Brandwave

Google Ads vs The Trade Desk:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Google Ads had more branded searches than The Trade Desk among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand. Google Ads had about 18,100 branded searches, while The Trade Desk had 70. Google Ads made up 88.9% of all digital ad buying platform searches we track, and The Trade Desk accounted for 0.34%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about digital ad buying platforms, The Trade Desk appeared in four of the five answers and Google Ads in three. Google Ads was mentioned before The Trade Desk in every answer.

Among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Google Ads, about 259 searches for every 1 for The Trade Desk

Google Ads 18.1K searchesThe Trade Desk 70 searches

Who does AI mention more?

The Trade Desk, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Google Ads in 3

The Trade Desk in 4 of 5Google Ads in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Google Ads, named ahead of The Trade Desk in every answer

Google Ads first in 3The Trade Desk never first

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Top digital ad buying platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The Trade Desk was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Ads was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Google Ads was listed before The Trade Desk in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Google Ads1st
  2. Meta Ads2nd
  3. The Trade Desk3rd
  4. LinkedIn Ads4th
  5. StackAdapt5th
  6. AdRoll–
  7. Basis Technologies–
  8. Quantcast–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Meta Ads4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • The Trade Desk4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Ads3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • LinkedIn Ads2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • StackAdapt1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AdRoll0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Basis Technologies0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Quantcast0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about digital ad buying platforms

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 Google Ads or The Trade Desk more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Ads and The Trade Desk by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight digital ad buying platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Google Ads and The Trade Desk among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Google Ads, The Trade Desk. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoogle AdsMeta AdsLinkedIn AdsStackAdaptThe Trade DeskAdRollBasis TechnologiesQuantcast
Nov 202589.6%7.9%1%0.55%0.67%0.12%0.06%0.06%
Dec 202588.1%8.9%1.5%0.36%0.8%0.18%0.09%0.09%
Jan 202685.4%11.3%1.5%0.49%0.99%0.14%0.07%0.14%
Feb 202687.2%9.4%1.5%0.5%1%0.22%0.07%0.07%
Mar 202687.1%9.4%1.5%0.41%1.2%0.18%0.06%0.12%
Apr 202687.9%9.5%1.2%0.42%0.65%0.12%0.06%0.06%
May 202686.3%11.1%1.2%0.41%0.64%0.18%0.06%0.06%
Jun 202687.6%9.5%1.5%0.41%0.65%0.12%0.12%0.12%
Jul 202687.6%9.5%1.5%0.41%0.53%0.24%0.12%0.12%
Aug 202687.7%9.5%1.2%0.53%0.83%0.06%0.06%0.06%
Sep 202686.2%11.1%1.2%0.52%0.64%0.17%0.12%0.06%
Oct 202688.9%9.3%0.83%0.44%0.34%0.1%0.05%0.05%

How has branded search for Google Ads and The Trade Desk changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand digital ad buying platforms in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Google Ads gained share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand, from 86.2% to 88.9%.

  2. In October 2026, The Trade Desk fell from 4th to 5th among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand.

How are Google Ads’ and The Trade Desk’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Ads’ and The Trade Desk’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.

Google Ads

1 branded search term

  • google ads

The Trade Desk

2 branded search terms

  • the trade desk
  • thetradedesk

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among digital ad buying platforms

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