Headspace vs Smiling Mind:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, Headspace had more branded searches than Smiling Mind among meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand. Headspace had about 1,250 branded searches, while Smiling Mind had 310. Headspace made up 47.3% of all meditation and sleep app searches we track, and Smiling Mind accounted for 11.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation and sleep apps, Headspace and Smiling Mind each appeared in four of the five answers. Headspace was mentioned before Smiling Mind in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Headspace, about 4 searches for every 1 for Smiling Mind
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Headspace, named ahead of Smiling Mind in 3 of 4 answers
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Top meditation and sleep apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Headspace and Smiling Mind were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Headspace was listed before Smiling Mind in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Insight Timer1st
Calm2nd- Headspace3rd
Smiling Mind4th
BetterSleep5th
Waking Up6th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Calm5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Headspace4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Insight Timer4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Smiling Mind4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Waking Up2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- BetterSleep1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about meditation and sleep apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which meditation or sleep app should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best meditation or sleep app in New Zealand for better sleep?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“meditation apps”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sleep sounds app”
- 1Calm
- 1
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Headspace or Smiling Mind more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Headspace and Smiling Mind by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six meditation and sleep apps we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Headspace, Smiling Mind. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Headspace | Insight Timer | BetterSleep | Smiling Mind | Calm | Waking Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 56.7% | 16.8% | 3.7% | 12.3% | 8.6% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 53% | 17.7% | 4.3% | 9.9% | 12.1% | 3% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.1% | 15.3% | 4.7% | 10.9% | 12% | 4% |
| Feb 2026 | 55.5% | 15.1% | 3.7% | 12.1% | 11% | 2.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 57.9% | 12.1% | 2.4% | 11.8% | 13% | 2.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 52.9% | 16.6% | 2.8% | 10% | 15.2% | 2.4% |
| May 2026 | 57.5% | 13.4% | 5.3% | 9% | 12.1% | 2.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 60% | 12.3% | 7.4% | 10% | 9% | 1.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 54.4% | 14.4% | 7.9% | 8.5% | 13.5% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 58.8% | 14.5% | 4.7% | 9.5% | 10.4% | 2.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.5% | 13.8% | 6.9% | 11.6% | 9.8% | 3.3% |
| Oct 2026 | 47.3% | 16.3% | 15.2% | 11.7% | 7.6% | 1.9% |
How has branded search for Headspace and Smiling Mind changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Headspace was ahead of Smiling Mind in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Headspace’s share of searches among meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand moved from 56.7% to 47.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5K to 1.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Smiling Mind’s share of searches among meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand moved from 12.3% to 11.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 330 to 310.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand meditation and sleep apps in October 2026?
3 changes
In October 2026, BetterSleep overtook Smiling Mind and Calm to rank 3rd among meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand, with 15.2% of the searches.
In October 2026, Headspace lost share of searches among meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand, from 54.5% to 47.3%.
Smiling Mind’s share of searches among meditation and sleep apps in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 8.5% to 11.7% in October 2026.
How are Headspace’s and Smiling Mind’s branded searches counted?
15 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Headspace’s and Smiling Mind’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.
Headspace
9 branded search terms
- headspace
- headspace app
- headspace guide meditation
- headspace hair
- headspace meditation
- headspace meditation app
- headspace mindfulness app
- headspace sleep
- headspace sleep meditation
Smiling Mind
6 branded search terms
- smiling mind
- smiling mind app
- smiling mind meditation
- smiling mind sleep
- smilingmind
- smilingmind app
Other head-to-heads among meditation and sleep apps
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