Brandwave

Square vs SumUp:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, SumUp had more branded searches than Square among card machine providers in the United Kingdom. SumUp had about 110,000 branded searches, while Square had 3,600. SumUp made up 76% of all card machine provider searches we track, and Square accounted for 2.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about card machine providers, both Square and SumUp appeared in all five answers. SumUp was mentioned before Square in four out of five answers.

Among card machine providers in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

SumUp, about 31 searches for every 1 for Square

SumUp 110K searchesSquare 3.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Square in 5 of 5SumUp in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

SumUp, named ahead of Square in 4 of 5 answers

SumUp first in 4Square first in 1

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Top card machine providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Square and SumUp showed up in all five answers. SumUp was listed before Square in four of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. SumUp1st
  2. Square2nd
  3. Zettle3rd
  4. Dojo4th
  5. Takepayments–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • SumUp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Square5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Zettle2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Dojo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Takepayments0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about card machine providers

5 answers
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best card machine for a small business in the UK?”

    1. 1Square
    2. 2SumUp
    3. 3Zettle
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which UK card machine provider has the lowest fees?”

    1. 1SumUp
    2. 2Square
  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What card readers do small shops in the UK use?”

    1. 1SumUp
    2. 2Square
    3. 3Zettle
    4. 4Dojo
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “card machine”

    1. 1SumUp
    2. 2Square
  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “card machines for small business”

    1. 1SumUp
    2. 2Square

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 23, 2026.

Is Square or SumUp more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Square and SumUp by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five card machine providers we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

Square and SumUp among card machine providers in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for SumUp, Square. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSumUpZettleDojoSquareTakepayments
Oct 202561.6%27.6%4.8%3%3%
Nov 202566.9%24.6%3.6%2.7%2.2%
Dec 202567.2%24.6%3.4%2.7%2.2%
Jan 202666.3%24.2%3.6%2.6%3.2%
Feb 202664.5%23.6%4.3%3.8%3.8%
Mar 202664.8%23.7%4.5%3.9%3.1%
Apr 202668.8%20.6%4.6%3.3%2.7%
May 202669.5%20.8%4.1%2.8%2.8%
Jun 202673.5%18.1%3.6%2.4%2.4%
Jul 202669.1%20.7%4.1%3.4%2.7%
Aug 202672.2%17.7%3.7%3.5%2.9%
Sep 202676%15.3%3.7%2.5%2.5%

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

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United Kingdom card machine providers in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, SumUp gained share of searches among card machine providers in the United Kingdom, from 72.2% to 76%.

  2. In September 2026, Square lost share of searches among card machine providers in the United Kingdom, from 3.5% to 2.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Square’s and SumUp’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.

Square

1 branded search term

  • square card reader

SumUp

1 branded search term

  • sumup

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among card machine providers

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