Brandwave

Contact Energy vs Spark:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Spark had more branded searches than Contact Energy among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand. Spark had about 84,300 branded searches, while Contact Energy had 76,700. Spark made up 18.5% of all mobile and broadband provider searches we track, and Contact Energy accounted for 16.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mobile and broadband providers, Spark appeared in four of the five answers and Contact Energy in none.

Among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Spark, about 10% more searches than Contact Energy

Spark 84.3K searchesContact Energy 76.7K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Spark, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Contact Energy in 0

Spark in 4 of 5Contact Energy in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Spark, the only one of the two named

Spark first in 4Contact Energy never named

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Top mobile and broadband providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Spark was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Contact Energy did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. 2degrees1st
  2. Skinny2nd
  3. Spark3rd
  4. One NZ4th
  5. Warehouse Mobile5th
  6. Kogan Mobile6th
  7. Mercury7th
  8. Contact Energy–
  9. Zeronet–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • One NZ5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • 2degrees5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Spark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Skinny4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kogan Mobile2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Warehouse Mobile1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mercury1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Contact Energy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Zeronet0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about mobile and broadband providers

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.

Is Contact Energy or Spark more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Contact Energy and Spark by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine mobile and broadband providers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Contact Energy and Spark among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Spark, Contact Energy. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthOne NZSparkContact Energy2degreesSkinnyKogan MobileWarehouse MobileZeronetMercury
Oct 202531.7%19.6%17.4%18.7%7.8%1.6%2%0.7%0.52%
Nov 202536.2%18.4%13.5%17%9%3.3%1.6%0.67%0.44%
Dec 202534.4%17.5%15.5%16.9%9.5%3.1%1.8%0.8%0.38%
Jan 202633.9%17.5%18.7%16.7%8.4%1.7%1.7%0.96%0.53%
Feb 202633.8%17.3%18.6%16.9%8.4%1.4%2.2%0.95%0.53%
Mar 202632%19.7%17.5%16.9%8.8%1.9%1.7%0.9%0.54%
Apr 202634.7%17.5%18.9%15.8%8.5%1.4%1.5%0.97%0.66%
May 202634.6%17.9%19%15.7%8.5%1.4%1.5%0.78%0.67%
Jun 202632.7%17.2%21.9%15.9%8.1%1.3%1.2%1.1%0.62%
Jul 202630%15.5%24.4%16.6%8.3%1.8%1.3%1.1%0.96%
Aug 202634.4%14.5%23%15.6%7.8%1.7%1.3%1.2%0.64%
Sep 202637%18.5%16.8%15.5%7.8%1.9%1.1%0.89%0.48%

How has the Contact Energy and Spark comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Contact Energy took it in January 2026, Spark took it in March 2026, Contact Energy took it in April 2026, Spark took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Contact Energy’s share of searches among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand moved from 17.4% to 16.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 77.2K to 76.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Spark’s share of searches among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand moved from 19.6% to 18.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 86.8K to 84.3K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand mobile and broadband providers in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Spark overtook Contact Energy and 2degrees to rank 2nd among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand, with 18.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Contact Energy lost share of searches among mobile and broadband providers in New Zealand, from 23% to 16.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

18 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Contact Energy’s and Spark’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Contact Energy

7 branded search terms

  • broadband contact energy
  • contact broadband
  • contact broadband modem
  • contact energy broadband
  • contact energy fibre
  • contact energy mobile
  • contactenergy

Spark

11 branded search terms

  • spark
  • spark broadband
  • spark fibre
  • spark fibre broadband
  • spark internet
  • spark mobile
  • spark pay monthly
  • spark prepaid
  • spark prepay
  • spark rural broadband
  • spark wireless broadband

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among mobile and broadband providers

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