C4 vs Mother:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, Mother had more branded searches than C4 among energy drink brands in New Zealand. Mother had about 1,530 branded searches, while C4 had 690. Mother made up 5.3% of all energy drink brand searches we track, and C4 accounted for 2.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about energy drink brands, C4 and Mother each appeared in two of the five answers. C4 and Mother were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Mother, about 2 searches for every 1 for C4
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top energy drink brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, C4 was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Mother was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. C4 and Mother were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Red Bull5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- V Energy3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Monster Energy3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Mother2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
C42 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Prime0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about energy drink brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which energy drink brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best energy drink brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best energy drink brand in New Zealand for a quick boost?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“energy drink brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best energy drink”
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 C4 or Mother more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for C4 and Mother by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six energy drink brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Mother, C4. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Red Bull | V Energy | Monster Energy | Mother | Prime | C4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 52.5% | 17.7% | 21.2% | 3% | 4.1% | 1.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 57.1% | 16.2% | 17.7% | 2.8% | 4.6% | 1.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.9% | 22.8% | 19.8% | 4.2% | 5% | 2.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 43% | 24.7% | 22.8% | 4.1% | 3.5% | 1.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.3% | 22.6% | 23.8% | 4.3% | 3.4% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.5% | 23.3% | 22% | 5.4% | 3.8% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 40.8% | 24% | 24.1% | 5.1% | 4% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 46.1% | 23.1% | 21.6% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 51% | 18.7% | 17.4% | 3.5% | 7.5% | 1.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.1% | 24.9% | 23.3% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 2.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 43.4% | 26.2% | 22% | 4.1% | 2.5% | 1.8% |
| Oct 2026 | 42.7% | 24.5% | 22.1% | 5.3% | 3% | 2.4% |
How has branded search for C4 and Mother changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Mother was ahead of C4 in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, C4’s share of searches among energy drink brands in New Zealand moved from 1.6% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450 to 690.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Mother’s share of searches among energy drink brands in New Zealand moved from 3% to 5.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 840 to 1.5K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand energy drink brands in October 2026?
2 changes
In October 2026, Mother gained share of searches among energy drink brands in New Zealand, from 4.1% to 5.3%.
In October 2026, C4 gained share of searches among energy drink brands in New Zealand, from 1.8% to 2.4%.
How are C4’s and Mother’s branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using C4’s and Mother’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.
Other head-to-heads among energy drink brands
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