Brandwave

Lightspeed vs Square:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Lightspeed had more branded searches than Square among POS terminal brands in New Zealand. Lightspeed had about 3,740 branded searches, while Square had 870. Lightspeed made up 31.4% of all POS terminal brand searches we track, and Square accounted for 7.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about POS terminal brands, Square appeared in two of the five answers and Lightspeed in one. Lightspeed and Square were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among POS terminal brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Lightspeed, about 4 searches for every 1 for Square

Lightspeed 3.7K searchesSquare 870 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Square, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Lightspeed in 1

Square in 2 of 5Lightspeed in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Lightspeed first in 1Square first in 1

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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. Lightspeed was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Lightspeed and Square were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.

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.

Is Lightspeed or Square more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Lightspeed and Square by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven POS terminal brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Lightspeed and Square among POS terminal brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Lightspeed, Square. 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%

How has the Lightspeed and Square comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Lightspeed was ahead of Square in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lightspeed’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand moved from 37.4% to 31.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.5K to 3.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among POS terminal brands in New Zealand moved from 4.7% to 7.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 570 to 870.

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

2 changes

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

  2. 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 branded searches counted?

14 search terms

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

Lightspeed

6 branded search terms

  • lightspeed
  • lightspeed retail
  • lightspeed speed
  • lightspeed stocks
  • lightspeed vend
  • vend lightspeed

Square

8 branded search terms

  • square appointments
  • square it
  • square pos
  • square pos system
  • square reader
  • square restaurant
  • square space site
  • square terminal

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among POS terminal brands

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