How popular isSquare?
In September 2026, people searched for Square by name about 8,300 times in Australia, a 38.3% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 54.4% of all Australia POS system searches, placing Square first out of seven systems. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about POS systems, Square appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the seven.
Square is the most searched of 7 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.
SquareShare of searches 54.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Shopify POSShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
LightspeedShare of searches 10.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
SwiftPOSShare of searches 8.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
IdealposShare of searches 4.8%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top POS systems in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Square appeared in all five answers. Square is the most recommended of the seven.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Square1st
Zeller2nd- Lightspeed3rd
- Shopify POS4th
- Idealpos5th
Abacus6th- SwiftPOS–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Square5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Lightspeed5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Zeller5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Shopify POS3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Idealpos1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Abacus1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- SwiftPOS0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about POS systems
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best POS system for a small business in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which POS system is best for a cafe or restaurant?”
Asked ChatGPT
“How do I choose a point of sale system for a retail shop?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pos system”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best pos system for cafe”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 23, 2026.
Which POS systems compete with Square?
Share of searches by month for Square, Shopify POS, Lightspeed, SwiftPOS, Idealpos, Zeller, Abacus. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Square | Shopify POS | Lightspeed | SwiftPOS | Idealpos | Zeller | Abacus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.9% | 14.7% | 11.3% | 10% | 6.7% | 1.9% | 5.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 50.7% | 15% | 11.5% | 10.1% | 5.5% | 1.6% | 5.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.6% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 1.7% | 6.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.6% | 16.5% | 12.7% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 1.8% | 4.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 44.6% | 16.1% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 7.3% | 1.4% | 5.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.1% | 16.8% | 13.6% | 10.5% | 6.2% | 1.8% | 5% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.5% | 14.9% | 11.5% | 10.1% | 5.5% | 2% | 5.5% |
| May 2026 | 52.3% | 15.5% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 5.7% | 1.4% | 5.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.2% | 14.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 60.2% | 11.9% | 9.1% | 8% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 3.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 57% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 9.3% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 4.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.4% | 13.1% | 10.1% | 8.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.9% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 54.4% | 5.4K | 0% | -2.6 points | |
| 2, moved from 3rd to 2nd | 13.1% | 1.3K | +30% | +2.5 pointsmoved from 3rd to 2nd | |
| 3, moved from 2nd to 3rd | 10.1% | 1K | 0% | -0.5 pointsmoved from 2nd to 3rd | |
| 4, held 4th | 8.9% | 880 | 0% | -0.4 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 4.8% | 480 | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 6, moved from 7th to 6th | 4.8% | 480 | +50% | +1.5 pointsmoved from 7th to 6th | |
| 7, moved from 6th to 7th | 3.9% | 390 | 0% | -0.2 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th |
1.
Square54.4%
Held 1st. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.6 points.
13.1%
Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 1.3K estimated branded searches, +30% vs prior month. Share +2.5 points.
10.1%
Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
4.
SwiftPOS8.9%
Held 4th. 880 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
5.
Idealpos4.8%
Held 5th. 480 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
6.
Zeller4.8%
Moved from 7th to 6th. 480 estimated branded searches, +50% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.
7.
Abacus3.9%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 390 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
Zeller sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “zeller pos”.
Compare popularity between Square and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Square
9 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Square changed in Australia over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Square in Australia rose from 6K to 8.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among POS systems in Australia increased from 49.9% to 54.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among POS systems in Australia peaked at 60.2% in July 2026 and was lowest at 44.6% in February 2026.
How did search popularity change for Australia POS systems in September 2026?
5 changes
In September 2026, Shopify POS overtook Lightspeed to rank 2nd among POS systems in Australia, with 13.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Zeller overtook Abacus to rank 6th among POS systems in Australia, with 4.8% of the searches.
In September 2026, Square lost share of searches among POS systems in Australia, from 57% to 54.4%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Abacus in Australia fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 480 to 390 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Idealpos in Australia fell 18.6% over 12 measured months, from 590 to 480 in September 2026.
How are Square’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Square’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- square eftpos
- square point of sale
- square pos
Who owns Square?
Square is owned by 
Block. Brandwave also tracks 
Afterpay, owned by the same company, in Australia.
Do you work for Square? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Where does Square compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFTPOS providers | 3rd of 5 | 15.6% | Show ranking |
| POS systems | 1st of 7 | 54.4% | Shown above |
Is Square your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.