Airbnb vs Booking.com:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Airbnb had more branded searches than Booking.com among holiday home rentals in New Zealand. Airbnb had about 166,000 branded searches, while Booking.com had 92,000. Airbnb made up 59.6% of all holiday home rental searches we track, and Booking.com accounted for 33%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about holiday home rentals, Airbnb appeared in three of the four answers and Booking.com in two. Airbnb was mentioned before Booking.com in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Airbnb, about 81% more searches than Booking.com
Who does AI mention more?
Airbnb, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Booking.com in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Airbnb, named ahead of Booking.com in 3 of 3 answers
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Top holiday home rentals in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Airbnb was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Booking.com was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Airbnb was listed before Booking.com in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Bookabach1st- Airbnb2nd
Bachcare3rd
Holiday Houses4th
Booking.com5th
Vrbo6th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Airbnb3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Bookabach3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Bachcare3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Vrbo3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Booking.com2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Holiday Houses2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about holiday home rentals
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which holiday home rental site should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best holiday home rental sites in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best holiday home rental site in New Zealand for a family trip?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“holiday home nz”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“holiday home rental sites”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is Airbnb or Booking.com more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Airbnb and Booking.com by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six holiday home rentals we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Airbnb, Booking.com. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Airbnb | Booking.com | Bookabach | Bachcare | Vrbo | Holiday Houses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 74.8% | 15.6% | 6.7% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.19% |
| Nov 2025 | 74.8% | 15.5% | 6.7% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.19% |
| Dec 2025 | 75.8% | 15.7% | 5.6% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.18% |
| Jan 2026 | 75.8% | 15.7% | 5.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 73.3% | 18.5% | 5.4% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.14% |
| Mar 2026 | 73.4% | 18.6% | 5.4% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.16% |
| Apr 2026 | 73.9% | 18.6% | 5.4% | 1.1% | 0.89% | 0.12% |
| May 2026 | 71% | 21.7% | 5.2% | 1% | 0.95% | 0.14% |
| Jun 2026 | 71% | 21.8% | 5.2% | 1% | 0.84% | 0.13% |
| Jul 2026 | 70.2% | 21.6% | 6.3% | 1% | 0.79% | 0.13% |
| Aug 2026 | 67% | 24.9% | 6% | 0.97% | 0.98% | 0.12% |
| Sep 2026 | 59.6% | 33% | 5.4% | 1% | 0.87% | 0.13% |
How has the Airbnb and Booking.com comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Airbnb was ahead of Booking.com in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Airbnb’s share of searches among holiday home rentals in New Zealand moved from 74.8% to 59.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 166K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Booking.com’s share of searches among holiday home rentals in New Zealand moved from 15.6% to 33%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 34.6K to 92K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand holiday home rentals in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Booking.com gained share of searches among holiday home rentals in New Zealand, from 24.9% to 33%.
In September 2026, Airbnb lost share of searches among holiday home rentals in New Zealand, from 67% to 59.6%.
How are branded searches counted?
24 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Airbnb’s and Booking.com’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.
Airbnb
16 branded search terms
- airbnb
- airbnb accommodation
- airbnb app
- airbnb ca
- airbnb experiences
- airbnb gift cards
- airbnb holiday homes
- airbnb host
- airbnb house
- airbnb ie
- airbnb paekakariki
- airbnb rentals
- airbnb voucher
- airbnb web
- beach airbnb
- booking airbnb
Booking.com
8 branded search terms
- admin booking com
- app booking com
- booking com
- booking com admin
- booking com rentals
- booking com tel
- Booking.com
- bookingcom
Other head-to-heads among holiday home rentals
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