--- title: "BrightLocal vs Semrush Local: Which is more popular in New Zealand?" description: "Is BrightLocal or Semrush Local more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Local SEO platforms set in New Zealand. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/brightlocal-vs-semrush-local" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # BrightLocal vs Semrush Local: Which is more popular in New Zealand? Is BrightLocal or Semrush Local more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Local SEO platforms set in New Zealand. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: BrightLocal and Semrush Local - **Competitive set**: Local SEO platforms - **Market**: New Zealand - **Month measured**: Oct 2026 - **BrightLocal Share of Search**: 15.6% - **Semrush Local Share of Search**: 0% ## Is BrightLocal or Semrush Local more popular in search? - In October 2026, BrightLocal had more branded searches than Semrush Local among local SEO platforms in New Zealand. BrightLocal had about 50 branded searches, while Semrush Local had 0. BrightLocal made up 15.6% of all local SEO platform searches we track, and Semrush Local accounted for 0%. - BrightLocal was ahead of Semrush Local in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, BrightLocal’s share of searches among local SEO platforms in New Zealand moved from 25% to 15.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 70 to 50. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Semrush Local’s share of searches among local SEO platforms in New Zealand moved from 3.6% to 0%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10 to 0. ## Top local SEO platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BrightLocal was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Semrush Local was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. BrightLocal was listed before Semrush Local in three out of four answers. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | BrightLocal | 1st | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Whitespark | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Semrush Local | 3rd | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Local Falcon | 4th | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Localo | 5th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Yext | 6th | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Local Viking | 7th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about local SEO platforms - Asked ChatGPT "Which local SEO platform should I use in New Zealand?": 1. BrightLocal, 2. Semrush Local, 3. Whitespark - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best local SEO platforms in New Zealand?": 1. Semrush Local, 2. BrightLocal, 3. Local Falcon, 4. Whitespark, 5. Yext - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best local SEO platform in New Zealand for local listings?": 1. Whitespark, 2. BrightLocal, 3. Semrush Local, 4. Yext - Searched Google, AI Overview "best local seo software": 1. BrightLocal, 2. Local Falcon, 3. Localo, 4. Whitespark, 5. Local Viking, 6. Yext - Searched Google, AI Overview "citation management tool": named none of the brands we track Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in New Zealand on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for New Zealand local SEO platforms in October 2026? - In October 2026, Whitespark overtook BrightLocal to become the leader among local SEO platforms in New Zealand, with 43.8% of the searches. - In October 2026, BrightLocal lost share of searches among local SEO platforms in New Zealand, from 26.8% to 15.6%. - In October 2026, Semrush Local lost share of searches among local SEO platforms in New Zealand, from 2.4% to 0%. ## How has branded search for BrightLocal and Semrush Local changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months? | Month | BrightLocal estimated searches | BrightLocal Share of Search | BrightLocal rank | Semrush Local estimated searches | Semrush Local Share of Search | Semrush Local rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Nov 2025 | 70 | 25% | 2 | 10 | 3.6% | 7 | | Dec 2025 | 50 | 21.7% | 2 | 10 | 4.3% | 6 | | Jan 2026 | 70 | 25.9% | 2 | 10 | 3.7% | 7 | | Feb 2026 | 70 | 20% | 2 | 10 | 2.9% | 7 | | Mar 2026 | 90 | 29% | 1 | 10 | 3.2% | 7 | | Apr 2026 | 90 | 27.3% | 2 | 10 | 3% | 7 | | May 2026 | 70 | 23.3% | 2 | 10 | 3.3% | 7 | | Jun 2026 | 110 | 35.5% | 1 | 10 | 3.2% | 6 | | Jul 2026 | 70 | 25.9% | 2 | 10 | 3.7% | 7 | | Aug 2026 | 70 | 23.3% | 1 | 10 | 3.3% | 7 | | Sep 2026 | 110 | 26.8% | 1 | 10 | 2.4% | 7 | | Oct 2026 | 50 | 15.6% | 3 | 0 | 0% | 7 | ## How are BrightLocal’s and Semrush Local’s branded searches counted? Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BrightLocal’s and Semrush Local’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. - **BrightLocal**: Measured on the search term “brightlocal”. - **Semrush Local**: Measured on the search term “semrush local”. - [BrightLocal profile](/demand/nz/brands/brightlocal) - [Semrush Local profile](/demand/nz/brands/semrush-local) - [All local SEO platforms in New Zealand](/demand/nz/categories/nz-local-seo-platforms): The set both shares are measured inside, 7 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is BrightLocal or Semrush Local more popular in search? In October 2026, BrightLocal had more branded searches than Semrush Local among local SEO platforms in New Zealand. BrightLocal had about 50 branded searches, while Semrush Local had 0. BrightLocal made up 15.6% of all local SEO platform searches we track, and Semrush Local accounted for 0%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "BrightLocal vs Semrush Local: Which is more popular in New Zealand?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/brightlocal-vs-semrush-local This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/brightlocal-vs-semrush-local. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.