Brandwave

How popular isSprout Social?

In September 2026, people searched for Sprout Social by name about 320 times in New Zealand, a 33.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 8.5% of all New Zealand social media analytics platform searches, placing Sprout Social fourth out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about social media analytics platforms, Sprout Social appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Sprout Social is the fourth most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. BufferShare of searches 42.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. MetricoolShare of searches 34.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. HootsuiteShare of searches 8.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Sprout SocialShare of searches 8.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. Rival IQShare of searches 2.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top social media analytics platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sprout Social was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sprout Social is the second most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Metricool1st
  2. Sprout Social2nd
  3. Hootsuite3rd
  4. Agorapulse4th
  5. Buffer5th
  6. Iconosquare6th
  7. Rival IQ–
  8. SocialPilot–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Metricool4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hootsuite4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprout Social4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Buffer2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Agorapulse2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Iconosquare1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Rival IQ0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • SocialPilot0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about social media analytics 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.

Which social media analytics platforms compete with Sprout Social?

Sprout Social against social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Buffer, Metricool, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Rival IQ. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBufferMetricoolHootsuiteSprout SocialRival IQSocialPilotAgorapulseIconosquare
Oct 202542.7%23.5%15.7%12.8%0.8%2.1%1.9%0.53%
Nov 202548.6%22.5%15.1%10%0.26%1.5%1.3%0.77%
Dec 202539.2%28.2%15.3%12.5%0.39%2.4%1.6%0.39%
Jan 202640.1%27.2%18.2%9.9%0.31%2.2%1.5%0.62%
Feb 202639.4%26.7%14.5%11.8%2.7%2.7%1.5%0.61%
Mar 202643%23.7%15.9%10.5%1.9%2.7%1.3%1.1%
Apr 202646.8%25.7%11.4%7.6%5%1.8%1.5%0.29%
May 202651.2%23.7%10.5%8.6%2.4%1.6%1.3%0.54%
Jun 202646.2%28.9%11.3%9.2%0.58%2%1.2%0.58%
Jul 202645.1%28.2%11%11%0.85%1.7%1.4%0.85%
Aug 202645.1%30.9%7.6%9.3%4%1.4%1.2%0.48%
Sep 202642.4%34.5%8.5%8.5%2.9%1.9%1.1%0.27%

  1. 1.Buffer

    42.4%

    Held 1st. 1.6K estimated branded searches, -15.8% vs prior month. Share -2.7 points.

  2. 2.Metricool

    34.5%

    Held 2nd. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3.6 points.

  3. 3.Hootsuite

    8.5%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 320 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.

  4. 4.Sprout Social

    8.5%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 320 estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  5. 5.Rival IQ

    2.9%

    Held 5th. 110 estimated branded searches, -35.3% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  6. 6.SocialPilot

    1.9%

    Held 6th. 70 estimated branded searches, +16.7% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  7. 7.Agorapulse

    1.1%

    Held 7th. 40 estimated branded searches, -20% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  8. 8.Iconosquare

    0.27%

    Held 8th. 10 estimated branded searches, -50% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

Compare popularity between Sprout Social and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Sprout Social

13 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Sprout Social in New Zealand fell from 480 to 320.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand decreased from 12.8% to 8.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 12.8% in October 2025 and was lowest at 7.6% in April 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand social media analytics platforms in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Hootsuite overtook Sprout Social to rank 3rd among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, with 8.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Metricool gained share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 30.9% to 34.5%.

  3. In September 2026, Buffer lost share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 45.1% to 42.4%.

  4. In September 2026, Rival IQ lost share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 4% to 2.9%.

  5. In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 9.3% to 8.5%.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Iconosquare in New Zealand fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 20 to 10 in September 2026.

How are Sprout Social’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

  • sprout social
  • sproutsocial

Do you work for Sprout Social? 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 Sprout Social compete?

Sprout Social 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
Social media management tools5th of 112.6%Show ranking
Social media analytics platforms4th of 88.5%Shown above
Media monitoring and social listening tools1st of 923.9%Show ranking
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