---
title: "Payroll software: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare the platforms businesses run payroll with. Share of Search among Paychex, Rippling, Deel, RUN Powered by ADP and Gusto, the payroll software Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/payroll-software"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Payroll software: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare the platforms businesses run payroll with. Share of Search among Paychex, Rippling, Deel, RUN Powered by ADP and Gusto, the payroll software Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Payroll software
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 5
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Paychex, 45.9%

## Which brand is most popular in search among payroll software worldwide?

- In August 2026, Paychex was the most searched among payroll software worldwide, with an estimated 922K branded searches and 45.9% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- Rippling is in 2nd place, 21.2 percentage points behind at 24.7% Share of Search.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Rippling’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide decreased from 27.2% to 24.7%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Deel’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide increased from 14.5% to 16.1%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Paychex’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide peaked at 50.4% in January 2026 and was lowest at 40.7% in May 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Rippling’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide peaked at 27.2% in October 2025 and was lowest at 21% in May 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Deel’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide peaked at 24% in May 2026 and was lowest at 13.1% in January 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, RUN Powered by ADP’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide peaked at 10.7% in March 2026 and was lowest at 8.8% in February 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Gusto’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide peaked at 5.3% in March 2026 and was lowest at 3.5% in December 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Paychex, RUN Powered by ADP and Gusto held steady: their estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Paychex vs Rippling: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/paychex-vs-rippling): 45.9% against 24.7% Share of Search.
- [Paychex vs Deel: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/deel-vs-paychex): 45.9% against 16.1% Share of Search.
- [Paychex vs RUN Powered by ADP: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adp-run-vs-paychex): 45.9% against 9.4% Share of Search.
- [Paychex vs Gusto: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/gusto-vs-paychex): 45.9% against 3.8% Share of Search.
- [Rippling vs Deel: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/deel-vs-rippling): 24.7% against 16.1% Share of Search.
- [Rippling vs RUN Powered by ADP: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adp-run-vs-rippling): 24.7% against 9.4% Share of Search.
- [Rippling vs Gusto: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/gusto-vs-rippling): 24.7% against 3.8% Share of Search.
- [Deel vs RUN Powered by ADP: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adp-run-vs-deel): 16.1% against 9.4% Share of Search.
- [Deel vs Gusto: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/deel-vs-gusto): 16.1% against 3.8% Share of Search.
- [RUN Powered by ADP vs Gusto: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adp-run-vs-gusto): 9.4% against 3.8% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for payroll software worldwide in August 2026?

