Brandwave

Authorize.net vs PayPal:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, PayPal had more branded searches than Authorize.net among payment gateways worldwide. PayPal had about 20.4 million branded searches, while Authorize.net had 13,400. PayPal made up 86.3% of all payment gateway searches we track, and Authorize.net accounted for 0.06%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment gateways, PayPal appeared in all five answers and Authorize.net in one. PayPal was mentioned before Authorize.net in four out of five answers.

Among payment gateways worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

PayPal, about 1522 searches for every 1 for Authorize.net

PayPal 20.4M searchesAuthorize.net 13.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

PayPal, mentioned in every answer we collected

PayPal in 5 of 5Authorize.net in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

PayPal, named ahead of Authorize.net in 4 of 5 answers

PayPal first in 4Authorize.net first in 1

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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. Authorize.net 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 Authorize.net in four out of five answers.

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 Authorize.net or PayPal more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Authorize.net 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.

Authorize.net and PayPal among payment gateways worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for PayPal, Authorize.net. 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 Authorize.net and PayPal comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • PayPal was ahead of Authorize.net in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Authorize.net’s share of searches among payment gateways worldwide held steady at 0.06%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 16.4K to 13.4K.
  • 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 Authorize.net worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 16.4K to 13.4K 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?

3 search terms

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

Authorize.net

2 branded search terms

  • authorize net
  • authorizenet

PayPal

1 branded search term

  • paypal

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among payment gateways

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