Brandwave

How popular isGoogle Ads?

In October 2026, people searched for Google Ads by name about 38,300 times in New Zealand, a 24% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 88.9% of all New Zealand digital ad buying platform searches, placing Google Ads first out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about digital ad buying platforms, Google Ads appeared in three of the five answers and was the most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in October 2026

Google Ads is the most searched of 8 competitors and the most recommended in the AI answers we collected.

  1. Google AdsShare of searches 88.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Meta AdsShare of searches 9.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. LinkedIn AdsShare of searches 0.83%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. StackAdaptShare of searches 0.44%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. The Trade DeskShare of searches 0.34%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top digital ad buying platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Ads was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Ads is the most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Google Ads1st
  2. Meta Ads2nd
  3. The Trade Desk3rd
  4. LinkedIn Ads4th
  5. StackAdapt5th
  6. AdRoll–
  7. Basis Technologies–
  8. Quantcast–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Meta Ads4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • The Trade Desk4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Ads3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • LinkedIn Ads2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • StackAdapt1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AdRoll0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Basis Technologies0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Quantcast0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about digital ad buying platforms

5 answers

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.

How often do people search for Google Ads compared with other New Zealand digital ad buying platforms?

Google Ads against digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Ads, Meta Ads. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle AdsMeta AdsLinkedIn AdsStackAdaptThe Trade DeskAdRollBasis TechnologiesQuantcast
Nov 202589.6%7.9%1%0.55%0.67%0.12%0.06%0.06%
Dec 202588.1%8.9%1.5%0.36%0.8%0.18%0.09%0.09%
Jan 202685.4%11.3%1.5%0.49%0.99%0.14%0.07%0.14%
Feb 202687.2%9.4%1.5%0.5%1%0.22%0.07%0.07%
Mar 202687.1%9.4%1.5%0.41%1.2%0.18%0.06%0.12%
Apr 202687.9%9.5%1.2%0.42%0.65%0.12%0.06%0.06%
May 202686.3%11.1%1.2%0.41%0.64%0.18%0.06%0.06%
Jun 202687.6%9.5%1.5%0.41%0.65%0.12%0.12%0.12%
Jul 202687.6%9.5%1.5%0.41%0.53%0.24%0.12%0.12%
Aug 202687.7%9.5%1.2%0.53%0.83%0.06%0.06%0.06%
Sep 202686.2%11.1%1.2%0.52%0.64%0.17%0.12%0.06%
Oct 202688.9%9.3%0.83%0.44%0.34%0.1%0.05%0.05%

  1. 1.Google Ads

    88.9%

    Held 1st. 18.1K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +2.7 points.

  2. 2.Meta Ads

    9.3%

    Held 2nd. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.7 points.

  3. 3.LinkedIn Ads

    0.83%

    Held 3rd. 170 estimated branded searches, -19% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  4. 4.StackAdapt

    0.44%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 90 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.The Trade Desk

    0.34%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 70 estimated branded searches, -36.4% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  6. 6.AdRoll

    0.1%

    Held 6th. 20 estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Basis Technologies

    0.05%

    Held 7th. 10 estimated branded searches, -50% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  8. 8.Quantcast

    0.05%

    Held 8th. 10 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Google Ads and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Google Ads

9 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Google Ads in New Zealand rose from 30.9K to 38.3K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Google Ads’ share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand decreased from 89.6% to 88.9%.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Google Ads’ share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand peaked at 89.6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 85.4% in January 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand digital ad buying platforms in October 2026?

5 changes

  1. In October 2026, Google Ads gained share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand, from 86.2% to 88.9%.

  2. In October 2026, Meta Ads lost share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand, from 11.1% to 9.3%.

  3. LinkedIn Ads’ share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.5% to 0.83% in October 2026.

  4. In October 2026, StackAdapt rose from 5th to 4th among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand.

  5. In October 2026, The Trade Desk fell from 4th to 5th among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand.

How are Google Ads’ branded searches counted?

14 search terms

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

  • adwords google ads
  • google ads
  • google ads ads
  • google ads advertising
  • google ads agency
  • google ads campaign
  • google ads certified
  • google ads company
  • google ads consultant
  • google ads editor
  • google ads expert
  • google ads manager
  • googleads
  • googleads ads

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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

Where does Google Ads compete?

Google Ads is ranked by how often people search for it in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Advertising platforms1st of 588%Show ranking
Digital ad buying platforms1st of 888.9%Shown above
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Is Google Ads your brand?

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