Which HR & payroll software brands
AI recommends in the US
Brands ranked by mention rate on ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity
- Brands
- 69
- Questions
- 380
- Answers
- 4,560
- AI engines
- 4
01 · Brand leader
Top 10 brands by mention rate
No single brand runs away with the category.
Several brands compete for the top places.
| # | Brand | Mention rate Share of questions where ChatGPT names the brand | Share of voice The brand’s share of all brand mentions in the engine’s answers | 95% range The interval the true mention rate most likely falls in | In top 20 of The brand’s place inside each engine’s own top 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11–2 | Workday | 33.4% | 9.1% | 28.9–38.3 | ChatGPT1Gemini2Google AI Mode1Perplexity2 |
| 21–2 | ADP | 33.3% | 11.9% | 28.8–38.2 | ChatGPT2Gemini5Google AI Mode4Perplexity3 |
| 33–4 | UKG | 21.1% | 4.9% | 17.3–25.4 | ChatGPT3Gemini10Google AI Mode16Perplexity10 |
| 43–6 | Checkr | 17.5% | 8.4% | 14.0–21.7 | ChatGPT4Gemini6Google AI Mode6Perplexity1 |
| 54–11 | BambooHR | 11.4% | 2.9% | 8.6–15.0 | ChatGPT5Gemini3Google AI Mode3Perplexity5 |
| 64–11 | Greenhouse | 11.2% | 3.7% | 8.4–14.8 | ChatGPT6Gemini9Google AI Mode8Perplexity12 |
| 75–14 | Rippling | 10.4% | 2.6% | 7.7–13.8 | ChatGPT7Gemini1Google AI Mode2Perplexity4 |
| 85–14 | Oracle HCM Cloud | 9.3% | 3.0% | 6.8–12.6 | ChatGPT8Gemini19Google AI Mode18Perplexity6 |
| 95–17 | SAP SuccessFactors | 8.2% | 2.1% | 5.8–11.3 | ChatGPT9Gemini13Google AI Mode13Perplexity9 |
| 105–18 | Lever | 7.6% | 3.4% | 5.4–10.7 | ChatGPT10Gemini11Google AI Mode10Perplexity11 |
| 115–20 | Gusto | 6.2% | 1.9% | 4.2–9.1 | ChatGPT11Gemini4Google AI Mode5Perplexity7 |
| 127–20 | Paychex | 5.4% | 1.8% | 3.6–8.2 | ChatGPT12Gemini12Google AI Mode14Perplexity14 |
| 137–20 | Paycom | 5.3% | 1.8% | 3.4–8.0 | ChatGPT13Gemini7Google AI Mode9 |
| 147–20 | Paylocity | 5.2% | 1.6% | 3.4–7.9 | ChatGPT14Gemini18Google AI Mode11Perplexity18 |
| 159–20 | iCIMS | 4.0% | 1.4% | 2.5–6.5 | ChatGPT15 |
| 169–20 | Deel | 3.8% | 1.0% | 2.3–6.2 | ChatGPT16Gemini8Google AI Mode7 |
| 179–20 | Lattice | 3.6% | 0.9% | 2.1–6.0 | ChatGPT17Gemini14Google AI Mode15Perplexity15 |
| 1810–20 | SmartRecruiters | 3.2% | 2.2% | 1.9–5.5 | ChatGPT18 |
| 1911–20 | 15Five | 3.0% | 0.8% | 1.7–5.2 | ChatGPT19 |
| 2011–20 | Payscale | 2.5% | 0.9% | 1.3–4.6 | ChatGPT20 |
02 · Engine consensus
Where each brand ranks
inside every engine’s top 10
There is no single AI top 10.
Only 5 of 14 brands rank in the top 10 of all 4 engines.
| Brand | ChatGPT | Gemini | Google AI Mode | Perplexity | In top 10 of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workday | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Rippling | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| ADP | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| BambooHR | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Checkr | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Gusto | – | 4 | 5 | 7 | GeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| UKG | 3 | 10 | – | 10 | ChatGPTGeminiPerplexity |
| Greenhouse | 6 | 9 | 8 | – | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI Mode |
| Oracle HCM Cloud | 8 | – | – | 6 | ChatGPTPerplexity |
| Deel | – | 8 | 7 | – | GeminiGoogle AI Mode |
| Paycom | – | 7 | 9 | – | GeminiGoogle AI Mode |
| SAP SuccessFactors | 9 | – | – | 9 | ChatGPTPerplexity |
| Lever | 10 | – | 10 | – | ChatGPTGoogle AI Mode |
| Fidelity | – | – | – | 8 | Perplexity |
Rank inside each engine’s own top 10 · a dash means the brand is not in that engine’s top 10.
The rest depend on which engine the buyer opens — so a rank from a single engine is not a market position.
Source: Findrix's research. Where each brand ranks inside every engine's top 10, HR & payroll software, United States.
04b · Most cited domains
Which sites each engine cites, and
how much of its answers they carry
| Domain | ChatGPT | Gemini | Google AI Mode | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| youtube.com | <0.1% | 0.3% | 17.2% | – |
| irs.gov | 8.5% | – | 0.1% | – |
| dol.gov | 6.5% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| workzoom.com | <0.1% | 5.8% | 2.0% | 1.5% |
| adp.com | 4.4% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| shrm.org | 4.4% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| eeoc.gov | 2.8% | – | 0.1% | – |
| peoplemanagingpeople.com | 0.2% | 2.3% | – | 2.6% |
| bamboohr.com | 0.6% | 2.0% | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| linkedin.com | 0.8% | 1× | 2.4% | 2.1% |
| rippling.com | 1.0% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 2.4% |
| workday.com | 2.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
05 · The questions we asked
380 buyer questions, each
asked three times per engine
This isn’t a branded-prompt study.
