Brandwave

Kit vs Mailchimp:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Mailchimp had more branded searches than Kit among newsletter platforms in New Zealand. Mailchimp had about 12,100 branded searches, while Kit had 50. Mailchimp made up 50% of all newsletter platform searches we track, and Kit accounted for 0.21%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about newsletter platforms, Kit appeared in four of the five answers and Mailchimp in three. Kit was mentioned before Mailchimp in three out of four answers that named either.

Among newsletter platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Mailchimp, about 242 searches for every 1 for Kit

Mailchimp 12.1K searchesKit 50 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kit, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Mailchimp in 3

Kit in 4 of 5Mailchimp in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kit, named ahead of Mailchimp in 3 of 4 answers

Kit first in 3Mailchimp first in 1

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Top newsletter platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kit was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Mailchimp was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kit was listed before Mailchimp in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. beehiiv1st
  2. Substack2nd
  3. Kit3rd
  4. MailerLite4th
  5. Ghost5th
  6. Mailchimp6th
  7. Buttondown–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • beehiiv5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Substack4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kit4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mailchimp3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MailerLite3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ghost3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Buttondown0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about newsletter 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 Kit or Mailchimp more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Kit and Mailchimp by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven newsletter platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Kit and Mailchimp among newsletter platforms in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMailchimpSubstackMailerLitebeehiivButtondownGhostKit
Oct 202562.4%27.9%6.7%1.2%0.38%0.42%0.93%
Nov 202562.6%27.9%6.7%1.2%0.38%0.38%0.76%
Dec 202553.7%35.9%7%1.5%0.54%0.49%0.81%
Jan 202645%45%7.3%1.2%0.36%0.36%0.82%
Feb 202654%36.2%7.1%1.2%0.36%0.45%0.58%
Mar 202654.3%36.4%7%1.2%0.37%0.37%0.44%
Apr 202649.1%40.2%7.7%1.7%0.45%0.45%0.4%
May 202649.7%40.7%6.6%1.7%0.57%0.45%0.33%
Jun 202649.2%40.4%7.7%1.4%0.49%0.32%0.49%
Jul 202653.3%35.8%8.4%1.3%0.53%0.35%0.35%
Aug 202644.3%44.5%8.5%1.6%0.54%0.31%0.27%
Sep 202650%41%6.6%1.4%0.5%0.29%0.21%

How has the Kit and Mailchimp comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Mailchimp was ahead of Kit in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kit’s share of searches among newsletter platforms in New Zealand moved from 0.93% to 0.21%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 220 to 50.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mailchimp’s share of searches among newsletter platforms in New Zealand moved from 62.4% to 50%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 12.1K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand newsletter platforms in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Mailchimp overtook Substack to become the leader among newsletter platforms in New Zealand, with 50% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kit in New Zealand fell 77.3% over 12 measured months, from 220 to 50 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kit’s and Mailchimp’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.

Kit

3 branded search terms

  • convertkit
  • kit newsletter
  • kit publishing

Mailchimp

2 branded search terms

  • mailchimp
  • mailchimp api

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among newsletter platforms

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