Brandwave

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.

Among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Strategic Pay and Payscale are searched for about as often as each other.

Strategic Pay 340 searchesPayscale 330 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Strategic Pay, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Payscale in 2

Strategic Pay in 3 of 5Payscale in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Strategic Pay, named ahead of Payscale in 3 of 5 answers

Strategic Pay first in 3Payscale first in 2

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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.

  1. Strategic Pay1st
  2. Payscale2nd
  3. Robert Walters3rd
  4. Mercer4th
  5. Ravio5th
  6. 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

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.

Payscale and Strategic Pay among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Strategic Pay, Payscale. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthStrategic PayPayscaleLiveRemRobert WaltersRavioMercer
Nov 202546.7%24.4%20%4.4%2.2%2.2%
Dec 202550.7%26.9%13.4%6%1.5%1.5%
Jan 202635.4%22.9%33.3%4.2%2.1%2.1%
Feb 202635.8%28.4%22.1%11.6%1.1%1.1%
Mar 202635.2%26.4%28%8%1.6%0.8%
Apr 202647.8%24.4%17.8%6.7%2.2%1.1%
May 202635.6%21.2%28.8%11.5%1.9%0.96%
Jun 202635.8%28.4%25.3%8.4%1.1%1.1%
Jul 202640.2%21.6%29.4%5.9%0.98%2%
Aug 202640.5%26.2%22.6%7.1%2.4%1.2%
Sep 202639.8%30.7%21.6%5.7%1.1%1.1%
Oct 202638.2%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

How did search popularity change for New Zealand salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers in October 2026?

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

  2. 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

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among salary benchmarking and pay intelligence providers

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