Brandwave

How popular isGusto?

In September 2026, people searched for Gusto by name about 57,400 times worldwide, a 6% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 3.3% of all global flexible employee benefits platform searches, placing Gusto third out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about flexible employee benefits platforms, Gusto appeared in three of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Gusto is the third most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. RipplingShare of searches 78.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Employee NavigatorShare of searches 15.2%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. GustoShare of searches 3.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. BenepassShare of searches 2.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. BenShare of searches 0.53%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th

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Top flexible employee benefits platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Gusto was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Gusto is the second most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Rippling1st
  2. Gusto2nd
  3. Employee Navigator3rd
  4. Benepass4th
  5. Forma5th
  6. Compt6th
  7. Ben7th
  8. Espresa–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Rippling5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Employee Navigator4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Gusto3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Benepass2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ben1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Forma1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Compt1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Espresa0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about flexible employee benefits platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which flexible employee benefits platforms compete with Gusto?

Gusto against flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Rippling, Employee Navigator, Gusto, Benepass. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRipplingEmployee NavigatorGustoBenepassBenEspresaFormaCompt
Oct 202574.6%17.7%4.6%1.6%0.71%0.59%0.17%<0.01%
Nov 202563.8%27.8%4.8%2%0.74%0.62%0.25%<0.01%
Dec 202567.7%24.2%4.2%2.7%0.62%0.45%0.3%<0.01%
Jan 202672.4%17.1%5.4%3.5%0.71%0.58%0.27%0.01%
Feb 202676.2%14.8%4.7%3%0.69%0.41%0.22%<0.01%
Mar 202672.9%17.2%5.4%2.8%1%0.47%0.2%0.01%
Apr 202675.4%14.6%5.6%2.9%0.83%0.4%0.24%0.01%
May 202669.5%19.9%6.2%2.7%0.9%0.54%0.2%<0.01%
Jun 202673.5%17.5%5.5%2.4%0.65%0.39%0.17%<0.01%
Jul 202676.7%15%4.6%2.5%0.62%0.41%0.16%<0.01%
Aug 202674.3%17.7%4.5%2.4%0.59%0.4%0.16%<0.01%
Sep 202678.4%15.2%3.3%2.1%0.53%0.42%0.14%0.01%

  1. 1.Rippling

    78.4%

    Held 1st. 566K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +4.1 points.

  2. 2.Employee Navigator

    15.2%

    Held 2nd. 110K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  3. 3.Gusto

    3.3%

    Held 3rd. 23.5K estimated branded searches, -16.4% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  4. 4.Benepass

    2.1%

    Held 4th. 14.9K estimated branded searches, -0.07% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  5. 5.Ben

    0.53%

    Held 5th. 3.8K estimated branded searches, +4.1% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  6. 6.Espresa

    0.42%

    Held 6th. 3K estimated branded searches, +21.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Forma

    0.14%

    Held 7th. 980 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Compt

    0.01%

    Held 8th. 90 estimated branded searches, +125% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Gusto and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Gusto

31 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Gusto changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Gusto worldwide fell from 61.1K to 57.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gusto’s share of searches among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide decreased from 4.6% to 3.3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Gusto’s share of searches among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide peaked at 6.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 3.3% in September 2026.

How did search popularity change for flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Rippling gained share of searches among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide, from 74.3% to 78.4%.

  2. In September 2026, Employee Navigator lost share of searches among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide, from 17.7% to 15.2%.

  3. In September 2026, Gusto lost share of searches among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide, from 4.5% to 3.3%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Compt worldwide rose 125% over 12 measured months, from 40 to 90 in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Benepass worldwide rose 49.5% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 14.9K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Espresa worldwide fell 18.7% over 12 measured months, from 3.7K to 3K in September 2026.

How are Gusto’s branded searches counted?

29 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Gusto’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • gusto accounting software
  • gusto app
  • gusto benefits
  • gusto company
  • gusto contractor
  • gusto embedded payroll
  • gusto for payroll
  • gusto hr
  • gusto hr software
  • gusto international contractors
  • gusto onboarding
  • gusto pay
  • gusto paycheck
  • gusto payment
  • gusto payroll
  • gusto payroll app
  • gusto payroll company
  • gusto payroll processing
  • gusto payroll provider
  • gusto payroll services
  • gusto payroll software
  • gusto payroll solutions
  • gusto payroll system
  • gusto platform
  • gusto software
  • gusto time clock
  • gusto time tracking
  • gusto timetracking
  • gusto zen payroll

Do you work for Gusto? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Gusto compete?

Gusto is ranked in five competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
HR information systems8th of 80.2%Show ranking
HR software brands8th of 93.4%Show ranking
Benefits administration platforms6th of 112.7%Show ranking
Flexible employee benefits platforms3rd of 83.3%Shown above
Employee onboarding platforms11th of 130.02%Show ranking
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