Brandwave

How popular isSHL?

In September 2026, people searched for SHL by name about 550,000 times worldwide, a 33.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 38.3% of all global pre-employment assessment platform searches, placing SHL second out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pre-employment assessment platforms, SHL appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

SHL is the second most searched of 8 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. HackerRankShare of searches 57.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  2. SHLShare of searches 38.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. TestGorillaShare of searches 2.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. Mercer MettlShare of searches 0.84%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  5. HarverShare of searches 0.69%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+3 more

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Top pre-employment assessment platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, SHL was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. SHL is the fourth most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Criteria1st
  2. TestGorilla2nd
  3. HackerRank3rd
  4. SHL4th
  5. TestDome5th
  6. Vervoe6th
  7. Mercer Mettl7th
  8. Harver–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • TestGorilla5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • HackerRank4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Criteria4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SHL2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mercer Mettl2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • TestDome1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Vervoe1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Harver0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about pre-employment assessment 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 pre-employment assessment platforms compete with SHL?

SHL against pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for HackerRank, SHL, TestGorilla. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHackerRankSHLTestGorillaMercer MettlHarverTestDomeVervoeCriteria
Oct 202547.8%47.8%2.7%0.57%0.6%0.39%0.19%<0.01%
Nov 202552.2%42.6%2.9%0.94%0.65%0.52%0.19%<0.01%
Dec 202552.5%42.9%2.4%0.94%0.57%0.43%0.15%<0.01%
Jan 202643.1%52.7%2.4%0.63%0.66%0.36%0.16%<0.01%
Feb 202652.2%42.6%3%0.77%0.7%0.53%0.22%<0.01%
Mar 202638.6%57.4%2.2%0.69%0.59%0.39%0.2%<0.01%
Apr 202652.1%42.6%2.9%0.94%0.7%0.43%0.34%<0.01%
May 202669.6%20.9%4.9%1.9%1.4%0.88%0.42%<0.01%
Jun 202676.3%15.3%4.4%1.7%1.4%0.68%0.32%<0.01%
Jul 202683.2%11.1%3.1%1%0.89%0.49%0.21%<0.01%
Aug 202681.5%13.4%2.6%0.98%0.97%0.47%0.19%<0.01%
Sep 202657.4%38.3%2.2%0.84%0.69%0.41%0.14%<0.01%

  1. 1.HackerRank

    57.4%

    Held 1st. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -24.1 points.

  2. 2.SHL

    38.3%

    Held 2nd. 550K estimated branded searches, +307.4% vs prior month. Share +25 points.

  3. 3.TestGorilla

    2.2%

    Held 3rd. 31.6K estimated branded searches, +21.5% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  4. 4.Mercer Mettl

    0.84%

    Held 4th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.Harver

    0.69%

    Held 5th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, +0.3% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  6. 6.TestDome

    0.41%

    Held 6th. 5.9K estimated branded searches, +22.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Vervoe

    0.14%

    Held 7th. 2K estimated branded searches, +5.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Criteria

    <0.01%

    Held 8th. 30 estimated branded searches, +200% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between SHL and its closest rivals

Every comparison with SHL

10 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for SHL worldwide fell from 823K to 550K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SHL’s share of searches among pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide decreased from 47.8% to 38.3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SHL’s share of searches among pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide peaked at 57.4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 11.1% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, SHL gained share of searches among pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide, from 13.4% to 38.3%.

  2. In September 2026, HackerRank lost share of searches among pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide, from 81.5% to 57.4%.

  3. TestGorilla’s share of searches among pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4.4% to 2.2% in September 2026.

  4. Mercer Mettl’s share of searches among pre-employment assessment platforms worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.7% to 0.84% in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Criteria worldwide rose 200% over 12 measured months, from 10 to 30 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Vervoe worldwide fell 38.1% over 12 measured months, from 3.2K to 2K in September 2026.

How are SHL’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

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

  • shl

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does SHL compete?

SHL is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Pre-employment assessment platforms2nd of 838.3%Shown above
Skills assessment platforms2nd of 738.5%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is SHL your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

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