Paystation vs Square:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Square had more branded searches than Paystation among payment providers in New Zealand. Square had about 600 branded searches, while Paystation had 390. Square made up 1.4% of all payment provider searches we track, and Paystation accounted for 0.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment providers, Paystation appeared in two of the five answers and Square in one. Paystation was mentioned before Square in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Square, about 54% more searches than Paystation
Who does AI mention more?
Paystation, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Square in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Paystation, named ahead of Square in 2 of 3 answers
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Top payment providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Paystation was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Square was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Paystation was listed before Square in two out of three answers that named either.
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 Paystation or Square more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Paystation and Square 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 Square, Paystation. 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 Paystation and Square comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Square was ahead of Paystation in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Paystation’s share of searches among payment providers in New Zealand moved from 0.73% to 0.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 390.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among payment providers in New Zealand moved from 1.1% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 580 to 600.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand payment providers in September 2026?
0 changes
Neither Paystation nor Square moved beyond provider rounding among payment providers in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
11 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Paystation’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.
Paystation
1 branded search term
- paystation
Square
10 branded search terms
- square appointments
- square eftpos
- square it
- square payment
- square payment gateway
- square payment processor
- square payments
- square reader
- square restaurant
- square space site
Other head-to-heads among payment providers
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