Brandwave

How popular isAdobe Illustrator?

In September 2026, people searched for Adobe Illustrator by name about 2,690 times in New Zealand, a 19.7% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.38% of all New Zealand graphic design tool searches, placing Adobe Illustrator fifth out of six tools. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about graphic design tools, Adobe Illustrator appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Adobe Illustrator is the fifth most searched of 6 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. CanvaShare of searches 96.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. FigmaShare of searches 1.8%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. Adobe PhotoshopShare of searches 1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Adobe ExpressShare of searches 0.51%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. Adobe IllustratorShare of searches 0.38%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

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Top graphic design tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe Illustrator was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Adobe Illustrator is the second most recommended of the six.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Canva1st
  2. Adobe Illustrator2nd
  3. Adobe Photoshop3rd
  4. Figma4th
  5. Adobe Express5th
  6. Affinity6th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Canva5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Figma4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Photoshop4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Express4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Illustrator4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Affinity3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about graphic design tools

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which graphic design tools compete with Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator against graphic design tools in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Canva, Adobe Illustrator. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCanvaFigmaAdobe PhotoshopAdobe ExpressAdobe IllustratorAffinity
Oct 202595.4%1.8%1.3%0.76%0.47%0.29%
Nov 202595.9%1.5%1.1%0.76%0.38%0.38%
Dec 202595%1.8%1.5%0.92%0.43%0.31%
Jan 202693.3%2.6%1.9%1.1%0.61%0.41%
Feb 202695.9%1.5%1.3%0.63%0.5%0.14%
Mar 202695.8%1.8%1.1%0.63%0.54%0.12%
Apr 202694.1%2.6%1.6%0.92%0.59%0.2%
May 202695.5%2.2%1.1%0.62%0.47%0.12%
Jun 202696.7%1.5%0.87%0.51%0.35%0.13%
Jul 202694.4%2.7%1.3%0.75%0.62%0.19%
Aug 202695.9%1.8%1%0.62%0.53%0.12%
Sep 202696.1%1.8%1%0.51%0.38%0.12%

  1. 1.Canva

    96.1%

    Held 1st. 680K estimated branded searches, -0.19% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  2. 2.Figma

    1.8%

    Held 2nd. 12.7K estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  3. 3.Adobe Photoshop

    1%

    Held 3rd. 7.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.Adobe Express

    0.51%

    Held 4th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.Adobe Illustrator

    0.38%

    Held 5th. 2.7K estimated branded searches, -29% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Affinity

    0.12%

    Held 6th. 860 estimated branded searches, -2.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Adobe Illustrator and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Adobe Illustrator

5 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Adobe Illustrator changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Illustrator in New Zealand fell from 3.4K to 2.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Illustrator’s share of searches among graphic design tools in New Zealand held steady, from 0.47% to 0.38%.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand graphic design tools in September 2026?

4 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Affinity in New Zealand fell 57.8% over 12 measured months, from 2K to 860 in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Express in New Zealand fell 33.5% over 12 measured months, from 5.4K to 3.6K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Illustrator in New Zealand fell 19.7% over 12 measured months, from 3.4K to 2.7K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Photoshop in New Zealand fell 19.7% over 12 measured months, from 9.2K to 7.4K in September 2026.

How are Adobe Illustrator’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Illustrator’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • adobe illustrator
  • adobe illustrator app
  • adobe illustrator design
  • adobeillustrator
  • illustrator
  • illustrator art
  • illustrator book
  • illustrator design

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is owned by Adobe. Brandwave also tracks Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Analytics, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Marketo Engage, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Real-Time CDP and Adobe Stock, owned by the same company, in New Zealand.

Do you work for Adobe Illustrator? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

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