Brandwave

Google Veo vs Runway:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Runway had more branded searches than Google Veo among AI video generators in New Zealand. Runway had about 1,000 branded searches, while Google Veo had 660. Runway made up 7.3% of all AI video generator searches we track, and Google Veo accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI video generators, Google Veo and Runway each appeared in four of the five answers. Runway was mentioned before Google Veo in three out of five answers.

Among AI video generators in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Runway, about 52% more searches than Google Veo

Runway 1K searchesGoogle Veo 660 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Google Veo in 4 of 5Runway in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Runway, named ahead of Google Veo in 3 of 5 answers

Runway first in 3Google Veo first in 2

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Top AI video generators in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Veo was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Runway was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Runway was listed before Google Veo in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Runway1st
  2. Kling AI2nd
  3. Google Veo3rd
  4. Adobe Firefly4th
  5. InVideo5th
  6. HeyGen6th
  7. Synthesia7th
  8. Sora8th
  9. Pika–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Kling AI5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Firefly4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Runway4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Google Veo4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • HeyGen3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • InVideo2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sora1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Synthesia1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pika0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI video generators

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 20, 2026.

Is Google Veo or Runway more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Veo and Runway by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine AI video generators we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Google Veo and Runway among AI video generators in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Runway, Google Veo. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHeyGenAdobe FireflyKling AISoraRunwaySynthesiaGoogle VeoInVideoPika
Oct 20258.5%4.5%4.4%70.1%3.2%3.5%1.6%2.1%2%
Nov 202514.4%7.6%7.4%51.3%4.9%5.8%2.2%3.5%2.9%
Dec 202516.2%9%14.9%38.9%6.3%6.3%2.3%3.3%2.8%
Jan 202618.8%8.5%20.8%29.9%6.6%6%2.4%3.1%4%
Feb 202621.7%11.7%16.4%28.3%6.6%6.7%2.5%2.9%3.3%
Mar 202620.6%13.9%12.4%29.7%7.5%6.7%2.8%2.8%3.5%
Apr 202624.6%16.4%14.6%17.6%10.7%6.3%3.2%2.2%4.5%
May 202625.9%17.3%18.6%15.1%7.8%6.5%3.3%2.3%3.2%
Jun 202627.9%18.8%16.2%13%6.8%6.9%5.1%2.5%2.8%
Jul 202624.2%19.9%20.5%12%5.6%5.5%7.3%2.1%2.9%
Aug 202629.3%19.6%17.1%11.5%6%6.3%5.4%2.6%2.2%
Sep 202626.1%21.4%18.7%10.7%7.3%5.7%4.8%2.8%2.4%

How has the Google Veo and Runway comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Google Veo took it in July 2026, Runway took it in August 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Veo’s share of searches among AI video generators in New Zealand moved from 1.6% to 4.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 700 to 660.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Runway’s share of searches among AI video generators in New Zealand moved from 3.2% to 7.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.4K to 1K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand AI video generators in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Runway overtook Synthesia to rank 5th among AI video generators in New Zealand, with 7.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Google Veo lost share of searches among AI video generators in New Zealand, from 5.4% to 4.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Veo’s and Runway’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 Veo

2 branded search terms

  • google veo
  • veo ai

Runway

4 branded search terms

  • runway ai
  • runway ai video
  • runway ml
  • runwayml

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI video generators

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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