---
title: "Cold and flu brands in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare the cold, flu and sore throat remedy brands New Zealanders reach for. Share of Search among Lemsip, Sudafed, Strepsils, Vicks and Coldrex, the cold and flu brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-cold-and-flu-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Cold and flu brands in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare the cold, flu and sore throat remedy brands New Zealanders reach for. Share of Search among Lemsip, Sudafed, Strepsils, Vicks and Coldrex, the cold and flu brands Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Cold and flu brands
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Brands compared**: 5
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Lemsip, 28.5%

## Which brand is most popular in search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand?

- Lemsip and Sudafed share the highest estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, at 28.5% and 28.2% in August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lemsip’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand increased from 20.5% to 28.5%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sudafed’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand decreased from 35.9% to 28.2%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Strepsils’ estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand decreased from 24.1% to 23.2%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Vicks’ estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand increased from 17.8% to 18.9%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Coldrex’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand decreased from 1.7% to 1.1%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lemsip’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand peaked at 28.5% in August 2026 and was lowest at 19.4% in December 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Strepsils’ estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand peaked at 25.5% in March 2026 and was lowest at 20.9% in May 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Vicks’ estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand peaked at 21.4% in December 2025 and was lowest at 17.3% in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lemsip rose from 3rd to 1st among cold and flu brands in New Zealand.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sudafed fell from 1st to 2nd among cold and flu brands in New Zealand.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Strepsils fell from 2nd to 3rd among cold and flu brands in New Zealand.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Lemsip vs Sudafed: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/lemsip-vs-sudafed): 28.5% against 28.2% Share of Search.
- [Lemsip vs Strepsils: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/lemsip-vs-strepsils): 28.5% against 23.2% Share of Search.
- [Lemsip vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/lemsip-vs-vicks): 28.5% against 18.9% Share of Search.
- [Sudafed vs Strepsils: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/strepsils-vs-sudafed): 28.2% against 23.2% Share of Search.
- [Sudafed vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/sudafed-vs-vicks): 28.2% against 18.9% Share of Search.
- [Strepsils vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/strepsils-vs-vicks): 23.2% against 18.9% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand cold and flu brands in August 2026?

