Brandwave

How popular isShopify?

In September 2026, people searched for Shopify by name about 5 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 14.6% of all global checkout optimisation platform searches, placing Shopify third out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about checkout optimisation platforms, Shopify appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Shopify is the third most searched of 8 competitors and the 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. ZipifyShare of searches 4.4%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top checkout optimisation platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Shopify appeared in all five answers. Shopify is the 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 Shopify?

Shopify against checkout optimisation platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Stripe, Checkout Champ, Shopify, AfterSell, Zipify, Bolt. 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 Shopify and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Shopify

50 comparisons

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

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Shopify worldwide held steady at 5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shopify’s share of searches among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide decreased from 15.3% to 14.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shopify’s share of searches among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide peaked at 15.6% in March 2026 and was lowest at 12.3% in December 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shopify fell from 2nd to 3rd among checkout optimisation platforms worldwide.

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 Shopify’s branded searches counted?

4 search terms

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

  • shopify
  • shopify checkout
  • shopify ecommerce
  • shopify hydrogen

Do you work for Shopify? 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 Shopify compete?

Shopify is ranked in eight competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Marketplace platforms3rd of 86.2%Show ranking
Website builders1st of 826.4%Show ranking
Visual website building platforms1st of 1244.2%Show ranking
Ecommerce platforms1st of 1351.4%Show ranking
Merch platforms1st of 772.7%Show ranking
Retail tech1st of 598.1%Show ranking
Headless commerce platforms4th of 64.1%Show ranking
Checkout optimisation platforms3rd of 814.6%Shown above
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Is Shopify your brand?

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