Brandwave

New Balance vs Nike:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Nike had more branded searches than New Balance among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand. Nike had about 72,700 branded searches, while New Balance had 65,700. Nike made up 30% of all basketball shoe brand searches we track, and New Balance accounted for 27.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about basketball shoe brands, Nike appeared in all five answers and New Balance in three. Nike was mentioned before New Balance in every answer.

Among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Nike, about 11% more searches than New Balance

Nike 72.7K searchesNew Balance 65.7K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Nike, mentioned in every answer we collected

Nike in 5 of 5New Balance in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Nike, named ahead of New Balance in every answer

Nike first in 4New Balance never first

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Top basketball shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nike appeared in all five answers. New Balance was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Nike was listed before New Balance in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Adidas1st
  2. Nike2nd
  3. Under Armour3rd
  4. Puma4th
  5. New Balance5th
  6. Anta–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Nike5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adidas5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • New Balance3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Puma3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Under Armour3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Anta0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about basketball shoe brands

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 New Balance or Nike more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for New Balance and Nike by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six basketball shoe brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

New Balance and Nike among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Nike, New Balance. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNikeAdidasNew BalancePumaUnder ArmourAnta
Oct 202533.6%27.4%24.7%10.2%4%0.2%
Nov 202535.2%28.3%23.4%9.2%3.8%0.12%
Dec 202537%25%22.7%11.3%3.9%0.12%
Jan 202636.8%24.3%24.8%10%4%0.19%
Feb 202634.7%26.7%25%9.6%3.7%0.34%
Mar 202633.7%28.7%23.9%10.3%3.1%0.29%
Apr 202632%27.6%25.9%10.4%3.7%0.46%
May 202630.2%28.4%28.5%9.4%3.3%0.21%
Jun 202628.7%26.1%28.1%13.7%3.1%0.24%
Jul 202630.2%27.9%24.9%13%3.9%0.17%
Aug 202631.7%27%26%11.5%3.7%0.21%
Sep 202630%27.6%27.1%11.8%3.4%0.17%

How has the New Balance and Nike comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Nike was ahead of New Balance in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand moved from 24.7% to 27.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 54.5K to 65.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nike’s share of searches among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand moved from 33.6% to 30%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74.1K to 72.7K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand basketball shoe brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, New Balance gained share of searches among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand, from 26% to 27.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Nike lost share of searches among basketball shoe brands in New Zealand, from 31.7% to 30%.

How are branded searches counted?

24 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using New Balance’s and Nike’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.

New Balance

11 branded search terms

  • new balance
  • new balance 1080
  • new balance 2002r
  • new balance 530
  • new balance 550
  • new balance 574
  • new balance 740
  • new balance 9060
  • new balance outlets
  • newbalance
  • newbalance 327

Nike

13 branded search terms

  • nike
  • nike air max
  • nike airforce
  • nike backpacks
  • nike dunks
  • nike hoodie
  • nike metcons
  • nike pegasus
  • nike pro
  • nike shorts
  • nike shox
  • nike socks
  • nike tn

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among basketball shoe brands

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