How popular isApple Photos / Google Photos?
In September 2026, people searched for Apple Photos / Google Photos by name about 10 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 0.05% of all New Zealand photo editing app searches, placing Apple Photos / Google Photos seventh out of seven apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo editing apps, Apple Photos / Google Photos appeared in two of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.
Apple Photos / Google Photos is the seventh most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.
PhotopeaShare of searches 55.3%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
PixlrShare of searches 22.1%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
PicsartShare of searches 13.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Adobe LightroomShare of searches 4.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st- Apple Photos / Google PhotosShare of searches 0.05%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
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Top photo editing apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple Photos / Google Photos was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Apple Photos / Google Photos is the sixth most recommended of the seven.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Adobe Lightroom1st- Snapseed2nd
VSCO3rd
Picsart4th
Pixlr5th- Apple Photos / Google Photos6th
Photopea–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Adobe Lightroom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Snapseed5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
VSCO5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Picsart3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Apple Photos / Google Photos2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Pixlr1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Photopea0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about photo editing apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which photo editing app should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best photo editing apps in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best photo editing app in New Zealand for creative editing?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best photo editing app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editor app”
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.
Which photo editing apps compete with Apple Photos / Google Photos?
Share of searches by month for Photopea, Pixlr, Picsart, Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed, VSCO, Apple Photos / Google Photos. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Photopea | Pixlr | Picsart | Adobe Lightroom | Snapseed | VSCO | Apple Photos / Google Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 48.8% | 29.3% | 11.9% | 3.9% | 3% | 3.1% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.5% | 29.7% | 12% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 0.04% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.3% | 26% | 16.1% | 4.9% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 0.05% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.1% | 23.3% | 14.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 0.06% |
| Feb 2026 | 52% | 25.4% | 12.5% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.04% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.8% | 25% | 12.7% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 0.03% |
| Apr 2026 | 49.1% | 24% | 14.6% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 0.05% |
| May 2026 | 49% | 25.2% | 15% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.8% | 0.04% |
| Jun 2026 | 52% | 25.3% | 12.8% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 0.04% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.7% | 21.9% | 13.2% | 3.7% | 3% | 2.4% | 0.04% |
| Aug 2026 | 56.4% | 21.9% | 13.7% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 0.04% |
| Sep 2026 | 55.3% | 22.1% | 13.5% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 0.05% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 55.3% | 12.3K | -20.2% | -1.1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 22.1% | 4.9K | -18.1% | +0.2 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 13.5% | 3K | -19.6% | -0.2 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 4.1% | 900 | -1.1% | +0.7 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 2.7% | 590 | -20.3% | -0.1 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 2.3% | 520 | -1.9% | +0.4 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.05% | 10 | 0% | 0 points |
1.
Photopea55.3%
Held 1st. 12.3K estimated branded searches, -20.2% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.
2.
Pixlr22.1%
Held 2nd. 4.9K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
3.
Picsart13.5%
Held 3rd. 3K estimated branded searches, -19.6% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
4.1%
Held 4th. 900 estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
5.Snapseed
2.7%
Held 5th. 590 estimated branded searches, -20.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
6.
VSCO2.3%
Held 6th. 520 estimated branded searches, -1.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
7.Apple Photos / Google Photos
0.05%
Held 7th. 10 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Apple Photos / Google Photos and its closest rivals
Apple Photos / Google Photos vs Pixlr: compare popularity
Apple Photos / Google Photos vs Picsart: compare popularity
Apple Photos / Google Photos vs Adobe Lightroom: compare popularity- Apple Photos / Google Photos vs Snapseed: compare popularity
Apple Photos / Google Photos vs VSCO: compare popularity- Compare Apple Photos / Google Photos with any brand
How has branded search demand for Apple Photos / Google Photos changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Apple Photos / Google Photos in New Zealand held steady at 10.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple Photos / Google Photos’ share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand held steady, from 0.04% to 0.05%.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand photo editing apps in September 2026?
5 changes

In September 2026, Adobe Lightroom gained share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand, from 3.3% to 4.1%.

In September 2026, Photopea lost share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand, from 56.4% to 55.3%.
Snapseed’s share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.7% to 2.7% in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for VSCO in New Zealand fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 780 to 520 in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Pixlr in New Zealand fell 32.9% over 12 measured months, from 7.3K to 4.9K in September 2026.
How are Apple Photos / Google Photos’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Photos / Google Photos’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- apple photos google photos
Who owns Apple Photos / Google Photos?
Apple Photos / Google Photos is owned by Apple. Brandwave also tracks
Apple AirPods,
Apple AirTag, Apple Health Cycle Tracking,
Apple iPad,
Apple iPhone,
Apple MacBook,
Apple MagSafe,
Apple Maps,
Apple Music,
Apple Podcasts, Apple Reminders,
Apple TV 4K,
Apple Vision Pro,
Apple Watch,
Final Cut Pro,
Find My,
GarageBand,
iCloud,
iMovie,
Keynote,
Logic Pro and
Safari, owned by the same company, in New Zealand.
Do you work for Apple Photos / Google Photos? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Is Apple Photos / Google Photos your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.