Social media analytics platforms in New Zealand:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, Buffer was the most searched social media analytics platform in New Zealand, accounting for 42.4% of all searches among the eight platforms we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Metricool, Hootsuite and Sprout Social were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Metricool was recommended most often, coming first in three out of four responses that gave a list.
BufferShare of searches 42.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
MetricoolShare of searches 34.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
HootsuiteShare of searches 8.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Sprout SocialShare of searches 8.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Rival IQShare of searches 2.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top social media analytics platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Metricool, Hootsuite and Sprout Social were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Metricool was recommended most often, coming first in three out of four answers that gave a list. Sprout Social was second, and Hootsuite was third. Rival IQ, which ranked fifth in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Metricool1st
- Sprout Social2nd
- Hootsuite3rd
Agorapulse4th- Buffer5th
Iconosquare6th- Rival IQ–
SocialPilot–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Metricool4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Hootsuite4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Sprout Social4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Buffer2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Agorapulse2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Iconosquare1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Rival IQ0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- SocialPilot0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about social media analytics platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which social media analytics platform should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best social media analytics platforms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best social media analytics platform in New Zealand for a marketing team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“social media reporting tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“social media dashboard”
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.
Which social media analytics platforms do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each social media analytics platform by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight social media analytics platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Buffer, Metricool, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Rival IQ. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Buffer | Metricool | Hootsuite | Sprout Social | Rival IQ | SocialPilot | Agorapulse | Iconosquare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 42.7% | 23.5% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 0.8% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.53% |
| Nov 2025 | 48.6% | 22.5% | 15.1% | 10% | 0.26% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.77% |
| Dec 2025 | 39.2% | 28.2% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 0.39% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.39% |
| Jan 2026 | 40.1% | 27.2% | 18.2% | 9.9% | 0.31% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 0.62% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.4% | 26.7% | 14.5% | 11.8% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.61% |
| Mar 2026 | 43% | 23.7% | 15.9% | 10.5% | 1.9% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.8% | 25.7% | 11.4% | 7.6% | 5% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.29% |
| May 2026 | 51.2% | 23.7% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.54% |
| Jun 2026 | 46.2% | 28.9% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 0.58% | 2% | 1.2% | 0.58% |
| Jul 2026 | 45.1% | 28.2% | 11% | 11% | 0.85% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.85% |
| Aug 2026 | 45.1% | 30.9% | 7.6% | 9.3% | 4% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.48% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.4% | 34.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.27% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 42.4% | 1.6K | -15.8% | -2.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 34.5% | 1.3K | 0% | +3.6 points | |
| 3, moved from 4th to 3rd | 8.5% | 320 | 0% | +0.9 pointsmoved from 4th to 3rd | |
| 4, moved from 3rd to 4th | 8.5% | 320 | -17.9% | -0.8 pointsmoved from 3rd to 4th | |
| 5, held 5th | 2.9% | 110 | -35.3% | -1.1 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.9% | 70 | +16.7% | +0.4 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.1% | 40 | -20% | -0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.27% | 10 | -50% | -0.2 points |
1.
Buffer42.4%
Held 1st. 1.6K estimated branded searches, -15.8% vs prior month. Share -2.7 points.
34.5%
Held 2nd. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3.6 points.
8.5%
Moved from 4th to 3rd. 320 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.
8.5%
Moved from 3rd to 4th. 320 estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
5.
Rival IQ2.9%
Held 5th. 110 estimated branded searches, -35.3% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.
1.9%
Held 6th. 70 estimated branded searches, +16.7% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
1.1%
Held 7th. 40 estimated branded searches, -20% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
0.27%
Held 8th. 10 estimated branded searches, -50% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand?
8 brands
In September 2026, Buffer was the most searched among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, with an estimated 1.6K branded searches, 42.4% of all searches for the eight we track. Metricool is in 2nd place, 8 percentage points behind at 34.5%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | 42.7% → 42.4% | 51.2%May 2026 | 39.2%Dec 2025 | 1st |
| Metricool | 23.5% → 34.5% | 34.5%Sep 2026 | 22.5%Nov 2025 | 2nd |
| Hootsuite | 15.7% → 8.5% | 18.2%Jan 2026 | 7.6%Aug 2026 | 3rd |
| Sprout Social | 12.8% → 8.5% | 12.8%Oct 2025 | 7.6%Apr 2026 | 4th |
| Rival IQ | 0.8% → 2.9% | 5%Apr 2026 | 0.26%Nov 2025 | 7th → 5th |
| SocialPilot | 2.1% → 1.9% | 2.7%Feb 2026 | 1.4%Aug 2026 | 5th → 6th |
| Agorapulse | 1.9% → 1.1% | 1.9%Oct 2025 | 1.1%Sep 2026 | 6th → 7th |
| Iconosquare | 0.53% → 0.27% | 1.1%Mar 2026 | 0.27%Sep 2026 | 8th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Metricool’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand increased from 23.5% to 34.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hootsuite’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand decreased from 15.7% to 8.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand decreased from 12.8% to 8.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rival IQ’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand increased from 0.8% to 2.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Agorapulse’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand decreased from 1.9% to 1.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffer’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 51.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 39.2% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Metricool’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 34.5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 22.5% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hootsuite’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 18.2% in January 2026 and was lowest at 7.6% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sprout Social’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 12.8% in October 2025 and was lowest at 7.6% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rival IQ’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 5% in April 2026 and was lowest at 0.26% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SocialPilot’s share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand peaked at 2.7% in February 2026 and was lowest at 1.4% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rival IQ rose from 7th to 5th among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SocialPilot fell from 5th to 6th among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Agorapulse fell from 6th to 7th among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buffer and Iconosquare held steady: their share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand social media analytics platforms in September 2026?
8 changes
In September 2026, Hootsuite overtook Sprout Social to rank 3rd among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, with 8.5% of the searches.
In September 2026, Metricool gained share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 30.9% to 34.5%.
In September 2026, Buffer lost share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 45.1% to 42.4%.
In September 2026, Rival IQ lost share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 4% to 2.9%.
In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among social media analytics platforms in New Zealand, from 9.3% to 8.5%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Iconosquare in New Zealand fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 20 to 10 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Agorapulse in New Zealand fell 42.9% over 12 measured months, from 70 to 40 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for SocialPilot in New Zealand fell 12.5% over 12 measured months, from 80 to 70 in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- Buffer vs Metricool: compare popularity
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- Buffer vs Sprout Social: compare popularity
- Buffer vs Rival IQ: compare popularity
- Metricool vs Hootsuite: compare popularity
- Metricool vs Sprout Social: compare popularity
- Metricool vs Rival IQ: compare popularity
- Hootsuite vs Sprout Social: compare popularity
- Hootsuite vs Rival IQ: compare popularity
- Sprout Social vs Rival IQ: compare popularity
- Compare any of these brands
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