Airwallex vs PayPal:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PayPal had more branded searches than Airwallex among payment processors in New Zealand. PayPal had about 34,700 branded searches, while Airwallex had 2,400. PayPal made up 61.1% of all payment processor searches we track, and Airwallex accounted for 4.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment processors, PayPal appeared in three of the five answers and Airwallex in one. PayPal was mentioned before Airwallex in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
PayPal, about 14 searches for every 1 for Airwallex
Who does AI mention more?
PayPal, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Airwallex in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
PayPal, named ahead of Airwallex in 2 of 3 answers
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Top payment processors in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PayPal was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Airwallex was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. PayPal was listed before Airwallex 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.
Stripe1st
Windcave2nd- PayPal3rd
Square3rd
Paystation5th
Airwallex6th
Shopify POS6th
Adyen8th
Revolut–
GoCardless–- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Stripe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PayPal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Windcave3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Square3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Shopify POS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Paystation2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Adyen2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Airwallex1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Revolut0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- GoCardless0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about payment processors
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which payment processor should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best payment processors in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best payment processor in New Zealand for online payments?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best payment processor”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online payment processors”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is Airwallex or PayPal more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Airwallex and PayPal by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 payment processors we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for PayPal, Airwallex. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PayPal | Revolut | Windcave | Airwallex | GoCardless | Stripe | Worldline | Wise | Square | Mollie | Braintree | Paystation | Adyen | Shopify POS | Checkout.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 68.1% | 11.1% | 7.2% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 0.71% | 0.78% | 0.53% | 0.63% | 0.52% | 0.52% | 0.02% |
| Nov 2025 | 67.3% | 13.4% | 5.9% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 2.1% | 0.76% | 0.74% | 0.77% | 0.79% | 0.77% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.02% |
| Dec 2025 | 67.3% | 13.4% | 5.8% | 4.7% | 2.2% | 0.95% | 1.9% | 0.64% | 0.56% | 0.77% | 0.53% | 0.51% | 0.42% | 0.42% | 0.02% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.6% | 15.9% | 5.7% | 3% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 0.73% | 0.79% | 0.92% | 0.53% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 67.2% | 13.4% | 5.8% | 3% | 2.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.69% | 0.69% | 0.63% | 0.53% | 0.63% | 0.51% | 0.63% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 63.2% | 15.4% | 5.5% | 4.4% | 3% | 1.1% | 2.6% | 0.89% | 0.74% | 0.73% | 0.6% | 0.73% | 0.48% | 0.59% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 66.7% | 13.4% | 5.9% | 3.8% | 2.2% | 1.1% | 2.6% | 0.81% | 0.75% | 0.62% | 0.52% | 0.62% | 0.51% | 0.41% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 66.5% | 13.4% | 5.9% | 3.8% | 2.7% | 1.1% | 2% | 0.78% | 0.75% | 0.76% | 0.65% | 0.62% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.02% |
| Jun 2026 | 63.6% | 15.6% | 5.5% | 4.4% | 2.6% | 1.5% | 2% | 0.88% | 0.79% | 0.73% | 0.92% | 0.59% | 0.48% | 0.48% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 64.9% | 16.4% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 0.81% | 0.69% | 0.74% | 0.63% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 62.7% | 15.8% | 6.6% | 4.3% | 3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.99% | 1% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.47% | 0.38% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 61.1% | 18.5% | 6.4% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.86% | 0.85% | 0.74% | 0.69% | 0.46% | 0.3% | 0.02% |
How has the Airwallex and PayPal comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- PayPal was ahead of Airwallex in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Airwallex’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand moved from 3.1% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 2.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayPal’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand moved from 68.1% to 61.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 42.1K to 34.7K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand payment processors in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, PayPal lost share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand, from 62.7% to 61.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Airwallex in New Zealand rose 26.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 2.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
14 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Airwallex’s and PayPal’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 processors
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