Brandwave

Codral vs Difflam:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Difflam had more branded searches than Codral among cold and flu brands in New Zealand. Difflam had about 5,050 branded searches, while Codral had 4,630. Difflam made up 18.6% of all cold and flu brand searches we track, and Codral accounted for 17.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cold and flu brands, Codral appeared in three of the five answers and Difflam in none.

Among cold and flu brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Difflam, about 9% more searches than Codral

Difflam 5K searchesCodral 4.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Codral, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Difflam in 0

Codral in 3 of 5Difflam in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Codral, the only one of the two named

Codral first in 3Difflam never named

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Top cold and flu brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Codral was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Difflam 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.

  1. Codral1st
  2. Lemsip2nd
  3. Demazin3rd
  4. Sudafed4th
  5. Difflam–
  6. Strepsils–
  7. Vicks–
  8. Coldrex–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Codral3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sudafed2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Lemsip2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Demazin1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Difflam0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Strepsils0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Vicks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Coldrex0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cold and flu brands

5 answers
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which cold and flu brand should I buy in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Lemsip
    2. 2Codral
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best cold and flu brands in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Codral
    2. 2Lemsip
    3. 3Sudafed
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best cold and flu brand in New Zealand for blocked nose?”

    1. 1Sudafed
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “cold and flu medicine”

    1. 1Codral
    2. 2Demazin
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “sore throat relief”

    Not named in any answer:

    Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

    Is Codral or Difflam more popular in search?

    This chart shows how often people search Google for Codral and Difflam by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight cold and flu brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

    Codral and Difflam among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, by month

    Share of searches by month for Difflam, Codral. The figures are in the table below the chart.

    View monthly share of searches table
    MonthSudafedDifflamCodralStrepsilsLemsipVicksDemazinColdrex
    Oct 202523.6%16.7%16.4%15.7%12%12.4%2.5%0.7%
    Nov 202521.8%19.1%15.2%14.2%12.5%13.9%2.9%0.39%
    Dec 202521.7%20.3%14.7%14.8%11.2%14.3%2.5%0.57%
    Jan 202621.5%18.4%14%16.4%12.2%14.5%2.5%0.48%
    Feb 202620.7%15.7%14.9%16.2%15.1%14.6%2.3%0.54%
    Mar 202621%15.3%16.3%17.1%15.6%11.8%2.4%0.52%
    Apr 202621.4%15.8%19.7%13.7%13%13.1%2.6%0.62%
    May 202621.2%13.4%18.8%13.8%15.4%13.9%3%0.59%
    Jun 202620.4%14.3%19.4%13.6%15.3%13.6%2.9%0.49%
    Jul 202620.3%14.6%19.2%13.5%15.6%13.5%2.8%0.55%
    Aug 202618.6%13.7%17.7%15.2%17.1%14.2%3%0.44%
    Sep 202618.9%18.6%17.1%15.7%14.2%11.7%3.3%0.52%

    How has the Codral and Difflam comparison changed over the last 12 months?

    3 findings
    • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Codral took it in March 2026, Difflam took it in September 2026.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Codral’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand moved from 16.4% to 17.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.8K to 4.6K.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Difflam’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand moved from 16.7% to 18.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 5K.

    How did search popularity change for New Zealand cold and flu brands in September 2026?

    2 changes
    1. In September 2026, Difflam overtook Codral and 3 others to rank 2nd among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, with 18.6% of the searches.

    2. In September 2026, Codral lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 17.7% to 17.1%.

    How are branded searches counted?

    18 search terms

    Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Codral’s and Difflam’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.

    Codral

    6 branded search terms

    • codral
    • codral day and night
    • codral day night
    • codral night
    • codral night tablets
    • codral pseudoephedrine

    Difflam

    12 branded search terms

    • benzydamine difflam
    • difflam
    • difflam gargle
    • difflam mouth gel
    • difflam mouth rinse
    • difflam mouthwash
    • difflam oral rinse
    • difflam plus
    • difflam spray
    • difflam throat lozenges
    • difflam throat spray
    • difflamplus

    How the Brand Demand Index is measured

    Other head-to-heads among cold and flu brands

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