Brandwave

OnPay vs QuickBooks Payroll:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, OnPay had more branded searches than QuickBooks Payroll among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States. OnPay had about 23,500 branded searches, while QuickBooks Payroll had 18,100. OnPay made up 6.9% of all HR and payroll software for small and midsize business searches we track, and QuickBooks Payroll accounted for 5.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses, QuickBooks Payroll appeared in four of the five answers and OnPay in three. QuickBooks Payroll was mentioned before OnPay in every answer that named either.

Among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

OnPay, about 30% more searches than QuickBooks Payroll

OnPay 23.5K searchesQuickBooks Payroll 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

QuickBooks Payroll, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, OnPay in 3

QuickBooks Payroll in 4 of 5OnPay in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

QuickBooks Payroll, named ahead of OnPay in 4 of 4 answers

QuickBooks Payroll first in 4OnPay never first

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Top HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, QuickBooks Payroll was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. OnPay was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. QuickBooks Payroll was listed before OnPay in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Gusto1st
  2. QuickBooks Payroll2nd
  3. Rippling3rd
  4. Patriot Software4th
  5. OnPay5th
  6. RUN Powered by ADP6th
  7. Paychex7th
  8. Justworks8th
  9. BambooHR–
  10. HiBob–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Gusto5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • QuickBooks Payroll4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Rippling4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • OnPay3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • RUN Powered by ADP2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Patriot Software2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Paychex2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Justworks1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BambooHR0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • HiBob0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 19, 2026.

Is OnPay or QuickBooks Payroll more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for OnPay, QuickBooks Payroll. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRUN Powered by ADPGustoBambooHRPatriot SoftwareOnPayQuickBooks PayrollRipplingPaychexJustworksHiBob
Oct 202550.4%13.7%12.1%6%6.6%6.2%2.3%1.8%0.63%0.27%
Nov 202553.6%14.1%10.5%5.2%6.9%5.4%2.1%1.1%0.63%0.26%
Dec 202555.6%12.6%8.9%6.3%7.3%5.6%2.2%0.86%0.46%0.18%
Jan 202651.1%16%10%7%6.7%5.1%2.4%0.92%0.52%0.21%
Feb 202649.5%17.7%10%6.8%6.5%5%2.6%1.1%0.56%0.24%
Mar 202649%18.1%9.5%7.2%6%5.7%2.7%1.1%0.57%0.27%
Apr 202647.8%18%10%7.4%6.3%5.9%2.6%1.1%0.58%0.27%
May 202649.2%16.9%10.1%7.2%6.5%6.1%2.5%0.73%0.66%0.24%
Jun 202651.7%16.2%10.1%6.7%6.5%4.9%2.4%0.67%0.64%0.24%
Jul 202651.8%14%10.7%6.9%6.6%6.2%2.3%0.72%0.69%0.24%
Aug 202651%13.2%12.6%6.5%6.7%6.3%2.1%0.7%0.65%0.22%
Sep 202653%11.8%10.7%8.3%6.9%5.4%2.4%0.73%0.65%0.25%

How has the OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for United States HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Patriot Software overtook OnPay to rank 4th among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States, with 8.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, QuickBooks Payroll lost share of searches among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States, from 6.3% to 5.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using OnPay’s and QuickBooks Payroll’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.

OnPay

2 branded search terms

  • onpay
  • onpay payroll

QuickBooks Payroll

1 branded search term

  • quickbooks payroll

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses

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