Planful vs ProjectionLab:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Planful and ProjectionLab were level in searches among financial planning platforms worldwide, with an estimated 5.8K versus 5.4K branded searches, at 2.4% and 2.2% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about financial planning platforms, ProjectionLab appeared in three of the five answers and Planful in one. ProjectionLab was mentioned before Planful in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Planful, about 7% more searches than ProjectionLab
Who does AI mention more?
ProjectionLab, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Planful in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
ProjectionLab, 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, ProjectionLab was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two 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. ProjectionLab 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 Planful or ProjectionLab more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Planful and ProjectionLab 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, ProjectionLab. 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 Planful and ProjectionLab comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: ProjectionLab took it in April 2026, Planful took it in September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ProjectionLab’s share of searches among financial planning platforms worldwide moved from 2.1% to 2.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 5.4K.
How did search popularity change for financial planning platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, ProjectionLab lost share of searches among financial planning platforms worldwide, from 3.1% to 2.2%.
In September 2026, Planful rose from 7th to 5th among financial planning platforms worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Planful’s and ProjectionLab’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.
Planful
4 branded search terms
- planful
- planful financial planning
- planful fp&a
- planful software
ProjectionLab
1 branded search term
- projectionlab
Other head-to-heads among financial planning platforms
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