Brandwave

BestStart vs Kindercare:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, BestStart had more branded searches than Kindercare among early childhood education providers in New Zealand. BestStart had about 8,960 branded searches, while Kindercare had 3,100. BestStart made up 47.8% of all early childhood education provider searches we track, and Kindercare accounted for 16.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about early childhood education providers, BestStart and Kindercare each appeared in two of the five answers. BestStart was mentioned before Kindercare in every answer that named either.

Among early childhood education providers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

BestStart, about 3 searches for every 1 for Kindercare

BestStart 9K searchesKindercare 3.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

BestStart in 2 of 5Kindercare in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

BestStart, named ahead of Kindercare in 2 of 2 answers

BestStart first in 2Kindercare never first

Follow BestStart vs Kindercare 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 early childhood education providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BestStart was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Kindercare was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. BestStart was listed before Kindercare in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. BestStart1st
  2. Remuera Montessori2nd
  3. Busy Bees2nd
  4. Smart Start Montessori4th
  5. Evolve Education5th
  6. Kindercare6th
  7. Active Explorers7th
  8. Barnardos Early Learning–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • BestStart2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Kindercare2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Remuera Montessori2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Busy Bees2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Smart Start Montessori2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Active Explorers1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Evolve Education1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Barnardos Early Learning0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about early childhood education providers

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 21, 2026.

Is BestStart or Kindercare more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BestStart and Kindercare by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight early childhood education providers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

BestStart and Kindercare among early childhood education providers in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBestStartKindercareActive ExplorersBarnardos Early LearningEvolve EducationRemuera MontessoriBusy BeesSmart Start Montessori
Oct 202546.5%19.8%12.4%13.8%4%3.1%0.31%0.16%
Nov 202550.5%18.3%12%11.4%4%3.1%0.42%0.21%
Dec 202546.3%24.1%11.8%11%3.3%3%0.38%0.13%
Jan 202646.9%18.5%15.9%11.3%4.2%2.6%0.43%0.16%
Feb 202647.5%19%14.6%11.5%4%2.5%0.63%0.16%
Mar 202647.2%18.4%14.1%13.4%3.4%3.1%0.34%0.09%
Apr 202647.5%19%14.7%11.4%4.2%2.6%0.33%0.16%
May 202646.9%18.7%13.5%14%4.2%2.1%0.43%0.16%
Jun 202646.4%19.5%15.5%11.2%4.2%2.6%0.43%0.16%
Jul 202649.9%17.8%13.7%11.7%3.5%2.7%0.45%0.22%
Aug 202647.9%17.7%14.7%11.6%4.3%3.3%0.34%0.17%
Sep 202647.8%16.5%14%13.8%4.1%3.1%0.43%0.16%

How has the BestStart and Kindercare comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand early childhood education providers in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Kindercare lost share of searches among early childhood education providers in New Zealand, from 17.7% to 16.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

23 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BestStart’s and Kindercare’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.

BestStart

11 branded search terms

  • best start
  • beststart
  • beststart botany road
  • beststart bremner road
  • beststart childcare
  • beststart dannemora
  • beststart daycare
  • beststart halswell junction
  • beststart huntsbury
  • beststart remuera road
  • beststart st lukes

Kindercare

12 branded search terms

  • kindercare
  • kindercare albany
  • kindercare botany
  • kindercare cbd
  • kindercare childcare
  • kindercare daycare
  • kindercare learning
  • kindercare pakuranga
  • kindercare pebble
  • kindercare preschool
  • kindercare three kings
  • my kindercare

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among early childhood education providers

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