BrightHR vs Employment Hero:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, BrightHR had more branded searches than Employment Hero among HR software in the United Kingdom. BrightHR had about 196,000 branded searches, while Employment Hero had 14,800. BrightHR made up 48.4% of all HR software searches we track, and Employment Hero accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about HR software, BrightHR appeared in four of the five answers and Employment Hero in three. BrightHR was mentioned before Employment Hero in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
BrightHR, about 13 searches for every 1 for Employment Hero
Who does AI mention more?
BrightHR, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Employment Hero in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
BrightHR, named ahead of Employment Hero 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 was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Employment Hero was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. BrightHR was listed before Employment Hero 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 Employment Hero more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BrightHR and Employment Hero 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, Employment Hero. 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 Employment Hero comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- BrightHR was ahead of Employment Hero 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, Employment Hero’s share of searches among HR software in the United Kingdom moved from 2.9% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K 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, Employment Hero fell from 6th to 8th among HR software in the United Kingdom.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BrightHR’s and Employment Hero’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.
BrightHR
2 branded search terms
- bright hr
- brighthr
Employment Hero
1 branded search term
- employment hero
Other head-to-heads among HR software

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