Brandwave

How popular isWhatsApp?

In September 2026, people searched for WhatsApp by name about 186,000 times in New Zealand, an 11.6% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 54.8% of all New Zealand messaging app searches, placing WhatsApp first out of seven apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about messaging apps, WhatsApp appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

WhatsApp is the most searched of 7 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. WhatsAppShare of searches 54.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. DiscordShare of searches 35.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  3. TelegramShare of searches 4.8%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. WeChatShare of searches 2.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. MessengerShare of searches 1.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

+2 more

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Top messaging apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, WhatsApp appeared in all five answers. WhatsApp is the most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. WhatsApp1st
  2. Signal2nd
  3. Messenger3rd
  4. Telegram4th
  5. Discord5th
  6. WeChat–
  7. Viber–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • WhatsApp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Signal5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Telegram4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Messenger4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Discord3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • WeChat0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Viber0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about messaging apps

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 messaging apps compete with WhatsApp?

WhatsApp against messaging apps in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram, WeChat. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthWhatsAppDiscordTelegramWeChatMessengerViberSignal
Oct 202547.9%41%5%2.6%1.6%1.3%0.62%
Nov 202546.6%43.2%4.4%2.2%1.7%1.4%0.47%
Dec 202545.4%42.6%5.1%2.3%2%1.8%0.69%
Jan 202649.5%38.4%5.4%2.4%1.8%1.8%0.74%
Feb 202649.9%38.7%5.5%2.3%1.5%1.5%0.64%
Mar 202650%39%5.5%2.2%1.5%1.2%0.55%
Apr 202647.5%40.9%6%2.3%1.6%1.2%0.58%
May 202650.4%39%5.4%1.9%1.3%1.3%0.58%
Jun 202654%34.5%5.8%2.2%1.7%1.3%0.59%
Jul 202651.3%36.6%6.1%2.3%1.8%1.2%0.63%
Aug 202654.1%34.6%5.7%2.3%1.7%1.2%0.55%
Sep 202654.8%35.1%4.8%2.2%1.4%1.2%0.55%

  1. 1.WhatsApp

    54.8%

    Held 1st. 186K estimated branded searches, -0.18% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  2. 2.Discord

    35.1%

    Held 2nd. 119K estimated branded searches, +0.28% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  3. 3.Telegram

    4.8%

    Held 3rd. 16.1K estimated branded searches, -17% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

  4. 4.WeChat

    2.2%

    Held 4th. 7.5K estimated branded searches, -2.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.Messenger

    1.4%

    Held 5th. 4.9K estimated branded searches, -15.3% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.Viber

    1.2%

    Held 6th. 4K estimated branded searches, -0.75% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Signal

    0.55%

    Held 7th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, -1.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between WhatsApp and its closest rivals

Every comparison with WhatsApp

15 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for WhatsApp in New Zealand rose from 166K to 186K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WhatsApp’s share of searches among messaging apps in New Zealand increased from 47.9% to 54.8%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WhatsApp’s share of searches among messaging apps in New Zealand peaked at 54.8% in September 2026 and was lowest at 45.4% in December 2025.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand messaging apps in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, WhatsApp gained share of searches among messaging apps in New Zealand, from 54.1% to 54.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Discord gained share of searches among messaging apps in New Zealand, from 34.6% to 35.1%.

  3. In September 2026, Telegram lost share of searches among messaging apps in New Zealand, from 5.7% to 4.8%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for WeChat in New Zealand fell 15.3% over 12 measured months, from 8.9K to 7.5K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Signal in New Zealand fell 13.5% over 12 measured months, from 2.1K to 1.9K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Viber in New Zealand fell 12.7% over 12 measured months, from 4.5K to 4K in September 2026.

How are WhatsApp’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

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

  • jibi whatsapp
  • my whatsapp
  • whatsapp
  • whatsapp app
  • whatsapp messages
  • whatsapp web
  • whatsapp web app
  • whatsapp windows

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is owned by Meta. Brandwave also tracks Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Meta Ads, Meta Business Suite, Meta Quest, Threads and Workplace, owned by the same company, in New Zealand.

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

Where does WhatsApp compete?

WhatsApp 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
Social media platforms7th of 102.3%Show ranking
Messaging apps1st of 754.8%Shown above
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Is WhatsApp your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

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