BrightHR vs CharlieHR:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, BrightHR had more branded searches than CharlieHR among HR software in the United Kingdom. BrightHR had about 196,000 branded searches, while CharlieHR had 14,800. BrightHR made up 48.4% of all HR software searches we track, and CharlieHR accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about HR software, BrightHR and CharlieHR each appeared in four of the five answers. CharlieHR was mentioned before BrightHR in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
BrightHR, about 13 searches for every 1 for CharlieHR
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
CharlieHR, named ahead of BrightHR in 3 of 4 answers
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Top HR software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, BrightHR and CharlieHR were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. CharlieHR was listed before BrightHR in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Breathe1st- CharlieHR2nd
Sage HR3rd- BrightHR4th
Employment Hero5th
Rippling6th
Access PeopleHR7th
Personio8th
HiBob9th
Cezanne HR–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Breathe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- BrightHR4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Sage HR4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- CharlieHR4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Rippling3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Employment Hero3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Personio2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- HiBob1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Access PeopleHR1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Cezanne HR0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about HR software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which HR software should my small business use in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best HR software platforms in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best HR software in the UK for a company with 30 employees?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hr software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hr software for small business”
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.
Is BrightHR or CharlieHR more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BrightHR and CharlieHR by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten HR software we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for BrightHR, CharlieHR. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | BrightHR | Breathe | HiBob | Sage HR | Rippling | Access PeopleHR | CharlieHR | Employment Hero | Cezanne HR | Personio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 46.6% | 21.6% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 2.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 48.7% | 18.4% | 8.2% | 6.8% | 2.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 2% | 1.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.5% | 21.6% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.7% | 21.1% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 2.8% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 49.5% | 18.7% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.5% | 21.5% | 7.9% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 49.2% | 18.6% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 3% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 2% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 49.8% | 18.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 46.5% | 21.5% | 7.9% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.8% | 21.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 44% | 20.4% | 9.1% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 1.8% | 1.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 48.4% | 18.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
How has the BrightHR and CharlieHR comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- BrightHR was ahead of CharlieHR in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BrightHR’s share of searches among HR software in the United Kingdom moved from 46.6% to 48.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 196K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CharlieHR’s share of searches among HR software in the United Kingdom moved from 4.3% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 14.8K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom HR software in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, BrightHR gained share of searches among HR software in the United Kingdom, from 44% to 48.4%.
In September 2026, CharlieHR fell from 5th to 7th among HR software in the United Kingdom.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BrightHR’s and CharlieHR’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 HR software
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