Brandwave

Deep Heat vs Panadol:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Panadol had more branded searches than Deep Heat among pain relief brands in New Zealand. Panadol had about 6,260 branded searches, while Deep Heat had 2,900. Panadol made up 34.5% of all pain relief brand searches we track, and Deep Heat accounted for 16%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pain relief brands, Panadol appeared in four of the five answers and Deep Heat in one. Panadol was mentioned before Deep Heat in every answer that named either.

Among pain relief brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Panadol, about 2 searches for every 1 for Deep Heat

Panadol 6.3K searchesDeep Heat 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Panadol, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Deep Heat in 1

Panadol in 4 of 5Deep Heat in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Panadol, named ahead of Deep Heat in 4 of 4 answers

Panadol first in 4Deep Heat never first

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Top pain relief brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

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

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Panadol1st
  2. Nurofen2nd
  3. Maxigesic3rd
  4. Voltaren4th
  5. Deep Heat5th
  6. Disprin6th
  7. Naprogesic7th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Panadol4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Nurofen4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Voltaren3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Maxigesic2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Deep Heat1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Naprogesic1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Disprin1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about pain relief brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Deep Heat or Panadol more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Deep Heat and Panadol by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven pain relief brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Deep Heat and Panadol among pain relief brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Panadol, Deep Heat. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPanadolNurofenDeep HeatMaxigesicNaprogesicDisprinVoltaren
Oct 202534.9%27%12.8%13.4%6.9%4.4%0.61%
Nov 202535%26.8%13.4%13%6.8%4.1%0.85%
Dec 202538.6%25.7%12.5%12.2%6.4%4%0.63%
Jan 202635.3%28.5%13.4%11.2%7%3.9%0.63%
Feb 202636.8%25.3%14%11.8%7.2%4.3%0.59%
Mar 202634.2%28.8%12.7%13.2%6.7%3.8%0.54%
Apr 202632.6%26.2%12.5%18.5%6.3%3.2%0.66%
May 202633.8%25.4%15.1%15.1%6.2%3.8%0.69%
Jun 202633.2%28.8%15.1%13.1%6.2%3.1%0.5%
Jul 202632.2%28.5%14.7%14.3%6%3.7%0.61%
Aug 202637.1%27.1%13.6%13.7%4.7%3.2%0.56%
Sep 202634.5%26.5%16%12.8%6.1%3.9%0.39%

How has the Deep Heat and Panadol comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Panadol was ahead of Deep Heat in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Deep Heat’s share of searches among pain relief brands in New Zealand moved from 12.8% to 16%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 2.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Panadol’s share of searches among pain relief brands in New Zealand moved from 34.9% to 34.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.2K to 6.3K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand pain relief brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Deep Heat overtook Maxigesic to rank 3rd among pain relief brands in New Zealand, with 16% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Panadol lost share of searches among pain relief brands in New Zealand, from 37.1% to 34.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

13 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Deep Heat’s and Panadol’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.

Deep Heat

1 branded search term

  • deep heat

Panadol

12 branded search terms

  • codeine panadol
  • infant panadol
  • panadol
  • panadol extra
  • panadol headache
  • panadol optizorb
  • panadol pain relief
  • panadol paracetamol
  • panadol pregnancy
  • panadol rapid
  • panadol tablets
  • panadol v paracetamol

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among pain relief brands

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