Helcim vs Square:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Helcim had more branded searches than Square among payment gateways worldwide. Helcim had about 27,100 branded searches, while Square had 1,330. Helcim made up 0.11% of all payment gateway searches we track, and Square accounted for <0.01%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment gateways, Square appeared in four of the five answers and Helcim in two. Square was mentioned before Helcim in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Helcim, about 20 searches for every 1 for Square
Who does AI mention more?
Square, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Helcim in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Square, named ahead of Helcim in 4 of 4 answers
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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. Helcim was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Square was listed before Helcim in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which payment gateway should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best payment gateways?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best payment gateway for online card payments?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“payment gateway”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online payment gateway”
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 Helcim or Square more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Helcim and Square 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.
Share of searches by month for Helcim, Square. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PayPal | Stripe | Adyen | Worldpay | Braintree | Helcim | Authorize.net | Square |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 88.4% | 10.5% | 0.62% | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 88.6% | 10.5% | 0.51% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 90.2% | 8.9% | 0.62% | 0.22% | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.05% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 88.5% | 10.5% | 0.61% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.08% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 86.1% | 12.5% | 0.88% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 83.9% | 14.9% | 0.72% | 0.3% | 0.03% | 0.11% | 0.07% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 86.2% | 12.6% | 0.73% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.11% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 86.2% | 12.6% | 0.73% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 85.9% | 12.7% | 0.88% | 0.31% | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 86.3% | 12.6% | 0.61% | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.11% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 86.1% | 12.6% | 0.73% | 0.26% | 0.16% | 0.11% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 86.3% | 12.4% | 0.74% | 0.26% | 0.13% | 0.11% | 0.06% | <0.01% |
How has the Helcim and Square comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Helcim was ahead of Square in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Helcim’s share of searches among payment gateways worldwide moved from 0.08% to 0.11%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among payment gateways worldwide held steady at <0.01%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.6K to 1.3K.
How did search popularity change for payment gateways worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Helcim’s and Square’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.
Other head-to-heads among payment gateways

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