Empower vs Planful:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Empower and Planful were level in searches among financial planning platforms worldwide, with an estimated 5.4K versus 5.8K branded searches, at 2.2% and 2.4% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about financial planning platforms, Empower appeared in four of the five answers and Planful in one. Empower was mentioned before Planful in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Planful, about 7% more searches than Empower
Who does AI mention more?
Empower, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Planful in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Empower, named ahead of Planful in 3 of 4 answers
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Top financial planning platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Empower was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Planful was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Empower was listed before Planful in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Monarch Money1st
Boldin2nd
ProjectionLab3rd
Anaplan4th- Empower5th
Datarails6th- Planful7th
Abacum–
Pigment–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Empower4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Monarch Money3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- ProjectionLab3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Boldin2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Anaplan1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Datarails1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Planful1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Abacum0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Pigment0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about financial planning platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which financial planning platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best financial planning platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best financial planning platform for budgeting and forecasting?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“budget planning software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“finance planning tools”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Empower or Planful more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Empower and Planful by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine financial planning platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Planful, Empower. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Monarch Money | Anaplan | Boldin | Datarails | Planful | Empower | ProjectionLab | Abacum | Pigment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 43.8% | 29.8% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.25% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.8% | 29.1% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 4% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 0.27% |
| Dec 2025 | 48.6% | 27.1% | 8% | 5.4% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.8% | 0.22% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.9% | 27.2% | 8% | 5.4% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 0.22% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.8% | 33.1% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 0.28% |
| Mar 2026 | 38.8% | 32.3% | 11.6% | 6.4% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 0.33% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.1% | 32.5% | 11.7% | 5.3% | 3% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 2.2% | 0.32% |
| May 2026 | 41% | 27.9% | 15% | 4.5% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 4.5% | 1.9% | 0.27% |
| Jun 2026 | 40.1% | 33.2% | 12% | 4.4% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 0.27% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.2% | 23.8% | 10.5% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 1.9% | 0.23% |
| Aug 2026 | 50.8% | 23.2% | 12.5% | 3.8% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 1.8% | 0.23% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.1% | 30.7% | 11.1% | 4.1% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2% | 0.25% |
How has the Empower and Planful comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Planful took it in November 2025, Empower took it in August 2026, Planful took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Empower’s share of searches among financial planning platforms worldwide moved from 4.8% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Planful’s share of searches among financial planning platforms worldwide moved from 4.1% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 10.4K to 5.8K.
How did search popularity change for financial planning platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Planful rose from 7th to 5th among financial planning platforms worldwide.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Empower worldwide fell 55.4% over 12 measured months, from 12.1K to 5.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Empower’s and Planful’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.
Other head-to-heads among financial planning platforms
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