Kernel vs Simplicity:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Kernel had more branded searches than Simplicity among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand. Kernel was estimated to have 30.8K branded searches compared to Simplicity’s 21.1K, and held a 1.5% Share of Search versus Simplicity’s 1%.
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Which is more popular in search, Kernel or Simplicity?
Compare KiwiSaver scheme providers and the fund managers behind them, using branded searches made in New Zealand. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Kernel, Simplicity. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | ANZ | ASB | Westpac | BNZ | Fisher Funds | Milford | Kernel | Simplicity | Generate KiwiSaver | SuperLife | Booster | AMP | Mercer KiwiSaver | Juno KiwiSaver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.1% | 21.2% | 19.3% | 6.6% | 3% | 1.9% | 0.84% | 1% | 0.84% | 0.59% | 0.25% | 0.19% | 0.15% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 39.8% | 23.1% | 21% | 7.2% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 0.76% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.51% | 0.27% | 0.2% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 40.5% | 23.5% | 21.4% | 7.1% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 0.74% | 0.87% | 0.76% | 0.43% | 0.22% | 0.17% | 0.14% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.6% | 23.2% | 21.1% | 7.1% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 0.94% | 1.1% | 0.93% | 0.51% | 0.27% | 0.21% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.9% | 26.1% | 19.6% | 7.9% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 0.85% | 1.2% | 0.86% | 0.47% | 0.31% | 0.2% | 0.19% | 0.03% |
| Mar 2026 | 39% | 23.2% | 20.7% | 8.3% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 0.85% | 1% | 1.1% | 0.48% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.16% | 0.04% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.7% | 23.3% | 21.2% | 7% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 0.98% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.49% | 0.27% | 0.2% | 0.17% | 0.03% |
| May 2026 | 39.4% | 22.9% | 20.9% | 7% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.33% | 0.25% | 0.2% | 0.03% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.6% | 23% | 20.8% | 6.9% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1% | 1.1% | 0.51% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.2% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.3% | 26% | 19.5% | 7.8% | 3% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1% | 0.48% | 0.31% | 0.23% | 0.19% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.6% | 24.9% | 22.7% | 7.4% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1% | 1% | 0.54% | 0.3% | 0.22% | 0.18% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Kernel and Simplicity comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 11 months ending August 2026: Kernel took it in May 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Kernel’s estimated Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand moved from 0.84% to 1.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 20.5K to 30.8K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Simplicity’s estimated Share of Search among KiwiSaver providers in New Zealand held steady at 1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 25.2K to 21.1K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand KiwiSaver providers in August 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Kernel in New Zealand rose 50% over 11 measured months, from 20.5K to 30.8K in August 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Simplicity in New Zealand fell 16.3% over 11 measured months, from 25.2K to 21.1K in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kernel’s and Simplicity’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.
Kernel
18 branded search terms
- kernel cash fund
- kernel cash plus fund
- kernel fund
- kernel funds
- kernel global 100
- kernel high growth fund
- kernel invest
- kernel investment funds
- kernel kiwisaver
- kernel kiwisaver funds
- kernel nz
- kernel savings account
- kernel total world fund
- kernel wealth
- kernel wealth funds
- kernel wealth kiwisaver
- kernel wealth nz
- kiwisaver kernel
Simplicity
16 branded search terms
- kiwisaver simplicity
- simplicity fund
- simplicity funds
- simplicity funds nz
- simplicity home loans
- simplicity investment
- simplicity investments
- simplicity investments nz
- simplicity kiwisaver
- simplicity kiwisaver fund
- simplicity kiwisaver funds
- simplicity kiwisaver nz
- simplicity kiwisaver scheme
- simplicity nz
- simplicity nz kiwisaver
- www simplicity kiwisaver
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.