Brandwave

Employment Hero vs PayHero:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, PayHero had more branded searches than Employment Hero among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand. PayHero had about 22,800 branded searches, while Employment Hero had 10,200. PayHero made up 32.7% of all payroll and rostering software searches we track, and Employment Hero accounted for 14.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payroll and rostering software, PayHero appeared in all five answers and Employment Hero in four. PayHero was mentioned before Employment Hero in four out of five answers.

Among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

PayHero, about 2 searches for every 1 for Employment Hero

PayHero 22.8K searchesEmployment Hero 10.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

PayHero, mentioned in every answer we collected

PayHero in 5 of 5Employment Hero in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

PayHero, named ahead of Employment Hero in 4 of 5 answers

PayHero first in 4Employment Hero first in 1

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Top payroll and rostering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PayHero appeared in all five answers. Employment Hero was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. PayHero was listed before Employment Hero in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. PayHero1st
  2. Smartly2nd
  3. Droppah3rd
  4. Employment Hero4th
  5. Deputy5th
  6. iPayroll6th
  7. Rosterit7th
  8. Tanda8th
  9. Thankyou Payroll9th
  10. Ace Payroll10th
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • PayHero5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Smartly5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Employment Hero4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Droppah4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Deputy3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • iPayroll2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Rosterit2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Thankyou Payroll1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • IMS Payroll1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ace Payroll1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about payroll and rostering software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Employment Hero or PayHero more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Employment Hero and PayHero by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 payroll and rostering software we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Employment Hero and PayHero among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for PayHero, Employment Hero. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPayHeroiPayrollEmployment HeroThankyou PayrollSmartlyPaySauceDroppahRosteritIMS PayrollAce PayrollDeputyTanda
Oct 202535.4%29%13.1%5.7%5.6%5.8%2.5%1.7%0.39%0.39%0.35%0.06%
Nov 202534.6%28.3%12.9%6.9%6.5%5.7%2.4%1.6%0.47%0.33%0.22%0.09%
Dec 202531.1%31.4%11.6%7.6%6.7%6.3%2.7%1.8%0.42%0.27%0.15%0.07%
Jan 202633.9%28%12.8%6.8%6.5%5.6%2.9%2.5%0.45%0.31%0.25%0.06%
Feb 202633.2%27.5%12.5%6.6%7.2%6.7%2.9%2.4%0.45%0.29%0.24%0.11%
Mar 202630.8%29.1%13.2%7%7.6%5.8%3.1%1.7%0.6%0.48%0.44%0.12%
Apr 202633.8%27.2%12.3%8%7.1%5.5%2.8%1.9%0.55%0.37%0.25%0.13%
May 202633.2%26.6%14.8%6.4%6.6%6.5%2.8%1.9%0.41%0.29%0.23%0.16%
Jun 202631.1%29.6%13.4%7.1%6.9%7.2%2.5%1.3%0.32%0.25%0.24%0.11%
Jul 202633.1%26.6%14.8%7.9%6.1%6.5%2.8%1.3%0.35%0.28%0.22%0.1%
Aug 202634.3%26.4%14.7%6.4%6.1%6.5%2.8%1.9%0.44%0.35%0.2%0.12%
Sep 202632.7%26%14.5%9.4%7%5.2%2.7%1.4%0.42%0.23%0.2%0.1%

How has the Employment Hero and PayHero comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand payroll and rostering software in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, PayHero lost share of searches among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand, from 34.3% to 32.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Employment Hero’s and PayHero’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.

Employment Hero

2 branded search terms

  • employment hero
  • employment hero payroll

PayHero

5 branded search terms

  • flexitime payhero
  • pay hero
  • PayHero
  • payhero app
  • payhero mobile app

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among payroll and rostering software

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