Payroll software in the United Kingdom:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, BrightPay was the most searched payroll software in the United Kingdom, accounting for 66.7% of all searches among the six software we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Sage Payroll, Xero and QuickBooks Online showed up in every answer. Sage Payroll was recommended most often, coming first in four out of five responses.
BrightPayShare of searches 66.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
IRIS PayrollShare of searches 14.7%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Sage PayrollShare of searches 13.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
XeroShare of searches 2.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
QuickBooks OnlineShare of searches 1.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top payroll software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sage Payroll, Xero and QuickBooks Online appeared every time. Sage Payroll was recommended most often, coming first in four out of five answers. Xero was second, and BrightPay was third. IRIS Payroll, which ranked second in searches, was not mentioned at all.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Sage Payroll1st
- Xero2nd
- BrightPay3rd
Moneysoft4th- QuickBooks Online5th
- IRIS Payroll–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Sage Payroll5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Xero5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- QuickBooks Online5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- BrightPay4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Moneysoft3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- IRIS Payroll0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about payroll software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which payroll software should my small business use in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best payroll software platforms in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best payroll software in the UK for a small business with ten employees?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“payroll software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“payroll software uk”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Which payroll software do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each payroll software by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six payroll software we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for BrightPay, IRIS Payroll, Sage Payroll, Xero. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | BrightPay | IRIS Payroll | Sage Payroll | Xero | QuickBooks Online | Moneysoft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 57.2% | 18.6% | 17.1% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 59.5% | 16.2% | 17.8% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.4% | 16.6% | 15.3% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 1.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 62.1% | 16.5% | 15.2% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.8% | 18.5% | 17% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 2.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 64.8% | 14.7% | 13% | 3.1% | 1.3% | 3.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 71.8% | 10.9% | 11.7% | 1.8% | 0.97% | 2.8% |
| May 2026 | 68.2% | 14.8% | 11.2% | 2.2% | 0.99% | 2.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 67.4% | 14.8% | 13.5% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 1.8% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.4% | 17.7% | 11% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 69.3% | 15.1% | 11.3% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 66.7% | 14.7% | 13.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 66.7% | 49.5K | 0% | -2.6 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 14.7% | 10.9K | +1.1% | -0.4 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 13.3% | 9.9K | +22.2% | +2 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 2.2% | 1.6K | +23.1% | +0.3 points | |
| 5, moved from 6th to 5th | 1.8% | 1.3K | +47.7% | +0.5 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 5th to 6th | 1.3% | 1K | +13.6% | +0.1 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th |
66.7%
Held 1st. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.6 points.
14.7%
Held 2nd. 10.9K estimated branded searches, +1.1% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
13.3%
Held 3rd. 9.9K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +2 points.
4.
Xero2.2%
Held 4th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
1.8%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, +47.7% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
1.3%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 1K estimated branded searches, +13.6% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among payroll software in the United Kingdom?
6 brands
In September 2026, BrightPay was the most searched among payroll software in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 49.5K branded searches, 66.7% of all searches for the six we track. IRIS Payroll is in 2nd place, 52 percentage points behind at 14.7%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrightPay | 57.2% → 66.7% | 71.8%Apr 2026 | 56.8%Feb 2026 | 1st |
| IRIS Payroll | 18.6% → 14.7% | 18.6%Oct 2025 | 10.9%Apr 2026 | 2nd |
| Sage Payroll | 17.1% → 13.3% | 17.8%Nov 2025 | 11%Jul 2026 | 3rd |
| Xero | 2.8% → 2.2% | 3.3%Feb 2026 | 1.8%Jun 2026 | 5th → 4th |
| QuickBooks Online | 1.5% → 1.8% | 1.8%Sep 2026 | 0.8%Jun 2026 | 6th → 5th |
| Moneysoft | 2.8% → 1.3% | 3.1%Mar 2026 | 1.2%Aug 2026 | 4th → 6th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BrightPay’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom increased from 57.2% to 66.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IRIS Payroll’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom decreased from 18.6% to 14.7%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sage Payroll’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom decreased from 17.1% to 13.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xero’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom decreased from 2.8% to 2.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Moneysoft’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom decreased from 2.8% to 1.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BrightPay’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom peaked at 71.8% in April 2026 and was lowest at 56.8% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IRIS Payroll’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom peaked at 18.6% in October 2025 and was lowest at 10.9% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sage Payroll’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom peaked at 17.8% in November 2025 and was lowest at 11% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xero’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom peaked at 3.3% in February 2026 and was lowest at 1.8% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Moneysoft’s share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom peaked at 3.1% in March 2026 and was lowest at 1.2% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xero rose from 5th to 4th among payroll software in the United Kingdom.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QuickBooks Online rose from 6th to 5th among payroll software in the United Kingdom.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Moneysoft fell from 4th to 6th among payroll software in the United Kingdom.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom payroll software in September 2026?
4 changes
In September 2026, QuickBooks Online overtook Moneysoft to rank 5th among payroll software in the United Kingdom, with 1.8% of the searches.
In September 2026, Sage Payroll gained share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom, from 11.3% to 13.3%.
In September 2026, BrightPay lost share of searches among payroll software in the United Kingdom, from 69.3% to 66.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Moneysoft in the United Kingdom fell 37.5% over 12 measured months, from 1.6K to 1K in September 2026.
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