14.6% | 14.9% | 3.9% | 2.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.9% | 31.1% | 14% | 12.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.6% | 29.9% | 11.1% | 10.8% | 2.1% | 1.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 33.8% | 32.3% | 17% | 13.5% | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.8% | 26.5% | 25.6% | 14.2% | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.1% | 32.9% | 20% | 15.7% | 2.1% | 3.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.9% | 36.8% | 15.7% | 11.8% | 2.2% | 1.7% |
| May 2026 | 30.2% | 31.8% | 16.6% | 17.7% | 2% | 1.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 29.8% | 32.2% | 17.5% | 15.2% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.9% | 33.5% | 21.2% | 13.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 28% | 29.3% | 24.3% | 14.2% | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 31.5% | 31% | 19.3% | 14.2% | 2% | 2% |
How has the Pentel and uni-ball comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- uni-ball was ahead of Pentel in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pentel’s share of searches among pen brands in New Zealand moved from 3.9% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 140 to 90.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, uni-ball’s share of searches among pen brands in New Zealand moved from 14.6% to 19.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 520 to 870.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand pen brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, uni-ball lost share of searches among pen brands in New Zealand, from 24.3% to 19.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Pentel in New Zealand fell 35.7% over 12 measured months, from 140 to 90 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
8 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pentel’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.
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