Brandwave

Mercury vs Stripe:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Stripe had more branded searches than Mercury among fintech worldwide. Stripe had about 2.8 million branded searches, while Mercury had 74,000. Stripe made up 64.6% of all fintech searches we track, and Mercury accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fintech, Stripe appeared in four of the five answers and Mercury in two. Stripe was mentioned before Mercury in three out of four answers.

Among fintech worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Stripe, about 38 searches for every 1 for Mercury

Stripe 2.8M searchesMercury 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Stripe, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Mercury in 2

Stripe in 4 of 5Mercury in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Stripe, named ahead of Mercury in 3 of 4 answers

Stripe first in 3Mercury first in 1

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Top fintech in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Stripe was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Mercury was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Stripe was listed before Mercury in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Stripe1st
  2. Wise2nd
  3. SoFi3rd
  4. Mercury4th
  5. Adyen5th
  6. Plaid6th
  7. Marqeta7th
  8. Unit8th
  9. Rapyd–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Stripe4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Wise3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SoFi2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Adyen2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mercury2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Plaid2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Marqeta1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Unit1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Rapyd0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about fintech

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 Mercury or Stripe more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Mercury and Stripe by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine fintech we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Mercury and Stripe among fintech worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthStripeSoFiAdyenMercuryWiseMarqetaRapydPlaidUnit
Oct 202565.1%27.7%3.8%1.4%1.3%0.41%0.36%0.02%<0.01%
Nov 202569%24.2%3.3%1.5%1.3%0.36%0.31%0.02%<0.01%
Dec 202564.1%27.2%4.5%1.6%1.7%0.4%0.35%0.02%<0.01%
Jan 202664.7%27.6%3.7%1.7%1.6%0.41%0.29%0.02%<0.01%
Feb 202667.7%23.6%4.8%1.7%1.4%0.43%0.3%0.02%<0.01%
Mar 202668.8%24%3.3%1.8%1.5%0.36%0.25%0.02%<0.01%
Apr 202664.5%27.4%3.7%2%1.6%0.41%0.29%0.02%<0.01%
May 202664.7%27.5%3.7%1.7%1.6%0.41%0.35%0.02%<0.01%
Jun 202664.1%27.3%4.5%1.7%1.6%0.41%0.29%0.01%<0.01%
Jul 202665%27.8%3.1%1.7%1.6%0.41%0.36%0.01%<0.01%
Aug 202664.5%27.6%3.8%1.7%1.9%0.33%0.29%0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202664.6%27.7%3.8%1.7%1.6%0.34%0.29%0.02%<0.01%

How has the Mercury and Stripe comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Stripe was ahead of Mercury in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mercury’s share of searches among fintech worldwide moved from 1.4% to 1.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 74K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Stripe’s share of searches among fintech worldwide moved from 65.1% to 64.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9M to 2.8M.

How did search popularity change for fintech worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Mercury rose from 5th to 4th among fintech worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

34 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mercury’s and Stripe’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.

Mercury

1 branded search term

  • mercury bank

Stripe

33 branded search terms

  • billing stripe
  • charge for stripe
  • check out stripe
  • checkout stripe
  • checkoutstripe
  • direct debit stripe
  • fees for stripe
  • instant payouts stripe
  • payment stripe
  • payments stripe
  • set up stripe
  • stripe
  • stripe atlas
  • stripe billing
  • stripe business
  • stripe cc processing
  • stripe charge fee
  • stripe charges
  • stripe connect
  • stripe direct debit
  • stripe fees
  • stripe invoicing
  • stripe issuing
  • stripe merchant services
  • stripe pay
  • stripe payment
  • stripe payment company
  • stripe payments company
  • stripe payments processing
  • stripe terminal
  • stripe transaction charges
  • stripe transaction fee
  • terminal stripe

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among fintech

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