Brandwave

Musashi vs Optimum Nutrition:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Musashi had more branded searches than Optimum Nutrition among sports nutrition brands in New Zealand. Musashi had about 23,800 branded searches, while Optimum Nutrition had 4,310. Musashi made up 54.4% of all sports nutrition brand searches we track, and Optimum Nutrition accounted for 9.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sports nutrition brands, Musashi and Optimum Nutrition each appeared in two of the five answers. Musashi was mentioned before Optimum Nutrition in every answer.

Among sports nutrition brands in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Musashi, about 6 searches for every 1 for Optimum Nutrition

Musashi 23.8K searchesOptimum Nutrition 4.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Musashi in 2 of 5Optimum Nutrition in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Musashi, named ahead of Optimum Nutrition in every answer

Musashi first in 2Optimum Nutrition never first

Follow Musashi vs Optimum Nutrition 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 sports nutrition brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Musashi and Optimum Nutrition were each mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Musashi was listed before Optimum Nutrition in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. NZ Protein1st
  2. Musashi2nd
  3. Shotgun Supplements3rd
  4. Optimum Nutrition4th
  5. Ghost–
  6. Myprotein–
  7. Horleys–
  8. Nutra Organics–
  9. Balance Sports Nutrition–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • NZ Protein3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Musashi2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Optimum Nutrition2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Shotgun Supplements2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ghost0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Myprotein0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Horleys0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Nutra Organics0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Balance Sports Nutrition0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about sports nutrition brands

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 21, 2026.

Is Musashi or Optimum Nutrition more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Musashi and Optimum Nutrition by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine sports nutrition brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Musashi and Optimum Nutrition among sports nutrition brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Musashi, Optimum Nutrition. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMusashiNZ ProteinOptimum NutritionGhostMyproteinHorleysNutra OrganicsShotgun SupplementsBalance Sports Nutrition
Nov 202535.9%37.3%8.8%3%9%2.6%2.7%0.45%0.35%
Dec 202538.7%36.3%8.6%3.2%7%2.7%2.8%0.51%0.37%
Jan 202640%36.5%8.6%2.8%6.3%2.8%2.1%0.51%0.39%
Feb 202641.5%35.6%8.9%2.8%6.4%2.3%1.8%0.42%0.3%
Mar 202641.7%34.9%8.6%2.8%7.2%2%2.1%0.32%0.38%
Apr 202639.2%38.1%9.5%3.1%5.4%2%2.2%0.3%0.26%
May 202640.6%35%10%3.3%5.8%2.3%2.2%0.41%0.35%
Jun 202635.3%42.1%10.1%2.8%5.2%1.7%1.8%0.65%0.33%
Jul 202639.6%37.8%10.8%3.2%4.3%1.9%1.9%0.38%0.27%
Aug 202640.6%37.3%9.3%3.4%4.4%2.1%2%0.3%0.44%
Sep 202645.9%31.4%10%3.9%4.7%2%1.6%0.31%0.28%
Oct 202654.4%25.6%9.8%3.4%3.2%1.7%1.3%0.39%0.27%

Musashi sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “musashi protein”.

How has branded search for Musashi and Optimum Nutrition changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand sports nutrition brands in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Musashi gained share of searches among sports nutrition brands in New Zealand, from 45.9% to 54.4%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Optimum Nutrition in New Zealand rose 57.9% over 12 measured months, from 2.7K to 4.3K in October 2026.

How are Musashi’s and Optimum Nutrition’s branded searches counted?

15 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Musashi’s and Optimum Nutrition’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.

Musashi

8 branded search terms

  • musashi creatine
  • musashi high protein
  • musashi plant protein
  • musashi pre workout
  • musashi protein
  • musashi protein powder
  • musashi protein shaker
  • musashi whey protein

Optimum Nutrition

7 branded search terms

  • optimum nutrition
  • optimum nutrition creatine
  • optimum nutrition isolate
  • optimum nutrition protein
  • optimumnutrition
  • optimumnutrition creatine
  • optimumnutrition protein

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among sports nutrition brands

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