Brandwave

Amazon Web Services vs DigitalOcean:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Amazon Web Services had more branded searches than DigitalOcean among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand. Amazon Web Services had about 7,390 branded searches, while DigitalOcean had 1,630. Amazon Web Services made up 24% of all cloud computing platform searches we track, and DigitalOcean accounted for 5.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cloud computing platforms, Amazon Web Services appeared in all five answers and DigitalOcean in one. Amazon Web Services was mentioned before DigitalOcean in every answer.

Among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Amazon Web Services, about 5 searches for every 1 for DigitalOcean

Amazon Web Services 7.4K searchesDigitalOcean 1.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Amazon Web Services, mentioned in every answer we collected

Amazon Web Services in 5 of 5DigitalOcean in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Amazon Web Services, named ahead of DigitalOcean in every answer

Amazon Web Services first in 5DigitalOcean never first

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Top cloud computing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Amazon Web Services appeared in all five answers. DigitalOcean was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Amazon Web Services was listed before DigitalOcean in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Microsoft Azure1st
  2. Amazon Web Services1st
  3. Google Cloud3rd
  4. Catalyst Cloud4th
  5. Datacom5th
  6. DigitalOcean6th
  7. Oracle Cloud–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Microsoft Azure5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon Web Services5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Cloud4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Catalyst Cloud3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Datacom2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • DigitalOcean1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Oracle Cloud0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cloud computing 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 20, 2026.

Is Amazon Web Services or DigitalOcean more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Amazon Web Services and DigitalOcean by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven cloud computing platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Amazon Web Services and DigitalOcean among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Amazon Web Services, DigitalOcean. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMicrosoft AzureAmazon Web ServicesGoogle CloudDatacomDigitalOceanOracle CloudCatalyst Cloud
Oct 202524.7%48.6%11.6%10.2%3%1.2%0.6%
Nov 202533.2%27.4%17.7%15.6%3.6%1.6%0.92%
Dec 202529.4%26%20.8%16.9%4.8%1.6%0.52%
Jan 202633.6%24.2%20.5%14%5.1%2.1%0.54%
Feb 202630.2%23.2%23.4%15.9%4.8%1.9%0.61%
Mar 202629.9%23.5%22.8%16%4.8%2.3%0.62%
Apr 202632.6%21.6%23.1%14.9%4.5%2.7%0.57%
May 202633%20.6%23.8%14.1%5.2%2.5%0.83%
Jun 202636.7%19.8%22.2%14.2%4.3%2.1%0.68%
Jul 202633.9%20.7%23.7%14.7%4.4%1.8%0.7%
Aug 202633%23.5%22.5%14%4.2%2.1%0.67%
Sep 202631.7%24%21.9%14.3%5.3%2.1%0.68%

How has the Amazon Web Services and DigitalOcean comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand cloud computing platforms in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, DigitalOcean gained share of searches among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand, from 4.2% to 5.3%.

  2. Amazon Web Services’ share of searches among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 19.8% to 24% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

15 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Amazon Web Services’ and DigitalOcean’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.

Amazon Web Services

11 branded search terms

  • aws
  • aws certified
  • aws cloud
  • aws console
  • aws glue
  • aws hosting
  • aws lambda
  • aws management console
  • aws rds
  • aws reinvent
  • aws services

DigitalOcean

4 branded search terms

  • digitalocean
  • digitalocean cloud
  • digitalocean console
  • digitalocean hosting

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cloud computing platforms

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