Brandwave

QuickBooks Payroll vs Rippling:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, QuickBooks Payroll had more branded searches than Rippling among HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses in the United States. QuickBooks Payroll had about 18,100 branded searches, while Rippling had 8,090. QuickBooks Payroll made up 5.4% of all HR and payroll software for small and midsize business searches we track, and Rippling accounted for 2.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about HR and payroll software for small and midsize businesses, QuickBooks Payroll and Rippling each appeared in four of the five answers. QuickBooks Payroll was mentioned before Rippling in four out of five answers.

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

Who do people search for more?

QuickBooks Payroll, about 2 searches for every 1 for Rippling

QuickBooks Payroll 18.1K searchesRippling 8.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

QuickBooks Payroll in 4 of 5Rippling in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

QuickBooks Payroll, named ahead of Rippling in 4 of 5 answers

QuickBooks Payroll first in 4Rippling first in 1

Follow QuickBooks Payroll vs Rippling and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

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. Rippling was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. QuickBooks Payroll was listed before Rippling in four out of five answers.

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 QuickBooks Payroll or Rippling more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for QuickBooks Payroll and Rippling 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.

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

Share of searches by month for QuickBooks Payroll, Rippling. 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 QuickBooks Payroll and Rippling 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?

1 change

  1. 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?

10 search terms

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

QuickBooks Payroll

1 branded search term

  • quickbooks payroll

Rippling

9 branded search terms

  • rippling app
  • rippling apps
  • rippling eor
  • rippling hr
  • rippling hr software
  • rippling it
  • rippling payroll
  • rippling peo
  • rippling software

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free