Brandwave

BestStart vs Busy Bees:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, BestStart had more branded searches than Busy Bees among early childhood education providers in New Zealand. BestStart had about 8,960 branded searches, while Busy Bees had 80. BestStart made up 47.8% of all early childhood education provider searches we track, and Busy Bees accounted for 0.43%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about early childhood education providers, BestStart and Busy Bees each appeared in two of the five answers. BestStart was mentioned before Busy Bees in every answer that named either.

Among early childhood education providers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

BestStart, about 112 searches for every 1 for Busy Bees

BestStart 9K searchesBusy Bees 80 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

BestStart in 2 of 5Busy Bees in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

BestStart, named ahead of Busy Bees in 2 of 2 answers

BestStart first in 2Busy Bees 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, BestStart and Busy Bees 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. BestStart was listed before Busy Bees 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 BestStart or Busy Bees more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BestStart and Busy Bees 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.

BestStart and Busy Bees among early childhood education providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for BestStart, Busy Bees. 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 BestStart and Busy Bees 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. Estimated monthly branded searches for Busy Bees in New Zealand rose 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 60 to 80 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

13 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BestStart’s and Busy Bees’ 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.

BestStart

11 branded search terms

  • best start
  • beststart
  • beststart botany road
  • beststart bremner road
  • beststart childcare
  • beststart dannemora
  • beststart daycare
  • beststart halswell junction
  • beststart huntsbury
  • beststart remuera road
  • beststart st lukes

Busy Bees

2 branded search terms

  • busy bees childcare
  • busy bees early learning

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among early childhood education providers

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