Brandwave

How popular isSquare?

In September 2026, people searched for Square by name about 1,060 times in New Zealand, a 27.7% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 7.3% of all New Zealand POS terminal brand searches, placing Square fifth out of seven brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about POS terminal brands, Square appeared in two of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Square is the fifth most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. LightspeedShare of searches 31.4%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. WindcaveShare of searches 30.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. Eftpos NZShare of searches 16%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. Shift4Share of searches 10.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. SquareShare of searches 7.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

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Top POS terminal brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Square was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Square is the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Verifone1st
  2. Windcave2nd
  3. Shift43rd
  4. Eftpos NZ4th
  5. Lightspeed5th
  6. Square6th
  7. Adyen–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Eftpos NZ4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Shift44 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Verifone4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Windcave3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Square2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lightspeed1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Adyen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about POS terminal brands

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 21, 2026.

Which POS terminal brands compete with Square?

Square against POS terminal brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Lightspeed, Windcave, Eftpos NZ, Shift4, Square, Adyen. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthLightspeedWindcaveEftpos NZShift4SquareAdyenVerifone
Oct 202537.4%36.7%15.7%1.2%4.7%2.6%1.7%
Nov 202535.2%31.8%20.9%2.3%4.8%2.8%2.3%
Dec 202533.3%38.8%17.1%1.2%4.6%2.8%2.2%
Jan 202633.5%36%18.6%1.1%6.2%2.6%2.1%
Feb 202633.9%33.3%17.4%3.6%7%2.9%1.9%
Mar 202633.3%26.7%17.6%11.7%6.8%2.3%1.5%
Apr 202635.3%27.5%14.2%11.9%7.1%2.4%1.6%
May 202632.9%28.6%14.7%10.1%9.5%2.5%1.6%
Jun 202632.9%28.1%14.7%10%10.5%2.5%1.3%
Jul 202630.8%29.9%15.7%10.7%8.9%2.1%1.7%
Aug 202631.2%30.2%15.8%10.8%8.3%2.2%1.4%
Sep 202631.4%30.5%16%10.9%7.3%2.2%1.8%

  1. 1.Lightspeed

    31.4%

    Held 1st. 3.7K estimated branded searches, -0.27% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  2. 2.Windcave

    30.5%

    Held 2nd. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  3. 3.Eftpos NZ

    16%

    Held 3rd. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  4. 4.Shift4

    10.9%

    Held 4th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  5. 5.Square

    7.3%

    Held 5th. 870 estimated branded searches, -13% vs prior month. Share -1 points.

  6. 6.Adyen

    2.2%

    Held 6th. 260 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Verifone

    1.8%

    Held 7th. 210 estimated branded searches, +23.5% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

Compare popularity between Square and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Square

27 comparisons

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

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Square in New Zealand rose from 830 to 1.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand increased from 4.7% to 7.3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand peaked at 10.5% in June 2026 and was lowest at 4.6% in December 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square fell from 4th to 5th among POS terminal brands in New Zealand.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand POS terminal brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Square lost share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand, from 8.3% to 7.3%.

  2. Windcave’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 28.1% to 30.5% in September 2026.

  3. Eftpos NZ’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 14.7% to 16% in September 2026.

  4. Shift4’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 10% to 10.9% in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Adyen in New Zealand fell 18.8% over 12 measured months, from 320 to 260 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Lightspeed in New Zealand fell 17.4% over 12 measured months, from 4.5K to 3.7K in September 2026.

How are Square’s branded searches counted?

13 search terms

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

  • square appointments
  • square eftpos
  • square it
  • square payment
  • square payment gateway
  • square payment processor
  • square payments
  • square pos
  • square pos system
  • square reader
  • square restaurant
  • square space site
  • square terminal

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Square?

Square is owned by Block. Brandwave also tracks Afterpay, owned by the same company, in New Zealand.

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

Where does Square compete?

Square is ranked in five competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Payment processors9th of 150.86%Show ranking
Payment providers7th of 91.4%Show ranking
Salon and clinic booking software7th of 80.71%Show ranking
POS terminal brands5th of 77.3%Shown above
POS systems3rd of 611.8%Show ranking
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Is Square your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

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