Brandwave

How popular isPayPal?

In September 2026, people searched for PayPal by name about 20.5 million times worldwide, an 18.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 2% of all global checkout optimisation platform searches, placing PayPal seventh out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about checkout optimisation platforms, PayPal appeared in one of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

PayPal is the seventh most searched of 8 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. StripeShare of searches 49.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. Checkout ChampShare of searches 14.6%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. ShopifyShare of searches 14.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. AfterSellShare of searches 9.5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. PayPalShare of searches 2%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

+3 more

PayPal website (opens in a new tab)

Follow PayPal and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Top checkout optimisation platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PayPal was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. PayPal is the fifth most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Shopify1st
  2. Stripe2nd
  3. Bolt3rd
  4. Checkout Champ4th
  5. PayPal5th
  6. AfterSell–
  7. Zipify–
  8. CartHook–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Shopify5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Stripe4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Checkout Champ2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bolt2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PayPal1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AfterSell0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Zipify0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • CartHook0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about checkout optimisation platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which checkout optimisation platforms compete with PayPal?

PayPal against checkout optimisation platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Stripe, Checkout Champ, Shopify, AfterSell, Zipify, Bolt, PayPal. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthStripeCheckout ChampShopifyAfterSellZipifyBoltPayPalCartHook
Oct 202551.5%12.3%15.3%8.1%5.5%3.1%3.1%1.1%
Nov 202554.9%10.9%13.1%7.3%5.9%3.3%3.3%1.5%
Dec 202550.8%12.3%12.3%8.2%8.2%3.7%3%1.3%
Jan 202653.5%12.8%12.8%7.1%5.7%3.2%3.2%1.7%
Feb 202654.5%13.1%13.1%7.2%4.5%3.2%3.2%1.2%
Mar 202652.3%12.5%15.6%8.2%4.3%3.1%2.6%1.4%
Apr 202653.5%12.8%12.8%8.4%5.7%3.2%2.1%1.4%
May 202653.1%12.7%12.7%7%7%3.9%2.1%1.4%
Jun 202654.1%13%13%8.5%4.5%2.6%2.6%1.7%
Jul 202656%13.4%13.4%7.4%4.1%2.7%1.8%1.2%
Aug 202650.4%14.8%14.8%9.7%4.5%3%1.6%1.3%
Sep 202649.7%14.6%14.6%9.5%4.4%3.6%2%1.6%

  1. 1.Stripe

    49.7%

    Held 1st. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  2. 2.Checkout Champ

    14.6%

    Held 2nd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  3. 3.Shopify

    14.6%

    Held 3rd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  4. 4.AfterSell

    9.5%

    Held 4th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.Zipify

    4.4%

    Held 5th. 880 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  6. 6.Bolt

    3.6%

    Held 6th. 720 estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  7. 7.PayPal

    2%

    Held 7th. 390 estimated branded searches, +21.9% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  8. 8.CartHook

    1.6%

    Held 8th. 320 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

Compare popularity between PayPal and its closest rivals

Every comparison with PayPal

33 comparisons

How has branded search demand for PayPal changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for PayPal worldwide fell from 25M to 20.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide decreased from 3.1% to 2%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide peaked at 3.3% in November 2025 and was lowest at 1.6% in August 2026.

How did search popularity change for checkout optimisation platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Bolt gained share of searches among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide, from 3% to 3.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Stripe lost share of searches among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide, from 50.4% to 49.7%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for CartHook worldwide rose 23.1% over 12 measured months, from 260 to 320 in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for PayPal worldwide fell 45.8% over 12 measured months, from 720 to 390 in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Zipify worldwide fell 32.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.3K to 880 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Shopify worldwide fell 19.4% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 2.9K in September 2026.

How are PayPal’s branded searches counted?

14 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PayPal’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.

  • paypal
  • paypal business
  • paypal business app
  • paypal business charges
  • paypal business cost
  • paypal business fees
  • paypal checkout
  • paypal express checkout
  • paypal fastlane
  • paypal for company
  • paypal merchant
  • paypal merchant services
  • paypal payment processing
  • paypal payments

Do you work for PayPal? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does PayPal compete?

PayPal is ranked in five competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Money transfer services1st of 1246.6%Show ranking
Payment processors1st of 1571.5%Show ranking
Creator payout platforms1st of 584.3%Show ranking
Payment gateways1st of 886.3%Show ranking
Checkout optimisation platforms7th of 82%Shown above
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is PayPal 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.

Start free