Brandwave

Authorize.net vs Square:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Authorize.net had more branded searches than Square among payment gateways worldwide. Authorize.net had about 13,400 branded searches, while Square had 1,330. Authorize.net made up 0.06% 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 Authorize.net in one. Square was mentioned before Authorize.net in four out of five answers.

Among payment gateways worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Authorize.net, about 10 searches for every 1 for Square

Authorize.net 13.4K searchesSquare 1.3K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Square, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Authorize.net in 1

Square in 4 of 5Authorize.net in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

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

Square 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, Square was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. 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. Square 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 Square more popular in search?

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

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

Share of searches by month for Authorize.net, 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%

How has the Authorize.net and Square comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Authorize.net was ahead of Square 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, 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

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

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

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

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

Authorize.net

2 branded search terms

  • authorize net
  • authorizenet

Square

2 branded search terms

  • cost of square pos
  • square payment gateway

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among payment gateways

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