Patriot Software vs QuickBooks Payroll:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Patriot Software had more branded searches than QuickBooks Payroll among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States. Patriot Software had about 28,000 branded searches, while QuickBooks Payroll had 18,100. Patriot Software made up 8.3% 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 Patriot Software in two. QuickBooks Payroll was mentioned before Patriot Software in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Patriot Software, about 55% more searches than QuickBooks Payroll
Who does AI mention more?
QuickBooks Payroll, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Patriot Software in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
QuickBooks Payroll, named ahead of Patriot Software in 3 of 4 answers
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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. Patriot Software was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. QuickBooks Payroll was listed before Patriot Software 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.
Gusto1st- QuickBooks Payroll2nd
Rippling3rd- Patriot Software4th
OnPay5th
RUN Powered by ADP6th
Paychex7th
Justworks8th
BambooHR–
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which small business HR and payroll platform should I use in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best small business HR and payroll platforms in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best small business HR and payroll platform in the US for a midsize team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“small business payroll software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best payroll software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Patriot Software or QuickBooks Payroll more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Patriot Software 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.
Share of searches by month for Patriot Software, QuickBooks Payroll. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | RUN Powered by ADP | Gusto | BambooHR | Patriot Software | OnPay | QuickBooks Payroll | Rippling | Paychex | Justworks | HiBob |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 50.4% | 13.7% | 12.1% | 6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.63% | 0.27% |
| Nov 2025 | 53.6% | 14.1% | 10.5% | 5.2% | 6.9% | 5.4% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.63% | 0.26% |
| Dec 2025 | 55.6% | 12.6% | 8.9% | 6.3% | 7.3% | 5.6% | 2.2% | 0.86% | 0.46% | 0.18% |
| Jan 2026 | 51.1% | 16% | 10% | 7% | 6.7% | 5.1% | 2.4% | 0.92% | 0.52% | 0.21% |
| Feb 2026 | 49.5% | 17.7% | 10% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 5% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 0.56% | 0.24% |
| Mar 2026 | 49% | 18.1% | 9.5% | 7.2% | 6% | 5.7% | 2.7% | 1.1% | 0.57% | 0.27% |
| Apr 2026 | 47.8% | 18% | 10% | 7.4% | 6.3% | 5.9% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 0.58% | 0.27% |
| May 2026 | 49.2% | 16.9% | 10.1% | 7.2% | 6.5% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 0.73% | 0.66% | 0.24% |
| Jun 2026 | 51.7% | 16.2% | 10.1% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 4.9% | 2.4% | 0.67% | 0.64% | 0.24% |
| Jul 2026 | 51.8% | 14% | 10.7% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 2.3% | 0.72% | 0.69% | 0.24% |
| Aug 2026 | 51% | 13.2% | 12.6% | 6.5% | 6.7% | 6.3% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 0.65% | 0.22% |
| Sep 2026 | 53% | 11.8% | 10.7% | 8.3% | 6.9% | 5.4% | 2.4% | 0.73% | 0.65% | 0.25% |
How has the Patriot Software and QuickBooks Payroll comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Patriot Software took it in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Patriot Software’s share of searches among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States moved from 6% to 8.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 21.4K to 28K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, QuickBooks Payroll’s share of searches among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States moved from 6.2% to 5.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for United States HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in September 2026?
2 changes
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.
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 Patriot Software’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.
Patriot Software
2 branded search terms
- patriot payroll
- patriot software
QuickBooks Payroll
1 branded search term
- quickbooks payroll
Other head-to-heads among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses
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