Braintree vs PayPal:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PayPal had more branded searches than Braintree among payment processors in New Zealand. PayPal had about 34,700 branded searches, while Braintree had 420. PayPal made up 61.1% of all payment processor searches we track, and Braintree accounted for 0.74%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment processors, PayPal appeared in three of the five answers and Braintree in none.
Who do people search for more?
PayPal, about 83 searches for every 1 for Braintree
Who does AI mention more?
PayPal, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Braintree in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
PayPal, the only one of the two named
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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. Braintree did not appear in any of the five answers.
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.
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
Braintree0 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 Braintree or PayPal more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Braintree 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, Braintree. 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 Braintree and PayPal comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- PayPal was ahead of Braintree in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Braintree’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand moved from 0.53% to 0.74%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 330 to 420.
- 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%.
In September 2026, Braintree rose from 12th to 11th among payment processors in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
15 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Braintree’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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