PayPal vs Stripe:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PayPal had more branded searches than Stripe among payment providers in New Zealand. PayPal had about 34,700 branded searches, while Stripe had 810. PayPal made up 80.1% of all payment provider searches we track, and Stripe accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment providers, Stripe appeared in all five answers and PayPal in four. Stripe was mentioned before PayPal in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
PayPal, about 43 searches for every 1 for Stripe
Who does AI mention more?
Stripe, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Stripe, named ahead of PayPal in every answer
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Top payment providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Stripe appeared in all five answers. PayPal was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Stripe was listed before PayPal in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Windcave5 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
- PayPal4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
POLi2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Paystation2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Smartpay1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Worldline1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Square1 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 payment providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which payment provider should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best payment providers in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best payment provider in New Zealand for taking card payments?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best payment gateway”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online payment provider”
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.
Is PayPal or Stripe more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for PayPal and Stripe by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine payment providers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for PayPal, Stripe. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PayPal | Windcave | Smartpay | POLi | Stripe | Worldline | Square | Paystation | Adyen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 78.5% | 9% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 2.8% | 1.1% | 0.73% | 0.67% |
| Nov 2025 | 78.7% | 7.9% | 3.9% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.66% |
| Dec 2025 | 80.9% | 7.7% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 0.85% | 0.62% | 0.56% |
| Jan 2026 | 80.5% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.61% | 0.57% |
| Feb 2026 | 80% | 7.6% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 1% | 0.74% | 0.65% |
| Mar 2026 | 78.6% | 7.5% | 3.9% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 3.4% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.68% |
| Apr 2026 | 79.8% | 7.6% | 3.4% | 2% | 1.5% | 3.2% | 1.1% | 0.74% | 0.68% |
| May 2026 | 80.4% | 7.9% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 1.2% | 0.75% | 0.69% |
| Jun 2026 | 80.1% | 7.8% | 2.7% | 2% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.74% | 0.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 82.3% | 7.7% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.76% | 0.58% |
| Aug 2026 | 79.4% | 9.1% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 0.89% | 0.71% |
| Sep 2026 | 80.1% | 8.9% | 2.6% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.67% |
How has the PayPal and Stripe comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- PayPal was ahead of Stripe in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among payment providers in New Zealand moved from 78.5% to 80.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 42.1K to 34.7K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Stripe’s share of searches among payment providers in New Zealand moved from 1.4% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 770 to 810.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand payment providers in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, PayPal gained share of searches among payment providers in New Zealand, from 79.4% to 80.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
18 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PayPal’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.
PayPal
15 branded search terms
- 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
Stripe
3 branded search terms
- stripe eftpos
- stripe payment gateway
- stripe payments
Other head-to-heads among payment providers
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