Brandwave

Braintree vs PayPal:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, PayPal had more branded searches than Braintree among payment gateways worldwide. PayPal had about 20.4 million branded searches, while Braintree had 31,600. PayPal made up 86.3% of all payment gateway searches we track, and Braintree accounted for 0.13%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment gateways, PayPal appeared in all five answers and Braintree in one. PayPal was mentioned before Braintree in every answer.

Among payment gateways worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

PayPal, about 646 searches for every 1 for Braintree

PayPal 20.4M searchesBraintree 31.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

PayPal, mentioned in every answer we collected

PayPal in 5 of 5Braintree in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

PayPal, named ahead of Braintree in every answer

PayPal first in 5Braintree never first

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Top payment gateways in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PayPal appeared in all five answers. Braintree was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. PayPal was listed before Braintree in every answer.

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.

Is Braintree or PayPal more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Braintree and PayPal by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight payment gateways we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Braintree and PayPal among payment gateways worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for PayPal, Braintree. 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%

How has the Braintree and PayPal comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • PayPal was ahead of Braintree in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Braintree’s share of searches among payment gateways worldwide moved from 0.02% to 0.13%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7K to 31.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among payment gateways worldwide moved from 88.4% to 86.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 24.9M to 20.4M.

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

2 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 PayPal worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 24.9M to 20.4M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

12 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Braintree’s and PayPal’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Braintree

11 branded search terms

  • braintree checkout
  • braintree fees
  • braintree gateway
  • braintree payment
  • braintree payment gateway
  • braintree payment processing
  • braintree payments
  • braintree paypal
  • braintreegateway
  • checkout braintree
  • paypal braintree

PayPal

1 branded search term

  • paypal

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among payment gateways

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