Connetix vs Melissa & Doug:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Connetix had more branded searches than Melissa & Doug among toy brands in New Zealand. Connetix had about 4,400 branded searches, while Melissa & Doug had 340. Connetix made up 3.5% of all toy brand searches we track, and Melissa & Doug accounted for 0.27%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about toy brands, Melissa & Doug appeared in four of the five answers and Connetix in three. Melissa & Doug was mentioned before Connetix in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Connetix, about 13 searches for every 1 for Melissa & Doug
Who does AI mention more?
Melissa & Doug, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Connetix in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Melissa & Doug, named ahead of Connetix in 3 of 4 answers
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Top toy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Melissa & Doug was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Connetix was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Melissa & Doug was listed before Connetix in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
LEGO1st
Melissa & Doug2nd
Playmobil3rd
Fisher-Price4th
Connetix5th
MAGNA-TILES6th
VTech7th
Ravensburger8th
Hot Wheels9th
Barbie–- +2 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Melissa & Doug4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
LEGO3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Connetix3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Playmobil3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
VTech2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Fisher-Price2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
MAGNA-TILES2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Ravensburger2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Hot Wheels1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Barbie0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about toy brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which toy brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best toy brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best toy brand in New Zealand for children of different ages?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“educational toys nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“christmas toys nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is Connetix or Melissa & Doug more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Connetix and Melissa & Doug by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 toy brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Connetix, Melissa & Doug. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | LEGO | Barbie | Hot Wheels | Connetix | VTech | Fisher-Price | Playmobil | Nerf | MAGNA-TILES | Hasbro | Ravensburger | Melissa & Doug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 60.7% | 17.7% | 9.4% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.75% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.35% |
| Nov 2025 | 65.7% | 16% | 8.1% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.66% | 0.39% | 0.3% | 0.33% |
| Dec 2025 | 71.7% | 12.6% | 8.1% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 0.98% | 0.82% | 0.77% | 0.57% | 0.33% | 0.34% | 0.23% |
| Jan 2026 | 75% | 11.7% | 7.2% | 0.93% | 1.6% | 0.82% | 0.68% | 0.65% | 0.42% | 0.52% | 0.31% | 0.24% |
| Feb 2026 | 71.1% | 13.8% | 7.7% | 1% | 1.8% | 1% | 1.1% | 0.74% | 0.72% | 0.48% | 0.32% | 0.21% |
| Mar 2026 | 66.9% | 16.4% | 8.5% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 0.73% | 0.71% | 0.58% | 0.3% | 0.28% |
| Apr 2026 | 70.5% | 13.7% | 8.4% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.95% | 1% | 0.67% | 0.53% | 0.53% | 0.33% | 0.23% |
| May 2026 | 70.5% | 14.7% | 7% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 0.88% | 0.95% | 0.74% | 0.6% | 0.49% | 0.41% | 0.23% |
| Jun 2026 | 69.5% | 15.1% | 7.8% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 0.85% | 0.93% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.49% | 0.38% | 0.23% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.4% | 14.8% | 8.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.95% | 1% | 0.77% | 0.86% | 0.62% | 0.51% | 0.29% |
| Aug 2026 | 69.1% | 14.7% | 8.2% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1% | 1% | 0.67% | 0.66% | 0.36% | 0.45% | 0.25% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.5% | 15.8% | 8.8% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 0.95% | 0.82% | 0.8% | 0.58% | 0.48% | 0.27% |
How has the Connetix and Melissa & Doug comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Connetix was ahead of Melissa & Doug in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Connetix’s share of searches among toy brands in New Zealand moved from 4.6% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Melissa & Doug’s share of searches among toy brands in New Zealand moved from 0.35% to 0.27%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 410 to 340.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand toy brands in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Connetix overtook VTech to rank 4th among toy brands in New Zealand, with 3.5% of the searches.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Melissa & Doug in New Zealand fell 17.1% over 12 measured months, from 410 to 340 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Connetix’s and Melissa & Doug’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.
Connetix
1 branded search term
- connetix
Melissa & Doug
5 branded search terms
- melissa & doug
- melissa doug
- melissa doug set
- melissadoug
- melissadoug toys
Other head-to-heads among toy brands

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