- In August 2026, Lemsip overtook Sudafed to take the highest estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, at 28.5%.
- In August 2026, Strepsils gained estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 21% to 23.2%.
- In August 2026, Sudafed lost estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 31.6% to 28.2%.
- Coldrex’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2% to 1.1% in August 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Vicks in New Zealand rose 153% over 11 measured months, from 2.5K to 6.3K in August 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Lemsip | 28.5% | 9.5K | +43.5% | Lemsip |
| 2 | Sudafed | 28.2% | 9.4K | +21.6% | Sudafed |
| 3 | Strepsils | 23.2% | 7.7K | +50.4% | Strepsils |
| 4 | Vicks | 18.9% | 6.3K | +36.1% | Vicks |
| 5 | Coldrex | 1.1% | 370 | +2.8% | Coldrex |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Sudafed | 5K | 35.9% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Strepsils | 3.4K | 24.1% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Lemsip | 2.9K | 20.5% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Vicks | 2.5K | 17.8% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Coldrex | 240 | 1.7% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Sudafed | 3.5K | 34.6% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Strepsils | 2.3K | 22.3% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Lemsip | 2.2K | 21.8% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Vicks | 2.1K | 20.3% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Coldrex | 110 | 1.1% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Sudafed | 3.4K | 34.9% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Strepsils | 2.3K | 22.9% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Vicks | 2.1K | 21.4% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Lemsip | 1.9K | 19.4% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Coldrex | 140 | 1.4% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Sudafed | 2.9K | 33.5% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Strepsils | 2.1K | 24% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Vicks | 1.8K | 21.1% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Lemsip | 1.8K | 20.2% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Coldrex | 100 | 1.2% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Sudafed | 3.5K | 31.3% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Strepsils | 2.7K | 23.9% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Lemsip | 2.5K | 22.8% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Vicks | 2.3K | 20.5% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Coldrex | 160 | 1.4% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Sudafed | 5.1K | 31.3% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Strepsils | 4.1K | 25.5% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Lemsip | 3.9K | 24.3% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Vicks | 2.8K | 17.3% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Coldrex | 250 | 1.5% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Sudafed | 4.2K | 33.5% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Lemsip | 2.9K | 22.7% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Strepsils | 2.8K | 22% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Vicks | 2.5K | 20.1% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Coldrex | 230 | 1.8% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Sudafed | 6.1K | 31.2% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Lemsip | 4.9K | 25.3% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Strepsils | 4.1K | 20.9% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Vicks | 4K | 20.6% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Coldrex | 390 | 2% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Sudafed | 6.1K | 30.9% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Lemsip | 5.1K | 25.7% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Strepsils | 4.3K | 21.6% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Vicks | 4K | 20.1% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Coldrex | 330 | 1.7% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Sudafed | 7.7K | 31.6% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Lemsip | 6.6K | 27% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Strepsils | 5.1K | 21% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Vicks | 4.6K | 18.9% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Coldrex | 360 | 1.5% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Lemsip | 9.5K | 28.5% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Sudafed | 9.4K | 28.2% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Strepsils | 7.7K | 23.2% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Vicks | 6.3K | 18.9% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Coldrex | 370 | 1.1% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Coldrex | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Lemsip | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Strepsils | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Sudafed | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Vicks | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **Coldrex**: Measured on the search terms “coldrex”, “coldrex cold and flu”, “coldrex cough” and “coldrex day and night”, summed into one figure.
- **Lemsip**: Measured on the search terms “lemsip”, “lemsip capsules”, “lemsip cold & flu”, “lemsip cough”, “lemsip day night”, “lemsip decongestant”, “lemsip lozenges”, “lemsip max”, “lemsip max cold & flu”, “lemsip max decongestant”, “lemsip near me”, “lemsip nz”, “lemsip pak n save”, “lemsip pregnant”, “lemsip sachets”, “lemsip sore throat” and “lemsip woolies”, summed into one figure.
- **Strepsils**: Measured on the search terms “anaesthetic strepsils”, “blocked nose strepsils”, “blue strepsils”, “strepsils”, “strepsils and sore throat”, “strepsils cold and flu”, “strepsils cough”, “strepsils honey lemon”, “strepsils lemon”, “strepsils lozenges”, “strepsils near me”, “strepsils nz”, “strepsils orange”, “strepsils pak n save”, “strepsils plus”, “strepsils sugarfree”, “strepsils throat lozenges” and “strepsils woolies”, summed into one figure.
- **Sudafed**: Measured on the search terms “sudafed”, “sudafed cold and flu”, “sudafed cough”, “sudafed day night”, “sudafed lozenges”, “sudafed near me”, “sudafed night”, “sudafed nz”, “sudafed online”, “sudafed pe”, “sudafed pseudoephedrine”, “sudafed sinus”, “sudafed sore throat” and “sudafed tablets”, summed into one figure.
- **Vicks**: Measured on the search terms “vicks cold and flu”, “vicks cough”, “vicks cough syrup 44”, “vicks inhaler”, “vicks lozenges”, “vicks sore throat”, “vicks vaporub”, “vicks vaporub newborn”, “vicks vaporub nz” and “vicks vaporub toenail fungus”, summed into one figure.

- [Coldrex](/demand/nz/brands/coldrex)
- [Lemsip](/demand/nz/brands/lemsip)
- [Strepsils](/demand/nz/brands/strepsils)
- [Sudafed](/demand/nz/brands/sudafed)
- [Vicks](/demand/nz/brands/vicks)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand?

Lemsip and Sudafed share the highest estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, at 28.5% and 28.2% in August 2026.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Cold and flu brands in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-cold-and-flu-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-cold-and-flu-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.