---
title: "Nielsen vs Research First: Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?"
description: "Which is more popular in search, Nielsen or Research First? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Market research companies set 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."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/nielsen-vs-research-first"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Nielsen vs Research First: Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?

Which is more popular in search, Nielsen or Research First? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Market research companies set 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.

## Key facts

- **Compared**: Nielsen and Research First
- **Competitive set**: Market research companies
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Nielsen Share of Search**: 3.5%
- **Research First Share of Search**: 1.2%

## Which is more popular in search, Nielsen or Research First?

- In August 2026, Nielsen had more branded searches than Research First among market research companies in New Zealand. Nielsen was estimated to have 140 branded searches compared to Research First’s 50, and held a 3.5% Share of Search versus Research First’s 1.2%.
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 11 months ending August 2026: Research First took it in January 2026, Nielsen took it in February 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nielsen’s estimated Share of Search among market research companies in New Zealand moved from 5.3% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 170 to 140.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Research First’s estimated Share of Search among market research companies in New Zealand moved from 1.5% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 50.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand market research companies in August 2026?

- In August 2026, Talbot Mills overtook Nielsen to rank 4th among market research companies in New Zealand, at 4.7%.
- In August 2026, Nielsen lost estimated Share of Search among market research companies in New Zealand, from 4.3% to 3.5%.
- In August 2026, Research First fell from 6th to 7th among market research companies in New Zealand.

## Month by month

| Month | Nielsen estimated searches | Nielsen Share of Search | Nielsen rank | Research First estimated searches | Research First Share of Search | Research First rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | 170 | 5.3% | 4 | 50 | 1.5% | 7 |
| Nov 2025 | 130 | 3.5% | 5 | 40 | 1.1% | 7 |
| Dec 2025 | 110 | 4.2% | 4 | 50 | 1.9% | 7 |
| Jan 2026 | 120 | 4% | 5 | 320 | 10.6% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | 190 | 6% | 4 | 50 | 1.6% | 7 |
| Mar 2026 | 200 | 5.1% | 4 | 40 | 1% | 7 |
| Apr 2026 | 160 | 4.3% | 5 | 40 | 1.1% | 7 |
| May 2026 | 210 | 4.2% | 5 | 50 | 1% | 7 |
| Jun 2026 | 130 | 2.9% | 5 | 50 | 1.1% | 7 |
| Jul 2026 | 170 | 4.3% | 4 | 50 | 1.3% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | 140 | 3.5% | 5 | 50 | 1.2% | 7 |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## How each brand is measured

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nielsen’s and Research First’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.

- **Nielsen**: Measured on the search terms “nielsen market research”, “nielsen ratings”, “nielsen research” and “nielsen survey”, summed into one figure.
- **Research First**: Measured on the search term “research first”.

- [Nielsen profile](/demand/nz/brands/nielsen)
- [Research First profile](/demand/nz/brands/research-first)
- [All market research companies in New Zealand](/demand/nz/categories/nz-market-research-companies): The set both shares are measured inside, 7 brands.

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is more popular in search, Nielsen or Research First?

In August 2026, Nielsen had more branded searches than Research First among market research companies in New Zealand. Nielsen was estimated to have 140 branded searches compared to Research First’s 50, and held a 3.5% Share of Search versus Research First’s 1.2%.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Nielsen vs Research First: Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/nielsen-vs-research-first

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/compare/nielsen-vs-research-first. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.