- In August 2026, RUN Powered by ADP lost estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide, from 10.2% to 9.4%.
- Paychex’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 40.7% to 45.9% in August 2026.
- Gusto’s estimated Share of Search among payroll software worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 5% to 3.8% in August 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Rippling worldwide fell 17.1% over 11 measured months, from 599K to 497K in August 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Paychex | 45.9% | 922K | -0.0% | Paychex |
| 2 | Rippling | 24.7% | 497K | +0.8% | Rippling |
| 3 | Deel | 16.1% | 323K | +0.9% | Deel |
| 4 | RUN Powered by ADP | 9.4% | 189K | -8.1% | ADP |
| 5 | Gusto | 3.8% | 76.3K | -8.9% | Gusto |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Paychex | 1M | 45.7% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Rippling | 599K | 27.2% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Deel | 319K | 14.5% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | RUN Powered by ADP | 200K | 9.1% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Gusto | 78.8K | 3.6% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Paychex | 823K | 43.5% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Rippling | 491K | 25.9% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Deel | 319K | 16.8% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | RUN Powered by ADP | 187K | 9.9% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Gusto | 74.8K | 3.9% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Paychex | 1M | 46.1% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Rippling | 554K | 25.4% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Deel | 319K | 14.6% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | RUN Powered by ADP | 228K | 10.5% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Gusto | 75.7K | 3.5% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Paychex | 1.2M | 50.4% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Rippling | 558K | 22.9% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Deel | 320K | 13.1% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 231K | 9.4% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Gusto | 102K | 4.2% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Paychex | 1M | 46.4% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Rippling | 557K | 25.7% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Deel | 320K | 14.8% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 190K | 8.8% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Gusto | 95.3K | 4.4% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Paychex | 924K | 43.4% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Rippling | 542K | 25.5% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Deel | 322K | 15.1% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 229K | 10.7% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Gusto | 112K | 5.3% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Paychex | 923K | 44.7% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Rippling | 517K | 25.1% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Deel | 321K | 15.5% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 201K | 9.7% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Gusto | 103K | 5% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Paychex | 822K | 40.7% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Deel | 485K | 24% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Rippling | 425K | 21% | 3 |
| May 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 188K | 9.3% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Gusto | 102K | 5% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Paychex | 922K | 45.2% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Rippling | 498K | 24.4% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Deel | 321K | 15.7% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 199K | 9.8% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Gusto | 97.7K | 4.8% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Paychex | 922K | 45.5% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Rippling | 492K | 24.3% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Deel | 320K | 15.8% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 206K | 10.2% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Gusto | 83.7K | 4.1% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Paychex | 922K | 45.9% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Rippling | 497K | 24.7% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Deel | 323K | 16.1% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | 189K | 9.4% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Gusto | 76.3K | 3.8% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Deel | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Gusto | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Paychex | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Rippling | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | RUN Powered by ADP | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **Deel**: Measured on the search terms “Deel”, “deel app”, “deel com”, “deel company”, “deel contractor management”, “deel contractors”, “deel cost”, “deel costs”, “deel demo”, “deel employer of record”, “deel eor”, “deel global payroll”, “deel hr”, “deel hr company”, “deel payroll”, “deel prices”, “deel pricing”, “deel software”, “deel website”, “deel.com”, “global payroll deel”, “let's deel”, “letsdeel” and “payroll deel”, summed into one figure.
- **Gusto**: Measured on the search terms “gusto accounting software”, “gusto app”, “gusto benefits”, “gusto com”, “gusto company”, “gusto contractor”, “gusto cost”, “gusto embedded payroll”, “gusto for payroll”, “gusto for small business”, “gusto hr”, “gusto hr software”, “gusto international contractors”, “gusto online payroll”, “gusto pay”, “gusto paycheck”, “gusto payment”, “gusto payroll”, “gusto payroll app”, “gusto payroll company”, “gusto payroll cost”, “gusto payroll for small business”, “gusto payroll pricing”, “gusto payroll processing”, “gusto payroll provider”, “gusto payroll services”, “gusto payroll software”, “gusto payroll software for small business”, “gusto payroll solutions”, “gusto payroll system”, “gusto platform”, “gusto pricing”, “gusto pricing payroll”, “gusto small business payroll”, “gusto software”, “gusto time clock”, “gusto time tracking”, “gusto timetracking”, “gusto zen payroll” and “gusto.com”, summed into one figure.
- **Paychex**: Measured on the search terms “Paychex”, “Paychex Flex”, “paychex hr”, “paychex payroll”, “paychex payroll services” and “paychex pricing”, summed into one figure.
- **Rippling**: Measured on the search terms “Rippling”, “rippling app”, “rippling apps”, “rippling com”, “rippling eor”, “rippling hr”, “rippling hr pricing”, “rippling hr software”, “rippling it”, “rippling payroll”, “rippling peo”, “rippling pricing”, “rippling software” and “rippling.com”, summed into one figure.
- **RUN Powered by ADP**: Measured on the search terms “adp com run payroll”, “adp on the run”, “adp payroll run payroll”, “ADP RUN”, “adp run adp”, “adp run app”, “adp run online”, “adp run payroll”, “adp run payroll adp”, “adp run payroll app”, “adp run payroll com”, “adp run powered by adp”, “adp run pricing”, “adp runpayroll adp com”, “adprunpayroll adp com”, “run adp”, “run adp com”, “run adp employer”, “run adp payroll com”, “run payroll adp”, “run payroll adp com”, “run payroll adp run”, “run powered by adp” and “www run adp”, summed into one figure.

- [Deel](/demand/global-en/brands/deel)
- [Gusto](/demand/global-en/brands/gusto)
- [Paychex](/demand/global-en/brands/paychex)
- [Rippling](/demand/global-en/brands/rippling)
- [RUN Powered by ADP](/demand/global-en/brands/adp-run)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among payroll software worldwide?

In August 2026, Paychex was the most searched among payroll software worldwide, with an estimated 922K branded searches and 45.9% estimated Share of Search within this set. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Payroll software: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/payroll-software

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/payroll-software. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.