Brandwave

How popular isPerplexity?

In September 2026, people searched for Perplexity by name about 23,000 times in New Zealand, a 61.4% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.49% of all New Zealand AI chatbot searches, placing Perplexity fifth out of five chatbots. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI chatbots, Perplexity appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the five.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Perplexity is the fifth most searched of 5 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. ChatGPTShare of searches 90.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. GeminiShare of searches 4.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. Microsoft CopilotShare of searches 2.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. ClaudeShare of searches 2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. PerplexityShare of searches 0.49%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top AI chatbots in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. ChatGPT1st
  2. Claude2nd
  3. Gemini3rd
  4. Microsoft Copilot4th
  5. Perplexity5th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • ChatGPT5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Claude5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Gemini4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Copilot3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Perplexity3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI chatbots

5 answers

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

Which AI chatbots compete with Perplexity?

Perplexity against AI chatbots in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthChatGPTGeminiMicrosoft CopilotClaudePerplexity
Oct 202590%4.6%3.4%0.63%1.3%
Nov 202592.3%3.2%2.8%0.53%1.1%
Dec 202592.6%3.6%2.5%0.46%0.87%
Jan 202693%3.2%2.5%0.57%0.75%
Feb 202691.9%3.3%2.8%0.98%0.93%
Mar 202689.9%3.5%3.4%2.1%1.1%
Apr 202689.6%3.5%3.4%2.5%0.91%
May 202689.7%3.6%3.4%2.5%0.77%
Jun 202688.8%4.5%3.5%2.5%0.63%
Jul 202690.3%4%3.1%2.1%0.56%
Aug 202690.5%4.1%2.8%2.1%0.52%
Sep 202690.8%4.1%2.6%2%0.49%

  1. 1.ChatGPT

    90.8%

    Held 1st. 4.2M estimated branded searches, -12.6% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  2. 2.Gemini

    4.1%

    Held 2nd. 190K estimated branded searches, -13.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  3. 3.Microsoft Copilot

    2.6%

    Held 3rd. 123K estimated branded searches, -19.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  4. 4.Claude

    2%

    Held 4th. 92.2K estimated branded searches, -17.6% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.Perplexity

    0.49%

    Held 5th. 23K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Perplexity and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Perplexity

4 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Perplexity in New Zealand fell from 59.5K to 23K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Perplexity’s share of searches among AI chatbots in New Zealand decreased from 1.3% to 0.49%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Perplexity fell from 4th to 5th among AI chatbots in New Zealand.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand AI chatbots in September 2026?

4 changes

  1. ChatGPT’s share of searches among AI chatbots in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 88.8% to 90.8% in September 2026.

  2. Microsoft Copilot’s share of searches among AI chatbots in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.5% to 2.6% in September 2026.

  3. Claude’s share of searches among AI chatbots in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.5% to 2% in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Perplexity in New Zealand fell 61.4% over 12 measured months, from 59.5K to 23K in September 2026.

How are Perplexity’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

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

  • perplexity
  • perplexity ai
  • perplexity app

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