Brandwave

Busy Bees vs Smart Start Montessori:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Busy Bees had more branded searches than Smart Start Montessori among early childhood education providers in New Zealand. Busy Bees had about 80 branded searches, while Smart Start Montessori had 30. Busy Bees made up 0.43% 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, Busy Bees and Smart Start Montessori each appeared in two of the five answers. Busy Bees was mentioned before Smart Start Montessori in two out of three answers.

Among early childhood education providers in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Busy Bees, about 3 searches for every 1 for Smart Start Montessori

Busy Bees 80 searchesSmart Start Montessori 30 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Busy Bees in 2 of 5Smart Start Montessori in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Busy Bees, named ahead of Smart Start Montessori in 2 of 3 answers

Busy Bees first in 2Smart Start Montessori first in 1

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Top early childhood education providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Busy Bees and Smart Start Montessori 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. Busy Bees was listed before Smart Start Montessori in two out of three answers.

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 Busy Bees or Smart Start Montessori more popular in search?

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

Busy Bees and Smart Start Montessori among early childhood education providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Busy Bees, 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 Busy Bees 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. 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?

3 search terms

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

Busy Bees

2 branded search terms

  • busy bees childcare
  • busy bees early learning

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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