OnPay vs Square Payroll:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, OnPay had more branded searches than Square Payroll among payroll software in the United States. OnPay had about 23,500 branded searches, while Square Payroll had 9,900. OnPay made up 7.5% of all payroll software searches we track, and Square Payroll accounted for 3.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about payroll software, OnPay appeared in all five answers and Square Payroll in three. OnPay was mentioned before Square Payroll in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
OnPay, about 2 searches for every 1 for Square Payroll
Who does AI mention more?
OnPay, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
OnPay, named ahead of Square Payroll in every answer
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Top payroll software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, OnPay appeared in all five answers. Square Payroll was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. OnPay was listed before Square Payroll in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Gusto1st- OnPay2nd
QuickBooks Payroll3rd
Patriot Software4th
RUN Powered by ADP5th
Rippling6th
Square Payroll7th
Paychex8th
Deel9th
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
- Patriot Software5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- OnPay5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- QuickBooks Payroll4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Square Payroll3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- RUN Powered by ADP2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Rippling2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Paychex2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Deel1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about payroll software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which payroll software should I use in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best payroll software options in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best payroll software in the US for a small business?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“payroll software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“small business payroll”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 19, 2026.
Is OnPay or Square Payroll more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for OnPay and Square Payroll by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine payroll software we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for OnPay, Square Payroll. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | RUN Powered by ADP | Gusto | Patriot Software | OnPay | QuickBooks Payroll | Square Payroll | Rippling | Deel | Paychex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.6% | 15.1% | 6.6% | 7.3% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 0.91% | 1.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 58.1% | 15.2% | 5.7% | 7.5% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 0.91% | 1.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 59.3% | 13.5% | 6.7% | 7.8% | 6% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 0.92% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.1% | 17.3% | 7.5% | 7.2% | 5.5% | 3% | 2.6% | 0.75% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 52.9% | 19% | 7.2% | 7% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 1.1% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.2% | 19.3% | 7.6% | 6.4% | 6% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.3% | 19.3% | 8% | 6.8% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1% | 1.2% |
| May 2026 | 52.9% | 18.1% | 7.7% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 1.4% | 0.79% |
| Jun 2026 | 55.8% | 17.5% | 7.3% | 7% | 5.3% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 0.92% | 0.73% |
| Jul 2026 | 56.3% | 15.2% | 7.5% | 7.1% | 6.7% | 3% | 2.5% | 0.95% | 0.78% |
| Aug 2026 | 56.4% | 14.6% | 7.2% | 7.4% | 7% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.1% | 0.78% |
| Sep 2026 | 57.4% | 12.8% | 9% | 7.5% | 5.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 0.99% | 0.79% |
How has the OnPay and Square Payroll comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- OnPay was ahead of Square Payroll in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OnPay’s share of searches among payroll software in the United States moved from 7.3% to 7.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 23.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square Payroll’s share of searches among payroll software in the United States moved from 3.1% to 3.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 9.9K.
How did search popularity change for United States payroll software in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Patriot Software overtook OnPay to rank 3rd among payroll software in the United States, with 9% of the searches.
OnPay’s share of searches among payroll software in the United States has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 7% to 7.5% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using OnPay’s and Square 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
Square Payroll
1 branded search term
- square payroll
Other head-to-heads among payroll software
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