Brandwave

How popular isFigma?

In September 2026, people searched for Figma by name about 12,700 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 1.8% of all New Zealand graphic design tool searches, placing Figma second out of six tools. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about graphic design tools, Figma appeared in four of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the six.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Figma is the second most searched of 6 competitors and the fourth 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, Figma was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Figma is the fourth 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 Figma?

Figma against graphic design tools in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Canva, Figma. 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 Figma and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Figma

5 comparisons

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

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Figma in New Zealand held steady, from 12.8K to 12.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Figma’s share of searches among graphic design tools in New Zealand peaked at 2.7% in July 2026 and was lowest at 1.5% in June 2026.

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 Figma’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Figma’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.

  • figma
  • figma app
  • figma design
  • figma desktop
  • figma dl
  • figma education
  • figma site
  • figma templates

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

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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