Signal vs WhatsApp:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, WhatsApp had more branded searches than Signal among messaging apps in New Zealand. WhatsApp was estimated to have 194K branded searches compared to Signal’s 2.4K, and held a 58% Share of Search versus Signal’s 0.73%.
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Which is more popular in search, Signal or WhatsApp?
Compare the messaging apps New Zealanders chat on. 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 WhatsApp, Signal. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Discord | Messenger | Viber | Signal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.3% | 42.2% | 2.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.69% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.8% | 44.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.54% |
| Dec 2025 | 49% | 43.7% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 0.79% |
| Jan 2026 | 53.1% | 39.6% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 0.88% |
| Feb 2026 | 53.8% | 39.8% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.78% |
| Mar 2026 | 53.7% | 40.3% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.67% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.4% | 42.5% | 2.4% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| May 2026 | 54% | 40.4% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.79% |
| Jun 2026 | 58% | 35.7% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.76% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.4% | 38.1% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.81% |
| Aug 2026 | 58% | 35.9% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.73% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Signal and WhatsApp comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- WhatsApp was ahead of Signal in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Signal’s estimated Share of Search among messaging apps in New Zealand moved from 0.69% to 0.73%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.3K to 2.4K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, WhatsApp’s estimated Share of Search among messaging apps in New Zealand moved from 51.3% to 58%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 174K to 194K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand messaging apps in August 2026?
1 change
In August 2026, WhatsApp gained estimated Share of Search among messaging apps in New Zealand, from 55.4% to 58%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Signal’s and WhatsApp’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.
Signal
9 branded search terms
- signal app
- signal app download
- signal app message
- signal chat
- signal chat app
- signal encrypted messaging app
- signal messages
- signal private messaging app
- signal secure messaging app
WhatsApp
22 branded search terms
- download whatsapp for windows
- jibi whatsapp
- my whatsapp
- whatsapp app
- whatsapp chat
- whatsapp com
- whatsapp com web
- whatsapp download whatsapp download whatsapp
- whatsapp messages
- whatsapp near me
- whatsapp new zealand
- whatsapp nz
- whatsapp online
- whatsapp web
- whatsapp web app
- whatsapp web download
- whatsapp web online
- whatsapp windows
- ww whatsapp web
- www whatsapp app com
- www whatsapp com web
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.