Brandwave

How popular isKernel?

In September 2026, people searched for Kernel by name about 27,200 times in New Zealand, a 47.2% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 15.1% of all New Zealand investment platform searches, placing Kernel second out of 11 platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about investment platforms, Kernel appeared in four of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the 11.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Kernel is the second most searched of 11 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. SharesiesShare of searches 41.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. KernelShare of searches 15.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. HatchShare of searches 11.6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. InvestNowShare of searches 10.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. Craigs Investment PartnersShare of searches 9.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+6 more

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Top investment platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kernel was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kernel is the third most recommended of the 11.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Sharesies1st
  2. InvestNow2nd
  3. Kernel3rd
  4. Hatch4th
  5. ASB Securities5th
  6. Tiger Brokers6th
  7. Craigs Investment Partners–
  8. Forsyth Barr–
  9. Jarden–
  10. Snowball Effect–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Sharesies5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • InvestNow5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kernel4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hatch4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ASB Securities2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tiger Brokers1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Craigs Investment Partners0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Forsyth Barr0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Jarden0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Snowball Effect0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about investment 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 19, 2026.

Which investment platforms compete with Kernel?

Kernel against investment platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Sharesies, Kernel, Hatch, InvestNow, Craigs Investment Partners, Forsyth Barr, ASB Securities. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSharesiesKernelHatchInvestNowCraigs Investment PartnersForsyth BarrASB SecuritiesJardenTiger BrokersSnowball EffectStake
Oct 202547.6%7.9%16.3%7.9%8.2%4.7%5.2%0.7%0.82%0.21%0.42%
Nov 202544.6%9%15.1%9%9.8%5.4%4.8%0.76%0.78%0.36%0.28%
Dec 202541%9.8%16.9%10%9.1%6%5.4%0.62%0.68%0.27%0.27%
Jan 202646.1%9.4%15.5%9.2%8.3%4.5%5%0.55%0.96%0.25%0.25%
Feb 202645.8%9.3%12.7%9.2%10.1%5.5%4.9%0.93%0.8%0.54%0.25%
Mar 202643.5%10.3%13.5%8.7%9.6%6.3%5.8%0.92%0.77%0.42%0.23%
Apr 202642.8%11.1%14.5%10.5%9.4%5.1%4.6%0.63%0.75%0.34%0.23%
May 202642.5%12.7%14.5%10.4%8.9%4.2%4.6%0.72%0.89%0.34%0.24%
Jun 202642.4%12.7%14.4%10.5%8.5%5%4.6%0.5%0.89%0.28%0.21%
Jul 202637.2%16.6%12.7%11.2%9.5%5.4%4.9%1.1%0.8%0.3%0.18%
Aug 202640%14.9%11.1%9.8%9.8%5.8%5.3%2.1%0.54%0.39%0.23%
Sep 202641.8%15.1%11.6%10.2%9.9%5%4.5%0.83%0.5%0.33%0.21%

  1. 1.Sharesies

    41.8%

    Held 1st. 75.1K estimated branded searches, +0.15% vs prior month. Share +1.8 points.

  2. 2.Kernel

    15.1%

    Held 2nd. 27.2K estimated branded searches, -3% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  3. 3.Hatch

    11.6%

    Held 3rd. 20.7K estimated branded searches, -0.05% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  4. 4.InvestNow

    10.2%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 18.4K estimated branded searches, -0.33% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  5. 5.Craigs Investment Partners

    9.9%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 17.7K estimated branded searches, -3.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Forsyth Barr

    5%

    Held 6th. 9K estimated branded searches, -17.8% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  7. 7.ASB Securities

    4.5%

    Held 7th. 8.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  8. 8.Jarden

    0.83%

    Held 8th. 1.5K estimated branded searches, -61.4% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.

  9. 9.Tiger Brokers

    0.5%

    Held 9th. 890 estimated branded searches, -11.9% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Snowball Effect

    0.33%

    Held 10th. 600 estimated branded searches, -17.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  11. 11.Stake

    0.21%

    Held 11th. 380 estimated branded searches, -11.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Kernel and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Kernel

28 comparisons

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

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Kernel in New Zealand rose from 18.5K to 27.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kernel’s share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand increased from 7.9% to 15.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kernel’s share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand peaked at 16.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7.9% in October 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kernel rose from 5th to 2nd among investment platforms in New Zealand.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand investment platforms in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Sharesies gained share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand, from 40% to 41.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Jarden lost share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand, from 2.1% to 0.83%.

  3. In September 2026, Forsyth Barr lost share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand, from 5.8% to 5%.

  4. In September 2026, ASB Securities lost share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand, from 5.3% to 4.5%.

  5. Craigs Investment Partners’ share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 8.5% to 9.9% in September 2026.

  6. In September 2026, InvestNow rose from 5th to 4th among investment platforms in New Zealand.

How are Kernel’s branded searches counted?

11 search terms

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

  • kernel cash fund
  • kernel fund
  • kernel funds
  • kernel invest
  • kernel investment funds
  • kernel kiwisaver
  • kernel kiwisaver funds
  • kernel wealth
  • kernel wealth funds
  • kernel wealth kiwisaver
  • kiwisaver kernel

Do you work for Kernel? 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

Where does Kernel compete?

Kernel is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
investment platforms2nd of 1115.1%Shown above
KiwiSaver providers2nd of 1516%Show ranking
Fund managers2nd of 1024.6%Show ranking
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