iPayroll vs PayHero:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PayHero had more branded searches than iPayroll among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand. PayHero had about 22,800 branded searches, while iPayroll had 18,200. PayHero made up 32.7% of all payroll and rostering software searches we track, and iPayroll accounted for 26%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payroll and rostering software, PayHero appeared in all five answers and iPayroll in two. PayHero was mentioned before iPayroll in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
PayHero, about 25% more searches than iPayroll
Who does AI mention more?
PayHero, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
PayHero, named ahead of iPayroll in every answer
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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. iPayroll was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. PayHero was listed before iPayroll in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- PayHero1st
Smartly2nd
Droppah3rd
Employment Hero4th
Deputy5th
iPayroll6th
Rosterit7th
Tanda8th
Thankyou Payroll9th- Ace Payroll10th
- +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
See every answer about payroll and rostering software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which payroll and rostering platform should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best payroll and rostering platforms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best payroll and rostering platform in New Zealand for a small team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“payroll software nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“rostering software nz”
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 iPayroll or PayHero more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for iPayroll 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.
Share of searches by month for PayHero, iPayroll. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PayHero | iPayroll | Employment Hero | Thankyou Payroll | Smartly | PaySauce | Droppah | Rosterit | IMS Payroll | Ace Payroll | Deputy | Tanda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 35.4% | 29% | 13.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.8% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.39% | 0.39% | 0.35% | 0.06% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.6% | 28.3% | 12.9% | 6.9% | 6.5% | 5.7% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.47% | 0.33% | 0.22% | 0.09% |
| Dec 2025 | 31.1% | 31.4% | 11.6% | 7.6% | 6.7% | 6.3% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.42% | 0.27% | 0.15% | 0.07% |
| Jan 2026 | 33.9% | 28% | 12.8% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 5.6% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 0.45% | 0.31% | 0.25% | 0.06% |
| Feb 2026 | 33.2% | 27.5% | 12.5% | 6.6% | 7.2% | 6.7% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.45% | 0.29% | 0.24% | 0.11% |
| Mar 2026 | 30.8% | 29.1% | 13.2% | 7% | 7.6% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 0.48% | 0.44% | 0.12% |
| Apr 2026 | 33.8% | 27.2% | 12.3% | 8% | 7.1% | 5.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 0.55% | 0.37% | 0.25% | 0.13% |
| May 2026 | 33.2% | 26.6% | 14.8% | 6.4% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 0.41% | 0.29% | 0.23% | 0.16% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.1% | 29.6% | 13.4% | 7.1% | 6.9% | 7.2% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.32% | 0.25% | 0.24% | 0.11% |
| Jul 2026 | 33.1% | 26.6% | 14.8% | 7.9% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 2.8% | 1.3% | 0.35% | 0.28% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.3% | 26.4% | 14.7% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 0.44% | 0.35% | 0.2% | 0.12% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.7% | 26% | 14.5% | 9.4% | 7% | 5.2% | 2.7% | 1.4% | 0.42% | 0.23% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
How has the iPayroll and PayHero comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: iPayroll took it in December 2025, PayHero took it in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iPayroll’s share of searches among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand moved from 29% to 26%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.3K to 18.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PayHero’s share of searches among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand moved from 35.4% to 32.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.3K to 22.8K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand payroll and rostering software in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, PayHero lost share of searches among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand, from 34.3% to 32.7%.
iPayroll’s share of searches among payroll and rostering software in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 29.6% to 26% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iPayroll’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.
Other head-to-heads among payroll and rostering software
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