Brandwave

How popular isSquare?

In September 2026, people searched for Square by name about 132,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up <0.01% of all global payment gateway searches, placing Square eighth out of eight gateways. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment gateways, Square appeared in four of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Square is the eighth most searched of 8 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PayPalShare of searches 86.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. StripeShare of searches 12.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. AdyenShare of searches 0.74%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. WorldpayShare of searches 0.26%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. SquareShare of searches <0.01%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top payment gateways in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Square was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Square is the third most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Stripe1st
  2. PayPal2nd
  3. Square3rd
  4. Authorize.net4th
  5. Helcim5th
  6. Adyen6th
  7. Braintree7th
  8. Worldpay–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • PayPal5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Stripe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Square4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Adyen2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Helcim2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Braintree1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Authorize.net1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Worldpay0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about payment gateways

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 21, 2026.

Which payment gateways compete with Square?

Square against payment gateways worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for PayPal, Stripe, Square. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPayPalStripeAdyenWorldpayBraintreeHelcimAuthorize.netSquare
Oct 202588.4%10.5%0.62%0.26%0.02%0.08%0.06%<0.01%
Nov 202588.6%10.5%0.51%0.26%0.03%0.06%0.06%<0.01%
Dec 202590.2%8.9%0.62%0.22%0.02%0.07%0.05%<0.01%
Jan 202688.5%10.5%0.61%0.26%0.03%0.08%0.06%<0.01%
Feb 202686.1%12.5%0.88%0.26%0.03%0.09%0.06%<0.01%
Mar 202683.9%14.9%0.72%0.3%0.03%0.11%0.07%<0.01%
Apr 202686.2%12.6%0.73%0.26%0.03%0.11%0.06%<0.01%
May 202686.2%12.6%0.73%0.26%0.03%0.09%0.06%<0.01%
Jun 202685.9%12.7%0.88%0.31%0.03%0.09%0.06%<0.01%
Jul 202686.3%12.6%0.61%0.26%0.03%0.11%0.06%<0.01%
Aug 202686.1%12.6%0.73%0.26%0.16%0.11%0.06%<0.01%
Sep 202686.3%12.4%0.74%0.26%0.13%0.11%0.06%<0.01%

  1. 1.PayPal

    86.3%

    Held 1st. 20.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  2. 2.Stripe

    12.4%

    Held 2nd. 2.9M estimated branded searches, -1.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  3. 3.Adyen

    0.74%

    Held 3rd. 174K estimated branded searches, +0.47% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  4. 4.Worldpay

    0.26%

    Held 4th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.Braintree

    0.13%

    Held 5th. 31.6K estimated branded searches, -16.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Helcim

    0.11%

    Held 6th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Authorize.net

    0.06%

    Held 7th. 13.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Square

    <0.01%

    Held 8th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Square and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Square

50 comparisons

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

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Square worldwide held steady, from 127K to 132K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among payment gateways worldwide held steady at <0.01%.

How did search popularity change for payment gateways worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Braintree worldwide rose 352.1% over 12 measured months, from 7K to 31.6K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Helcim worldwide rose 22.1% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 27.1K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Square worldwide fell 19.4% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1.3K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Authorize.net worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 16.4K to 13.4K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Worldpay worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 60.5K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for PayPal worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 24.9M to 20.4M in September 2026.

How are Square’s branded searches counted?

57 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.

  • cost of square pos
  • handheld square terminal
  • ipad square pos
  • mobile pos square
  • pos square
  • pos square app
  • pos square stand
  • pos square system
  • pos square terminal
  • printer for square pos
  • square app pos
  • square kds app
  • square online
  • square payment gateway
  • square payment processor
  • square point of sale
  • square point of sale device
  • square point of sale equipment
  • square point of sale ipad
  • square point of sale pos
  • square point of sale printer
  • square point of sale stand
  • square point of sale system
  • square point of sale terminal
  • square pos
  • square pos app
  • square pos apps
  • square pos charges
  • square pos device
  • square pos devices
  • square pos equipment
  • square pos fees
  • square pos for ipad
  • square pos for iphone
  • square pos handheld
  • square pos hardware
  • square pos ipad
  • square pos iphone
  • square pos machine
  • square pos printer

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Square?

Square is owned by Block. Brandwave also tracks Afterpay, Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail and Square Loyalty, owned by the same company, worldwide.

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?

Square is ranked in 12 competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Payment processors15th of 150.03%Show ranking
Payment gateways8th of 8<0.01%Shown above
Ecommerce platforms9th of 130.23%Show ranking
Restaurant ordering platforms8th of 8<0.01%Show ranking
Retail tech5th of 5<0.01%Show ranking
Receipt printer brands5th of 50.02%Show ranking
POS printer brands6th of 60.02%Show ranking
Point of sale systems2nd of 820.6%Show ranking
POS terminal brands9th of 90.03%Show ranking
Point of sale hardware6th of 60.07%Show ranking
Handheld POS brands4th of 40.1%Show ranking
Cash drawer brands6th of 60.16%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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.

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