Payscale vs Strategic Pay:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, Strategic Pay had more branded searches than Payscale among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand. Strategic Pay had about 340 branded searches, while Payscale had 330. Strategic Pay made up 38.2% of all salary benchmarking and pay intelligence provider searches we track, and Payscale accounted for 37.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers, Strategic Pay appeared in three of the five answers and Payscale in two. Strategic Pay was mentioned before Payscale in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Strategic Pay and Payscale are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Strategic Pay, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Payscale in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Strategic Pay, named ahead of Payscale in 3 of 5 answers
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Top salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Strategic Pay was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Payscale was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Strategic Pay was listed before Payscale in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Strategic Pay1st
Payscale2nd
Robert Walters3rd
Mercer4th
Ravio5th
LiveRem–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Robert Walters4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Strategic Pay3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Mercer3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Payscale2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Ravio2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
LiveRem0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which salary benchmarking and pay intelligence provider should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best salary benchmarking and pay intelligence provider in New Zealand for market pay data?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“compensation benchmarking tool”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“salary survey software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Payscale or Strategic Pay more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Payscale and Strategic Pay by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Strategic Pay, Payscale. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Strategic Pay | Payscale | LiveRem | Robert Walters | Ravio | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 46.7% | 24.4% | 20% | 4.4% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 50.7% | 26.9% | 13.4% | 6% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.4% | 22.9% | 33.3% | 4.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.8% | 28.4% | 22.1% | 11.6% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 35.2% | 26.4% | 28% | 8% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 47.8% | 24.4% | 17.8% | 6.7% | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 35.6% | 21.2% | 28.8% | 11.5% | 1.9% | 0.96% |
| Jun 2026 | 35.8% | 28.4% | 25.3% | 8.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 40.2% | 21.6% | 29.4% | 5.9% | 0.98% | 2% |
| Aug 2026 | 40.5% | 26.2% | 22.6% | 7.1% | 2.4% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.8% | 30.7% | 21.6% | 5.7% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Oct 2026 | 38.2% | 37.1% | 15.7% | 5.6% | 3.4% | 0% |
How has branded search for Payscale and Strategic Pay changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Strategic Pay was ahead of Payscale in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Payscale’s share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand moved from 24.4% to 37.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 220 to 330.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Strategic Pay’s share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand moved from 46.7% to 38.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 420 to 340.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in October 2026?
2 changes

In October 2026, Payscale gained share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, from 30.7% to 37.1%.

In October 2026, Strategic Pay lost share of searches among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, from 39.8% to 38.2%.
How are Payscale’s and Strategic Pay’s branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Payscale’s and Strategic Pay’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.
Payscale
2 branded search terms
- payscale
- payscale salary
Strategic Pay
4 branded search terms
- rem on demand
- rem on-demand
- strategic pay
- strategicpay
Other head-to-heads among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers

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