Brandwave

Irish Ferries vs Stena Line:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Stena Line had more branded searches than Irish Ferries among ferry companies in the United Kingdom. Stena Line had about 90,500 branded searches, while Irish Ferries had 40,500. Stena Line made up 15.4% of all ferry company searches we track, and Irish Ferries accounted for 6.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ferry companies, Irish Ferries appeared in three of the four answers and Stena Line in two. Irish Ferries and Stena Line were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among ferry companies in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Stena Line, about 2 searches for every 1 for Irish Ferries

Stena Line 90.5K searchesIrish Ferries 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Irish Ferries, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Stena Line in 2

Irish Ferries in 3 of 4Stena Line in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Irish Ferries first in 2Stena Line first in 2

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Top ferry companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Irish Ferries was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Stena Line was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Irish Ferries and Stena Line were each listed first in two 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 Irish Ferries or Stena Line more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Irish Ferries and Stena Line 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.

Irish Ferries and Stena Line among ferry companies in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for Stena Line, Irish Ferries. 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 Irish Ferries and Stena Line comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, CalMac overtook P&O Ferries and Stena Line to rank 2nd among ferry companies in the United Kingdom, with 18.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Irish Ferries lost share of searches among ferry companies in the United Kingdom, from 8.9% to 6.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Stena Line lost share of searches among ferry companies in the United Kingdom, from 16.2% to 15.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Irish Ferries’ and Stena Line’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.

Irish Ferries

1 branded search term

  • irish ferries

Stena Line

1 branded search term

  • stena line

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among ferry companies

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