Bolt vs OpenAI Codex:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Bolt and OpenAI Codex were level in searches among AI coding assistants in New Zealand, with an estimated 280 versus 260 branded searches, at 2.1% and 2% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI coding assistants, OpenAI Codex appeared in three of the five answers and Bolt in none.
Who do people search for more?
Bolt, about 8% more searches than OpenAI Codex
Who does AI mention more?
OpenAI Codex, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Bolt in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
OpenAI Codex, the only one of the two named
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Top AI coding assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, OpenAI Codex was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Bolt did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Cursor1st
GitHub Copilot2nd
Claude Code3rd- OpenAI Codex4th
Windsurf5th
Replit–
Lovable–- Bolt–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Claude Code5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- GitHub Copilot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Cursor5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- OpenAI Codex3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Windsurf2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Replit0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Lovable0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Bolt0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about AI coding assistants
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which AI coding assistant should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best AI coding assistants in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best AI coding assistant in New Zealand for software development?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai coding assistant”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai pair programming”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Is Bolt or OpenAI Codex more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bolt and OpenAI Codex by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI coding assistants we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Bolt, OpenAI Codex. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Claude Code | Replit | GitHub Copilot | Cursor | Lovable | Bolt | OpenAI Codex | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 23.3% | 30.6% | 15.9% | 12.3% | 7.3% | 5% | 3.1% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 25.4% | 33.4% | 14.5% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 2% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.4% | 34.8% | 14.1% | 10.1% | 6.3% | 3% | 3.5% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.3% | 22.7% | 11.8% | 7.3% | 5.2% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 47.6% | 22.1% | 12.3% | 7.6% | 4% | 1.7% | 3.5% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 54.5% | 17.2% | 13.3% | 7% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 0.88% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.9% | 16.1% | 17.6% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 0.98% | 1.7% | 0.88% |
| May 2026 | 47.6% | 18.3% | 16.6% | 7.4% | 6.2% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1% |
| Jun 2026 | 45% | 21.1% | 13.5% | 10% | 5.8% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.8% | 20.4% | 13.6% | 7.8% | 7.6% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 1.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.2% | 24.3% | 12.4% | 9.7% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.7% | 28.4% | 12.2% | 7.9% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 2% | 1.2% |
How has the Bolt and OpenAI Codex comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: OpenAI Codex took it in December 2025, Bolt took it in January 2026, OpenAI Codex took it in February 2026, Bolt took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bolt’s share of searches among AI coding assistants in New Zealand moved from 5% to 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 620 to 280.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OpenAI Codex’s share of searches among AI coding assistants in New Zealand moved from 3.1% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 390 to 260.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand AI coding assistants in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bolt in New Zealand fell 54.8% over 12 measured months, from 620 to 280 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for OpenAI Codex in New Zealand fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 390 to 260 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bolt’s and OpenAI Codex’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.
Bolt
4 branded search terms
- bolt ai
- bolt coding
- bolt ide
- bolt new
OpenAI Codex
1 branded search term
- openai codex
Other head-to-heads among AI coding assistants
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