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 46.6% of all global money transfer service searches, placing PayPal first out of 12 services. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about money transfer services, PayPal appeared in three of the five answers and was the joint sixth most recommended of the 12.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

PayPal is the most searched of 12 competitors and the joint sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PayPalShare of searches 46.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  2. Western UnionShare of searches 20.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. RevolutShare of searches 10.7%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. MoneyGramShare of searches 8.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  5. Cash AppShare of searches 3.4%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

+7 more

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Top money transfer services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PayPal was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. PayPal is the joint sixth most recommended of the 12.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Wise1st
  2. Zelle2nd
  3. Remitly3rd
  4. Western Union4th
  5. Venmo5th
  6. PayPal6th
  7. Cash App6th
  8. MoneyGram8th
  9. OFX9th
  10. Revolut–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Western Union5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Wise5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Remitly4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • PayPal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Venmo3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Zelle3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MoneyGram2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cash App2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • OFX2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Revolut0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about money transfer services

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 19, 2026.

Which money transfer services compete with PayPal?

PayPal against money transfer services worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for PayPal, Western Union, Revolut, MoneyGram, Cash App, Venmo, Remitly. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPayPalWestern UnionRevolutMoneyGramCash AppVenmoRemitlyZelleWiseXeOFXWorldRemit
Oct 202551.5%18.9%8%7.5%3.8%3.8%2.5%2.1%1.2%0.51%0.1%0.15%
Nov 202552.6%19.3%6.8%7.6%3.9%3.2%2.6%2.1%1.2%0.52%0.1%0.13%
Dec 202549.7%22.2%6.4%8.8%3%3.7%2.4%2%1.2%0.49%0.1%0.15%
Jan 202649.1%21.9%7.6%8.5%3.6%3%2.4%2%1.3%0.48%0.1%0.12%
Feb 202644.7%24.3%7%9.5%4%4%2.2%2.2%1.2%0.54%0.11%0.13%
Mar 202644.1%24%8.4%9.5%4%3.2%2.6%2.2%1.3%0.53%0.11%0.13%
Apr 202645.6%24.8%7.2%7.9%4.1%3.3%2.7%2.2%1.4%0.55%0.09%0.11%
May 202644.9%24.5%8.5%7.8%4%3.3%2.7%2.2%1.3%0.54%0.09%0.11%
Jun 202647.6%21.3%9%8.3%3.5%3.5%2.3%2.3%1.4%0.57%0.12%0.12%
Jul 202645.6%24.8%8.7%7.9%3.4%3.4%2.2%1.8%1.3%0.55%0.11%0.09%
Aug 202644.4%24.1%8.5%9.3%4%3.3%2.7%1.8%1.4%0.44%0.09%0.09%
Sep 202646.6%20.9%10.7%8.1%3.4%3.4%2.8%1.9%1.4%0.56%0.11%0.09%

  1. 1.PayPal

    46.6%

    Held 1st. 20.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.

  2. 2.Western Union

    20.9%

    Held 2nd. 9.1M estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -3.3 points.

  3. 3.Revolut

    10.7%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 4.7M estimated branded searches, +20.8% vs prior month. Share +2.3 points.

  4. 4.MoneyGram

    8.1%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 3.6M estimated branded searches, -17.2% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.

  5. 5.Cash App

    3.4%

    Held 5th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  6. 6.Venmo

    3.4%

    Held 6th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  7. 7.Remitly

    2.8%

    Held 7th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  8. 8.Zelle

    1.9%

    Held 8th. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  9. 9.Wise

    1.4%

    Held 9th. 622K estimated branded searches, -5.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.Xe

    0.56%

    Held 10th. 246K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  11. 11.OFX

    0.11%

    Held 11th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  12. 12.WorldRemit

    0.09%

    Held 12th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 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 money transfer services worldwide decreased from 51.5% to 46.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among money transfer services worldwide peaked at 52.6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 44.1% in March 2026.

How did search popularity change for money transfer services worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Revolut overtook MoneyGram to rank 3rd among money transfer services worldwide, with 10.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, PayPal gained share of searches among money transfer services worldwide, from 44.4% to 46.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Western Union lost share of searches among money transfer services worldwide, from 24.1% to 20.9%.

  4. In September 2026, MoneyGram lost share of searches among money transfer services worldwide, from 9.3% to 8.1%.

  5. In September 2026, Cash App lost share of searches among money transfer services worldwide, from 4% to 3.4%.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for WorldRemit worldwide fell 45.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 40.5K 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

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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%Shown above
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%Show ranking
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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.

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