Brandwave

How popular isSubstack?

In September 2026, people searched for Substack by name about 9,930 times in New Zealand, a 50% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 35.9% of all New Zealand creator membership and tipping platform searches, placing Substack second out of four platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about creator membership and tipping platforms, Substack appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the four.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Substack is the second most searched of 4 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PatreonShare of searches 55.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. SubstackShare of searches 35.9%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. Ko-fiShare of searches 6.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. Buy Me a CoffeeShare of searches 1.7%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top creator membership and tipping platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Patreon1st
  2. Ko-fi2nd
  3. Buy Me a Coffee3rd
  4. Substack4th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Patreon5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ko-fi3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Buy Me a Coffee3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Substack2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about creator membership and tipping platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which creator membership and tipping platforms compete with Substack?

Substack against creator membership and tipping platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Patreon, Substack, Ko-fi. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPatreonSubstackKo-fiBuy Me a Coffee
Oct 202564%27.6%6.8%1.6%
Nov 202563.1%27.1%7.8%2%
Dec 202563%27.1%7.9%2%
Jan 202660%31.9%6.2%1.9%
Feb 202659.2%31.4%7.5%1.9%
Mar 202655.3%35.7%6.9%2.1%
Apr 202655.5%35.9%6.9%1.7%
May 202654.4%35.3%8.6%1.7%
Jun 202660%32%6.2%1.9%
Jul 202659.2%31.5%7.4%1.9%
Aug 202654.9%35.6%6.8%2.6%
Sep 202655.4%35.9%6.9%1.7%

  1. 1.Patreon

    55.4%

    Held 1st. 15.3K estimated branded searches, +0.2% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  2. 2.Substack

    35.9%

    Held 2nd. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  3. 3.Ko-fi

    6.9%

    Held 3rd. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  4. 4.Buy Me a Coffee

    1.7%

    Held 4th. 480 estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

Compare popularity between Substack and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Substack

9 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Substack in New Zealand rose from 6.6K to 9.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Substack’s share of searches among creator membership and tipping platforms in New Zealand increased from 27.6% to 35.9%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Substack’s share of searches among creator membership and tipping platforms in New Zealand peaked at 35.9% in September 2026 and was lowest at 27.1% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand creator membership and tipping platforms in September 2026?

4 changes

  1. In September 2026, Patreon gained share of searches among creator membership and tipping platforms in New Zealand, from 54.9% to 55.4%.

  2. In September 2026, Buy Me a Coffee lost share of searches among creator membership and tipping platforms in New Zealand, from 2.6% to 1.7%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Substack in New Zealand rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 9.9K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ko-fi in New Zealand rose 17.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1.9K in September 2026.

How are Substack’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

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

  • substack
  • substack newsletter
  • substack publishing

Do you work for Substack? 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 Substack compete?

Substack is ranked 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
Creator membership and tipping platforms2nd of 435.9%Shown above
Newsletter platforms2nd of 741%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Substack your brand?

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