Square vs Stripe:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Stripe had more branded searches than Square among payment providers in New Zealand. Stripe had about 810 branded searches, while Square had 600. Stripe made up 1.9% of all payment provider searches we track, and Square accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment providers, Stripe appeared in all five answers and Square in one. Stripe was mentioned before Square in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Stripe, about 35% more searches than Square
Who does AI mention more?
Stripe, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Stripe, named ahead of Square 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. 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. Stripe was listed before Square 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 Square or Stripe more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Square 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 Stripe, Square. 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 Square and Stripe comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Stripe was ahead of Square in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- 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?
0 changes
Neither Square nor Stripe moved beyond provider rounding among payment providers in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
13 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Square’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.
Other head-to-heads among payment providers
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