Brandwave

iCloud vs OneDrive:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, OneDrive had more branded searches than iCloud among cloud storage services in New Zealand. OneDrive had about 61,600 branded searches, while iCloud had 40,400. OneDrive made up 19.3% of all cloud storage service searches we track, and iCloud accounted for 12.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cloud storage services, OneDrive appeared in all five answers and iCloud in four. OneDrive was mentioned before iCloud in every answer.

Among cloud storage services in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

OneDrive, about 52% more searches than iCloud

OneDrive 61.6K searchesiCloud 40.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

OneDrive, mentioned in every answer we collected

OneDrive in 5 of 5iCloud in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

OneDrive, named ahead of iCloud in every answer

OneDrive first in 5iCloud never first

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Top cloud storage services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, OneDrive appeared in all five answers. iCloud was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. OneDrive was listed before iCloud in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Google Drive1st
  2. OneDrive2nd
  3. iCloud3rd
  4. MEGA4th
  5. Dropbox5th
  6. Sync.com6th
  7. WeTransfer–
  8. Box–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Google Drive5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OneDrive5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • iCloud4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Dropbox4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MEGA3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sync.com2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • WeTransfer0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Box0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cloud storage services

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 iCloud or OneDrive more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for iCloud and OneDrive by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight cloud storage services we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

iCloud and OneDrive among cloud storage services in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for OneDrive, iCloud. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle DriveOneDriveiCloudDropboxWeTransferMEGABoxSync.com
Oct 202551.9%19.3%12.9%8.8%7%0.15%0.03%<0.01%
Nov 202548.9%18.1%14.7%10%8%0.17%0.05%<0.01%
Dec 202544.1%16.3%19.4%11%8.8%0.23%0.06%0.01%
Jan 202646.1%17.2%17.3%11.5%7.6%0.2%0.05%0.01%
Feb 202650%18.6%12.8%10.2%8.2%0.14%0.04%<0.01%
Mar 202653.7%20%11.1%9%6%0.13%0.04%<0.01%
Apr 202648.9%18.2%14.6%10%8%0.21%0.04%<0.01%
May 202649.9%22.6%12.3%8.4%6.7%0.18%0.04%<0.01%
Jun 202653.9%16.4%13.2%9%7.3%0.16%0.04%<0.01%
Jul 202651%18.9%13%8.6%8.4%0.15%0.06%<0.01%
Aug 202657%17.3%11.5%7.8%6.3%0.11%0.04%<0.01%
Sep 202652.1%19.3%12.7%8.7%7%0.15%0.06%<0.01%

How has the iCloud and OneDrive comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: iCloud took it in December 2025, OneDrive took it in February 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iCloud’s share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand moved from 12.9% to 12.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 41.4K to 40.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OneDrive’s share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand held steady at 19.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 61.9K to 61.6K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand cloud storage services in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, OneDrive gained share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand, from 17.3% to 19.3%.

  2. In September 2026, iCloud gained share of searches among cloud storage services in New Zealand, from 11.5% to 12.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

22 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iCloud’s and OneDrive’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.

iCloud

14 branded search terms

  • apple icloud
  • find my icloud
  • icloud
  • icloud backup
  • icloud cloud storage
  • icloud contacts
  • icloud drive
  • icloud e mail
  • icloud find
  • icloud mail
  • icloud microsoft
  • icloud notes
  • icloud storage
  • sign into icloud

OneDrive

8 branded search terms

  • installing onedrive
  • linux onedrive
  • onedrive
  • onedrive cloud storage
  • onedrive dl
  • onedrive enterprise
  • onedrive osx
  • onedrive storage

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cloud storage services

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