Brandwave

How popular isPayPal?

In September 2026, people searched for PayPal by name about 34,700 times in New Zealand, a 17.6% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 61.1% of all New Zealand payment processor searches, placing PayPal first out of 15 processors. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment processors, PayPal appeared in three of the five answers and was the joint third most recommended of the 15.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

PayPal is the most searched of 15 competitors and the joint third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PayPalShare of searches 61.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. RevolutShare of searches 18.5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. WindcaveShare of searches 6.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. AirwallexShare of searches 4.2%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  5. GoCardlessShare of searches 2.5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+10 more

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Top payment processors in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PayPal was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. PayPal is the joint third most recommended of the 15.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Stripe1st
  2. Windcave2nd
  3. PayPal3rd
  4. Square3rd
  5. Paystation5th
  6. Airwallex6th
  7. Shopify POS6th
  8. Adyen8th
  9. Revolut–
  10. GoCardless–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Stripe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • PayPal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Windcave3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Square3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Shopify POS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Paystation2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Adyen2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Airwallex1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Revolut0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • GoCardless0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about payment processors

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which payment processors compete with PayPal?

PayPal against payment processors in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for PayPal, Revolut, Windcave, Airwallex, GoCardless. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPayPalRevolutWindcaveAirwallexGoCardlessStripeWorldlineWiseSquareMollieBraintreePaystationAdyenShopify POSCheckout.com
Oct 202568.1%11.1%7.2%3.1%2.7%1.2%2.2%0.7%0.71%0.78%0.53%0.63%0.52%0.52%0.02%
Nov 202567.3%13.4%5.9%3.1%2.2%1.2%2.1%0.76%0.74%0.77%0.79%0.77%0.51%0.51%0.02%
Dec 202567.3%13.4%5.8%4.7%2.2%0.95%1.9%0.64%0.56%0.77%0.53%0.51%0.42%0.42%0.02%
Jan 202665.6%15.9%5.7%3%2.6%1.1%1.8%0.73%0.79%0.92%0.53%0.5%0.4%0.5%0.02%
Feb 202667.2%13.4%5.8%3%2.7%1.4%2.1%0.69%0.69%0.63%0.53%0.63%0.51%0.63%0.02%
Mar 202663.2%15.4%5.5%4.4%3%1.1%2.6%0.89%0.74%0.73%0.6%0.73%0.48%0.59%0.02%
Apr 202666.7%13.4%5.9%3.8%2.2%1.1%2.6%0.81%0.75%0.62%0.52%0.62%0.51%0.41%0.02%
May 202666.5%13.4%5.9%3.8%2.7%1.1%2%0.78%0.75%0.76%0.65%0.62%0.51%0.51%0.02%
Jun 202663.6%15.6%5.5%4.4%2.6%1.5%2%0.88%0.79%0.73%0.92%0.59%0.48%0.48%0.02%
Jul 202664.9%16.4%5.6%3.7%2.6%1.1%1.4%0.81%0.69%0.74%0.63%0.6%0.4%0.4%0.02%
Aug 202662.7%15.8%6.6%4.3%3%1.3%1.3%0.99%1%0.7%0.6%0.7%0.47%0.38%0.02%
Sep 202661.1%18.5%6.4%4.2%2.5%1.3%1.2%0.9%0.86%0.85%0.74%0.69%0.46%0.3%0.02%

  1. 1.PayPal

    61.1%

    Held 1st. 34.7K estimated branded searches, -0.26% vs prior month. Share -1.6 points.

  2. 2.Revolut

    18.5%

    Held 2nd. 10.5K estimated branded searches, +19.7% vs prior month. Share +2.7 points.

  3. 3.Windcave

    6.4%

    Held 3rd. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  4. 4.Airwallex

    4.2%

    Held 4th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.GoCardless

    2.5%

    Held 5th. 1.4K estimated branded searches, -17.8% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  6. 6.Stripe

    1.3%

    Moved from 7th to 6th. 720 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Worldline

    1.2%

    Moved from 6th to 7th. 660 estimated branded searches, -9.6% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  8. 8.Wise

    0.9%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 510 estimated branded searches, -7.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  9. 9.Square

    0.86%

    Moved from 8th to 9th. 490 estimated branded searches, -12.5% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  10. 10.Mollie

    0.85%

    Held 10th. 480 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  11. 11.Braintree

    0.74%

    Moved from 12th to 11th. 420 estimated branded searches, +27.3% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  12. 12.Paystation

    0.69%

    Moved from 11th to 12th. 390 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  13. 13.Adyen

    0.46%

    Held 13th. 260 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  14. 14.Shopify POS

    0.3%

    Held 14th. 170 estimated branded searches, -19% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  15. 15.Checkout.com

    0.02%

    Held 15th. 10 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between PayPal and its closest rivals

Every comparison with PayPal

18 comparisons

How has branded search demand for PayPal changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for PayPal in New Zealand fell from 42.1K to 34.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand decreased from 68.1% to 61.1%.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand payment processors in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Revolut gained share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand, from 15.8% to 18.5%.

  2. In September 2026, PayPal lost share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand, from 62.7% to 61.1%.

  3. In September 2026, GoCardless lost share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand, from 3% to 2.5%.

  4. Worldline’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2% to 1.2% in September 2026.

  5. In September 2026, Braintree rose from 12th to 11th among payment processors in New Zealand.

  6. In September 2026, Stripe rose from 7th to 6th among payment processors in New Zealand.

How are PayPal’s branded searches counted?

15 search terms

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

  • my paypal
  • paypal
  • paypal app
  • paypal aus
  • paypal card
  • paypal contacts
  • paypal currency exchange
  • paypal debit card
  • paypal eftpos
  • paypal founders
  • paypal gift card
  • paypal me
  • paypal me link
  • paypal payment gateway
  • paypal share

Do you work for PayPal? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does PayPal compete?

PayPal is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Buy now pay later2nd of 429.4%Show ranking
Payment processors1st of 1561.1%Shown above
Payment providers1st of 980.1%Show ranking
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Is PayPal your brand?

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