Sudafed vs Vicks:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Sudafed had more branded searches than Vicks among cold and flu brands in New Zealand. Sudafed was estimated to have 9.4K branded searches compared to Vicks’ 6.3K, and held a 28.2% Share of Search versus Vicks’ 18.9%.
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Which is more popular in search, Sudafed or Vicks?
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.
Share of Search by month for Sudafed, Vicks. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Lemsip | Sudafed | Strepsils | Vicks | Coldrex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.5% | 35.9% | 24.1% | 17.8% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 21.8% | 34.6% | 22.3% | 20.3% | 1.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.4% | 34.9% | 22.9% | 21.4% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.2% | 33.5% | 24% | 21.1% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 22.8% | 31.3% | 23.9% | 20.5% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.3% | 31.3% | 25.5% | 17.3% | 1.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 22.7% | 33.5% | 22% | 20.1% | 1.8% |
| May 2026 | 25.3% | 31.2% | 20.9% | 20.6% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 25.7% | 30.9% | 21.6% | 20.1% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 27% | 31.6% | 21% | 18.9% | 1.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 28.5% | 28.2% | 23.2% | 18.9% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Sudafed and Vicks comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Sudafed was ahead of Vicks in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Vicks’ estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand moved from 17.8% to 18.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.5K to 6.3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand cold and flu brands in August 2026?
3 changes
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%.
In August 2026, Sudafed lost estimated Share of Search among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 31.6% to 28.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Vicks in New Zealand rose 153% over 11 measured months, from 2.5K to 6.3K in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sudafed’s and Vicks’ 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.
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
Vicks
10 branded search terms
- vicks cold and flu
- vicks cough
- vicks cough syrup 44
- vicks inhaler
- vicks lozenges
- vicks sore throat
- vicks vaporub
- vicks vaporub newborn
- vicks vaporub nz
- vicks vaporub toenail fungus
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.