LinkedIn Ads vs The Trade Desk:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, LinkedIn Ads had more branded searches than The Trade Desk among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand. LinkedIn Ads had about 170 branded searches, while The Trade Desk had 70. LinkedIn Ads made up 0.83% 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 LinkedIn Ads in two. The Trade Desk was mentioned before LinkedIn Ads in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
LinkedIn Ads, about 2 searches for every 1 for The Trade Desk
Who does AI mention more?
The Trade Desk, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, LinkedIn Ads in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
The Trade Desk, named ahead of LinkedIn Ads in 2 of 3 answers
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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. LinkedIn Ads was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. The Trade Desk was listed before LinkedIn Ads in two out of three answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which digital ad buying platform should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best digital ad buying platform in New Zealand for a marketing team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“programmatic advertising platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“digital media buying platform”
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 LinkedIn Ads or The Trade Desk more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for LinkedIn 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.
Share of searches by month for LinkedIn Ads, The Trade Desk. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Google Ads | Meta Ads | LinkedIn Ads | StackAdapt | The Trade Desk | AdRoll | Basis Technologies | Quantcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 89.6% | 7.9% | 1% | 0.55% | 0.67% | 0.12% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Dec 2025 | 88.1% | 8.9% | 1.5% | 0.36% | 0.8% | 0.18% | 0.09% | 0.09% |
| Jan 2026 | 85.4% | 11.3% | 1.5% | 0.49% | 0.99% | 0.14% | 0.07% | 0.14% |
| Feb 2026 | 87.2% | 9.4% | 1.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 0.22% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Mar 2026 | 87.1% | 9.4% | 1.5% | 0.41% | 1.2% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.12% |
| Apr 2026 | 87.9% | 9.5% | 1.2% | 0.42% | 0.65% | 0.12% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| May 2026 | 86.3% | 11.1% | 1.2% | 0.41% | 0.64% | 0.18% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Jun 2026 | 87.6% | 9.5% | 1.5% | 0.41% | 0.65% | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0.12% |
| Jul 2026 | 87.6% | 9.5% | 1.5% | 0.41% | 0.53% | 0.24% | 0.12% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 87.7% | 9.5% | 1.2% | 0.53% | 0.83% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Sep 2026 | 86.2% | 11.1% | 1.2% | 0.52% | 0.64% | 0.17% | 0.12% | 0.06% |
| Oct 2026 | 88.9% | 9.3% | 0.83% | 0.44% | 0.34% | 0.1% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
How has branded search for LinkedIn Ads and The Trade Desk changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- LinkedIn Ads was ahead of The Trade Desk in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, LinkedIn Ads’ share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand moved from 1% to 0.83%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 170.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, The Trade Desk’s share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand moved from 0.67% to 0.34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110 to 70.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand digital ad buying platforms in October 2026?
2 changes

LinkedIn Ads’ share of searches among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.5% to 0.83% in October 2026.

In October 2026, The Trade Desk fell from 4th to 5th among digital ad buying platforms in New Zealand.
How are LinkedIn Ads’ and The Trade Desk’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using LinkedIn 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.
LinkedIn Ads
1 branded search term
- linkedin ads
The Trade Desk
2 branded search terms
- the trade desk
- thetradedesk
Other head-to-heads among digital ad buying platforms

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