Brandwave

DigitalOcean vs Microsoft Azure:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Azure had more branded searches than DigitalOcean among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand. Microsoft Azure had about 9,760 branded searches, while DigitalOcean had 1,630. Microsoft Azure made up 31.7% 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, Microsoft Azure appeared in all five answers and DigitalOcean in one. Microsoft Azure was mentioned before DigitalOcean in every answer.

Among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Azure, about 6 searches for every 1 for DigitalOcean

Microsoft Azure 9.8K searchesDigitalOcean 1.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Azure, mentioned in every answer we collected

Microsoft Azure in 5 of 5DigitalOcean in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Azure, named ahead of DigitalOcean in every answer

Microsoft Azure first in 5DigitalOcean never first

Follow DigitalOcean vs Microsoft Azure and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top cloud computing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Azure 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. Microsoft Azure 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 DigitalOcean or Microsoft Azure more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for DigitalOcean and Microsoft Azure 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.

DigitalOcean and Microsoft Azure among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Azure, 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 DigitalOcean and Microsoft Azure 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. In September 2026, Microsoft Azure lost share of searches among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand, from 33% to 31.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

17 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DigitalOcean’s and Microsoft Azure’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.

DigitalOcean

4 branded search terms

  • digitalocean
  • digitalocean cloud
  • digitalocean console
  • digitalocean hosting

Microsoft Azure

13 branded search terms

  • azure
  • azure ad
  • azure artificial intelligence
  • azure data studio
  • azure devops
  • azure migration
  • azure openai
  • azure portal
  • azure vm
  • microsoft azure cloud
  • microsoft azure console
  • microsoft azure hosting
  • ms azure portal

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cloud computing platforms

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free