Brandwave

Lemsip vs Sudafed:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?

In August 2026, Lemsip and Sudafed were level on Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, with an estimated 9.5K versus 9.4K branded searches, at 28.5% and 28.2% estimated Share of Search.

Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand in August 2026Which is more popular in search, Lemsip or Sudafed?
Lemsip28.5%9.5K searches
vs
Sudafed28.2%9.4K searches

Follow Lemsip vs Sudafed and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Which is more popular in search, Lemsip or Sudafed?

Compare the cold, flu and sore throat remedy brands New Zealanders reach for. 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.

Lemsip and Sudafed among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of Search by month for Lemsip, Sudafed. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of search table
MonthLemsipSudafedStrepsilsVicksColdrex
Oct 202520.5%35.9%24.1%17.8%1.7%
Nov 202521.8%34.6%22.3%20.3%1.1%
Dec 202519.4%34.9%22.9%21.4%1.4%
Jan 202620.2%33.5%24%21.1%1.2%
Feb 202622.8%31.3%23.9%20.5%1.4%
Mar 202624.3%31.3%25.5%17.3%1.5%
Apr 202622.7%33.5%22%20.1%1.8%
May 202625.3%31.2%20.9%20.6%2%
Jun 202625.7%30.9%21.6%20.1%1.7%
Jul 202627%31.6%21%18.9%1.5%
Aug 202628.5%28.2%23.2%18.9%1.1%
Sep 2026—————

How has the Lemsip and Sudafed comparison changed over the last 12 months?

  • The lead changed hands once in the 11 months ending August 2026: Lemsip took it in August 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lemsip’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand moved from 20.5% to 28.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 9.5K.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Sudafed’s estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand moved from 35.9% to 28.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5K to 9.4K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand cold and flu brands in August 2026?

  1. In August 2026, Lemsip overtook Sudafed to take the highest estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, at 28.5%.

  2. In August 2026, Sudafed lost estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 31.6% to 28.2%.

How each brand is measured

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Lemsip’s and Sudafed’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.

Lemsip

17 branded search terms

  • lemsip
  • lemsip capsules
  • lemsip cold & flu
  • lemsip cough
  • lemsip day night
  • lemsip decongestant
  • lemsip lozenges
  • lemsip max
  • lemsip max cold & flu
  • lemsip max decongestant
  • lemsip near me
  • lemsip nz
  • lemsip pak n save
  • lemsip pregnant
  • lemsip sachets
  • lemsip sore throat
  • lemsip woolies

Sudafed

14 branded search terms

  • sudafed
  • sudafed cold and flu
  • sudafed cough
  • sudafed day night
  • sudafed lozenges
  • sudafed near me
  • sudafed night
  • sudafed nz
  • sudafed online
  • sudafed pe
  • sudafed pseudoephedrine
  • sudafed sinus
  • sudafed sore throat
  • sudafed tablets

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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.