Brandwave

Kernel vs Sharesies:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Sharesies had more branded searches than Kernel among investment platforms in New Zealand. Sharesies had about 75,100 branded searches, while Kernel had 27,200. Sharesies made up 41.8% of all investment platform searches we track, and Kernel accounted for 15.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about investment platforms, Sharesies appeared in all five answers and Kernel in four. Sharesies was mentioned before Kernel in four out of five answers.

Among investment platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Sharesies, about 3 searches for every 1 for Kernel

Sharesies 75.1K searchesKernel 27.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Sharesies, mentioned in every answer we collected

Sharesies in 5 of 5Kernel in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Sharesies, named ahead of Kernel in 4 of 5 answers

Sharesies first in 4Kernel first in 1

Follow Kernel vs Sharesies 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 investment platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sharesies appeared in all five answers. Kernel was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Sharesies was listed before Kernel in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Sharesies1st
  2. InvestNow2nd
  3. Kernel3rd
  4. Hatch4th
  5. ASB Securities5th
  6. Tiger Brokers6th
  7. Craigs Investment Partners–
  8. Forsyth Barr–
  9. Jarden–
  10. Snowball Effect–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Sharesies5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • InvestNow5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kernel4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hatch4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ASB Securities2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tiger Brokers1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Craigs Investment Partners0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Forsyth Barr0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Jarden0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Snowball Effect0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about investment 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 19, 2026.

Is Kernel or Sharesies more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Kernel and Sharesies by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 investment platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Kernel and Sharesies among investment platforms in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSharesiesKernelHatchInvestNowCraigs Investment PartnersForsyth BarrASB SecuritiesJardenTiger BrokersSnowball EffectStake
Oct 202547.6%7.9%16.3%7.9%8.2%4.7%5.2%0.7%0.82%0.21%0.42%
Nov 202544.6%9%15.1%9%9.8%5.4%4.8%0.76%0.78%0.36%0.28%
Dec 202541%9.8%16.9%10%9.1%6%5.4%0.62%0.68%0.27%0.27%
Jan 202646.1%9.4%15.5%9.2%8.3%4.5%5%0.55%0.96%0.25%0.25%
Feb 202645.8%9.3%12.7%9.2%10.1%5.5%4.9%0.93%0.8%0.54%0.25%
Mar 202643.5%10.3%13.5%8.7%9.6%6.3%5.8%0.92%0.77%0.42%0.23%
Apr 202642.8%11.1%14.5%10.5%9.4%5.1%4.6%0.63%0.75%0.34%0.23%
May 202642.5%12.7%14.5%10.4%8.9%4.2%4.6%0.72%0.89%0.34%0.24%
Jun 202642.4%12.7%14.4%10.5%8.5%5%4.6%0.5%0.89%0.28%0.21%
Jul 202637.2%16.6%12.7%11.2%9.5%5.4%4.9%1.1%0.8%0.3%0.18%
Aug 202640%14.9%11.1%9.8%9.8%5.8%5.3%2.1%0.54%0.39%0.23%
Sep 202641.8%15.1%11.6%10.2%9.9%5%4.5%0.83%0.5%0.33%0.21%

How has the Kernel and Sharesies comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Sharesies was ahead of Kernel in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kernel’s share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand moved from 7.9% to 15.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.5K to 27.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sharesies’ share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand moved from 47.6% to 41.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 112K to 75.1K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand investment platforms in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Sharesies gained share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand, from 40% to 41.8%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kernel in New Zealand rose 47.2% over 12 measured months, from 18.5K to 27.2K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

18 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kernel’s and Sharesies’ 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.

Kernel

11 branded search terms

  • kernel cash fund
  • kernel fund
  • kernel funds
  • kernel invest
  • kernel investment funds
  • kernel kiwisaver
  • kernel kiwisaver funds
  • kernel wealth
  • kernel wealth funds
  • kernel wealth kiwisaver
  • kiwisaver kernel

Sharesies

7 branded search terms

  • Sharesies
  • sharesies investing
  • sharesies investment
  • sharesies kiwisaver
  • sharesies shares
  • sharesies stocks
  • sharesies trading

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among investment platforms

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