Brandwave

Active Explorers vs Smart Start Montessori:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Active Explorers had more branded searches than Smart Start Montessori among early childhood education providers in New Zealand. Active Explorers had about 2,630 branded searches, while Smart Start Montessori had 30. Active Explorers made up 14% of all early childhood education provider searches we track, and Smart Start Montessori accounted for 0.16%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about early childhood education providers, Smart Start Montessori appeared in two of the five answers and Active Explorers in one. Smart Start Montessori was mentioned before Active Explorers in every answer that named either.

Among early childhood education providers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Active Explorers, about 88 searches for every 1 for Smart Start Montessori

Active Explorers 2.6K searchesSmart Start Montessori 30 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Smart Start Montessori, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Active Explorers in 1

Smart Start Montessori in 2 of 5Active Explorers in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Smart Start Montessori, named ahead of Active Explorers in 2 of 2 answers

Smart Start Montessori first in 2Active Explorers never first

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Top early childhood education providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Smart Start Montessori was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Active Explorers was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Smart Start Montessori was listed before Active Explorers in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. BestStart1st
  2. Remuera Montessori2nd
  3. Busy Bees2nd
  4. Smart Start Montessori4th
  5. Evolve Education5th
  6. Kindercare6th
  7. Active Explorers7th
  8. Barnardos Early Learning–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • BestStart2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Kindercare2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Remuera Montessori2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Busy Bees2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Smart Start Montessori2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Active Explorers1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Evolve Education1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Barnardos Early Learning0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about early childhood education providers

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 Active Explorers or Smart Start Montessori more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Active Explorers and Smart Start Montessori by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight early childhood education providers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Active Explorers and Smart Start Montessori among early childhood education providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Active Explorers, Smart Start Montessori. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBestStartKindercareActive ExplorersBarnardos Early LearningEvolve EducationRemuera MontessoriBusy BeesSmart Start Montessori
Oct 202546.5%19.8%12.4%13.8%4%3.1%0.31%0.16%
Nov 202550.5%18.3%12%11.4%4%3.1%0.42%0.21%
Dec 202546.3%24.1%11.8%11%3.3%3%0.38%0.13%
Jan 202646.9%18.5%15.9%11.3%4.2%2.6%0.43%0.16%
Feb 202647.5%19%14.6%11.5%4%2.5%0.63%0.16%
Mar 202647.2%18.4%14.1%13.4%3.4%3.1%0.34%0.09%
Apr 202647.5%19%14.7%11.4%4.2%2.6%0.33%0.16%
May 202646.9%18.7%13.5%14%4.2%2.1%0.43%0.16%
Jun 202646.4%19.5%15.5%11.2%4.2%2.6%0.43%0.16%
Jul 202649.9%17.8%13.7%11.7%3.5%2.7%0.45%0.22%
Aug 202647.9%17.7%14.7%11.6%4.3%3.3%0.34%0.17%
Sep 202647.8%16.5%14%13.8%4.1%3.1%0.43%0.16%

How has the Active Explorers and Smart Start Montessori comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand early childhood education providers in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Active Explorers lost share of searches among early childhood education providers in New Zealand, from 14.7% to 14%.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Active Explorers’ and Smart Start Montessori’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.

Active Explorers

6 branded search terms

  • active explorers
  • active explorers farnborough
  • active explorers highbrook
  • active explorers preschool
  • active explorers swanson
  • activeexplorers

Smart Start Montessori

1 branded search term

  • smart start montessori

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among early childhood education providers

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