Square vs Wise:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Square and Wise were level in searches among payment processors in New Zealand, with an estimated 490 versus 510 branded searches, at 0.86% and 0.9% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payment processors, Square appeared in three of the five answers and Wise in none.
Who do people search for more?
Wise and Square are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Square, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Wise in 0
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Top payment processors in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Square was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Wise 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
Wise0 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 Square or Wise more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Square and Wise 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 Wise, Square. 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 Square and Wise comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 5 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Wise took it in November 2025, Square took it in January 2026, Wise took it in March 2026, Square took it in August 2026, Wise took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand moved from 0.71% to 0.86%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 440 to 490.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wise’s share of searches among payment processors in New Zealand moved from 0.7% to 0.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 430 to 510.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand payment processors in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Wise rose from 9th to 8th among payment processors in New Zealand.
In September 2026, Square fell from 8th to 9th among payment processors in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
13 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Square’s and Wise’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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