Brandwave

DFDS vs Red Funnel:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, DFDS had more branded searches than Red Funnel among ferry companies in the United Kingdom. DFDS had about 49,500 branded searches, while Red Funnel had 40,500. DFDS made up 8.4% of all ferry company searches we track, and Red Funnel accounted for 6.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ferry companies, DFDS appeared in three of the four answers and Red Funnel in none.

Among ferry companies in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

DFDS, about 22% more searches than Red Funnel

DFDS 49.5K searchesRed Funnel 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

DFDS, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Red Funnel in 0

DFDS in 3 of 4Red Funnel in 0 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

DFDS, the only one of the two named

DFDS first in 3Red Funnel never named

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Top ferry companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, DFDS was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Red Funnel did not appear in any of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. DFDS1st
  2. P&O Ferries2nd
  3. Brittany Ferries3rd
  4. Stena Line4th
  5. Irish Ferries5th
  6. CalMac6th
  7. Wightlink7th
  8. Red Funnel–
  9. Condor Ferries–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • P&O Ferries4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Brittany Ferries3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • DFDS3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Irish Ferries3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Stena Line2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • CalMac1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Wightlink1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Red Funnel0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Condor Ferries0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about ferry companies

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.

Is DFDS or Red Funnel more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for DFDS and Red Funnel by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine ferry companies we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

DFDS and Red Funnel among ferry companies in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for DFDS, Red Funnel. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBrittany FerriesCalMacP&O FerriesStena LineDFDSWightlinkIrish FerriesRed FunnelCondor Ferries
Oct 202517.5%17.5%14.4%17.5%9.6%7.9%7.9%6.5%1.1%
Nov 202517.3%14.1%14.1%17.3%11.5%7.7%9.4%7.7%0.84%
Dec 202516.5%16.5%13.5%16.5%11%9%9%7.4%0.8%
Jan 202621.3%14.3%14.3%17.4%9.6%7.8%7.8%6.4%1%
Feb 202618.7%15.4%15.4%15.4%10.3%8.4%8.4%6.9%0.92%
Mar 202619.1%19.1%12.8%15.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%7%0.93%
Apr 202619.1%19.1%12.8%15.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%7%0.93%
May 202621.6%14.4%14.4%14.4%9.7%9.7%7.9%6.5%1.3%
Jun 202622.5%15%15%15%8.2%8.2%8.2%6.7%1.1%
Jul 202619.9%16.3%13.3%16.3%10.9%7.3%8.9%6%0.98%
Aug 202619.7%13.2%16.2%16.2%8.9%8.9%8.9%7.2%0.97%
Sep 202618.8%18.8%15.4%15.4%8.4%8.4%6.9%6.9%0.92%

How has the DFDS and Red Funnel comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • DFDS was ahead of Red Funnel in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, DFDS’s share of searches among ferry companies in the United Kingdom moved from 9.6% to 8.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 49.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Red Funnel’s share of searches among ferry companies in the United Kingdom moved from 6.5% to 6.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 40.5K.

How did search popularity change for United Kingdom ferry companies in September 2026?

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for DFDS in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 49.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DFDS’s and Red Funnel’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.

DFDS

1 branded search term

  • dfds

Red Funnel

1 branded search term

  • red funnel

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among ferry companies

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