Brandwave

Ben vs Gusto:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Gusto had more branded searches than Ben among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide. Gusto had about 23,500 branded searches, while Ben had 3,840. Gusto made up 3.3% of all flexible employee benefits platform searches we track, and Ben accounted for 0.53%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about flexible employee benefits platforms, Gusto appeared in three of the five answers and Ben in one. Gusto was mentioned before Ben in every answer that named either.

Among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Gusto, about 6 searches for every 1 for Ben

Gusto 23.5K searchesBen 3.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Gusto, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Ben in 1

Gusto in 3 of 5Ben in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Gusto, named ahead of Ben in 3 of 3 answers

Gusto first in 3Ben never first

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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. Ben was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Gusto was listed before Ben in every answer that named either.

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.

Is Ben or Gusto more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ben and Gusto by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight flexible employee benefits platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Ben and Gusto among flexible employee benefits platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Gusto, Ben. 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%

How has the Ben and Gusto comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Ben worldwide fell 12.9% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 3.8K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ben’s and Gusto’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.

Ben

6 branded search terms

  • ben benefits
  • ben benefits platform
  • ben employee benefits
  • benefits ben
  • thanks ben
  • thanksben

Gusto

2 branded search terms

  • gusto hr
  • gusto payroll

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among flexible employee benefits platforms

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