Red Funnel vs Stena Line:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Stena Line had more branded searches than Red Funnel among ferry companies in the United Kingdom. Stena Line had about 90,500 branded searches, while Red Funnel had 40,500. Stena Line made up 15.4% 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, Stena Line appeared in two of the four answers and Red Funnel in none.
Who do people search for more?
Stena Line, about 2 searches for every 1 for Red Funnel
Who does AI mention more?
Stena Line, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Red Funnel in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Stena Line, the only one of the two named
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Top ferry companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one 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. 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.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which ferry company should I use to get to France from the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best ferry companies in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best ferry company for taking a car to Ireland from the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ferries”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ferry to france”
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 Red Funnel or Stena Line more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Red Funnel 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.
Share of searches by month for Stena Line, Red Funnel. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Brittany Ferries | CalMac | P&O Ferries | Stena Line | DFDS | Wightlink | Irish Ferries | Red Funnel | Condor Ferries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 17.5% | 17.5% | 14.4% | 17.5% | 9.6% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 1.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 17.3% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 17.3% | 11.5% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 0.84% |
| Dec 2025 | 16.5% | 16.5% | 13.5% | 16.5% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 7.4% | 0.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 21.3% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 17.4% | 9.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 18.7% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 0.92% |
| Mar 2026 | 19.1% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 15.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 7% | 0.93% |
| Apr 2026 | 19.1% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 15.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 7% | 0.93% |
| May 2026 | 21.6% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 1.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.5% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 19.9% | 16.3% | 13.3% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 6% | 0.98% |
| Aug 2026 | 19.7% | 13.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 7.2% | 0.97% |
| Sep 2026 | 18.8% | 18.8% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 0.92% |
How has the Red Funnel and Stena Line comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Stena Line was ahead of Red Funnel in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Stena Line’s share of searches among ferry companies in the United Kingdom moved from 17.5% to 15.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 90.5K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom ferry companies in September 2026?
2 changes
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.
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 Red Funnel’s 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.
Red Funnel
1 branded search term
- red funnel
Stena Line
1 branded search term
- stena line
Other head-to-heads among ferry companies
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