Brandwave

Google Cloud vs Microsoft Azure:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Azure had more branded searches than Google Cloud among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand. Microsoft Azure had about 9,760 branded searches, while Google Cloud had 6,760. Microsoft Azure made up 31.7% of all cloud computing platform searches we track, and Google Cloud accounted for 21.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cloud computing platforms, Microsoft Azure appeared in all five answers and Google Cloud in four. Microsoft Azure was mentioned before Google Cloud in every answer.

Among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Azure, about 44% more searches than Google Cloud

Microsoft Azure 9.8K searchesGoogle Cloud 6.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Azure, mentioned in every answer we collected

Microsoft Azure in 5 of 5Google Cloud in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Azure, named ahead of Google Cloud in every answer

Microsoft Azure first in 5Google Cloud 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, Microsoft Azure appeared in all five answers. Google Cloud was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Azure was listed before Google Cloud 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 Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Cloud 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.

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

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud. 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 Google Cloud 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, Microsoft Azure lost share of searches among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand, from 33% to 31.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Google Cloud lost share of searches among cloud computing platforms in New Zealand, from 22.5% to 21.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

26 search terms

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

Google Cloud

13 branded search terms

  • google cloud
  • google cloud console
  • google cloud hosting
  • google cloud messaging
  • google cloud photos
  • google cloud platform
  • google cloud print
  • google cloud services
  • google cloud storage
  • google cloud tts
  • googlecloud
  • googlecloud console
  • googlecloud 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

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