79% of questions are problem- or solution-aware.
| Intent | Questions |
|---|---|
| Solution-aware | 160 |
| Problem-aware | 140 |
| Informational | 40 |
| Branded comparison | 24 |
| Branded sentiment | 16 |
By intent
Examples · Solution-aware
“What specific questions should I ask software sales reps during a demo to stress-test their Pricing model (per seat vs per job) capabilities as of latest information?”
“How does a dedicated point solution compare to an all-in-one suite when managing IT/access provisioning integration as of latest information?”
Examples · Problem-aware
“My managers are struggling with fragmented employee records across disconnected spreadsheets, what kind of HR Analytics & People Data solves this as of latest information?”
“My managers are struggling with fragmented employee records across disconnected spreadsheets, what kind of Payroll & Tax Administration solves this as of latest information?”
Examples · Informational
“What are the standard industry benchmarks and best practices for Aligning headcount planning and talent capability with corporate financial goals across mid-market tech companies as of latest information?”
“What are the standard industry benchmarks and best practices for Content quality and relevance across mid-market tech companies as of latest information?”
Examples · Branded comparison
“7shifts vs Homebase for Hospitality- and restaurant-specific tip pooling, POS integrations, and labor compliance versus general small-business time tracking. as of latest information?”
“Officevibe vs Workvivo for internal communications features vs pulse survey focus as of latest information?”
Examples · Branded sentiment
“Is Pave a good choice in compensation management as of latest information?”
“Is Guideline a good choice in benefits administration as of latest information?”
Source: Findrix research. 380 buyer questions by intent, HR & payroll software, United States.
05b · By product type
Which product segments
the questions cover
The study doesn’t hinge on one product category.
Questions span 14 HR & payroll software segments.
| Segment |
|---|
| Payroll & Tax Administration |
| Benefits Administration |
| Core HRIS, Payroll & Compliance |
| People Analytics & Workforce Planning |
| Performance & Talent Management |
| Learning Management System (LMS) |
| Applicant Tracking & Recruiting (ATS) |
| All-in-One HRIS/HCM Suites |
| Compensation Management |
| Employee Engagement & Recognition |
| Onboarding & Offboarding |
| Performance & Goals Management |
| Time & Attendance / Workforce Management |
| HR Analytics & People Data |
14 segments
Examples · Payroll & Tax Administration
“Is Gusto a good choice in payroll & tax administration as of latest information?”
Examples · Benefits Administration
“Is Guideline a good choice in benefits administration as of latest information?”
Examples · Core HRIS, Payroll & Compliance
“What are the standard industry benchmarks and best practices for Payroll accuracy and timeliness across mid-market tech companies as of latest information?”
Examples · People Analytics & Workforce Planning
“What are the most critical features to look for in Compensation Benchmarking & Salary Intelligence if our primary focus is Customizable dashboards for executives as of latest information?”
Examples · Performance & Talent Management
“Can you give me an RFP evaluation template and checklist for selecting a vendor for Performance & Talent Management as of latest information?”
Examples · Learning Management System (LMS)
“Cornerstone OnDemand vs Docebo for Enterprise training scalability, AI-powered content recommendations, external extended enterprise training, and compliance tracking. as of latest information?”
Examples · Applicant Tracking & Recruiting (ATS)
“What specific questions should I ask software sales reps during a demo to stress-test their Pricing model (per seat vs per job) capabilities as of latest information?”
Examples · All-in-One HRIS/HCM Suites
“What are the most critical features to look for in Mid-market HCM suites if our primary focus is Scalability as company grows as of latest information?”
Examples · Compensation Management
“Is Pave a good choice in compensation management as of latest information?”
Examples · Employee Engagement & Recognition
“What are the most critical features to look for in Internal communications platforms if our primary focus is Anonymity and data privacy assurances as of latest information?”
Examples · Onboarding & Offboarding
“How does a dedicated point solution compare to an all-in-one suite when managing IT/access provisioning integration as of latest information?”
Examples · Performance & Goals Management
“What are the most critical features to look for in OKR/goal-tracking software if our primary focus is Manager/employee usability as of latest information?”
Examples · Time & Attendance / Workforce Management
“What are the most critical features to look for in Leave & PTO management if our primary focus is Scheduling flexibility and shift management as of latest information?”
Examples · HR Analytics & People Data
“What are the most critical features to look for in DEI reporting tools if our primary focus is DEI reporting depth and compliance alignment as of latest information?”
Source: Findrix research. 14 product segments covered by the question set, HR & payroll software, United States.
Neighbouring markets · Software
United States · Australia
Field Service Management Software
ChatGPT leader ServiceTitan · 43.4% · 29 brands measured
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Frequently asked questions
What does this HR & Payroll Software AI Search report measure?
Which HR & payroll software brands ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity name when buyers in the United States ask them for advice. We asked 380 buyer questions, each three times to each engine, and counted how often every brand appears and which websites the engines cite. Measured Sep 2026.
What does “mention rate” mean?
The share of questions where an engine names the brand in its answer. A 10% mention rate means the brand came up in about one question in ten. Every rate carries a 95% range: the interval the true value most likely falls in.
How are the top HR & Payroll Software brands ranked?
By mention rate, separately for each engine — pick the engine above the table. When two brands’ 95% ranges overlap, their order is not really different — tick “Only distinguishable places” to see the ranks the data can actually separate.
Why does a brand rank differently across AI engines?
Each engine retrieves from different sources and weighs them differently, so the brands it knows best differ too. Only 5 of 14 brands make the top 10 of every engine here; the rest depend on which engine the buyer opens.
What counts as a citation?
A link or source an engine shows alongside its answer. We record every cited domain, whether it appears inline or in the source list.
Why can AI mention a brand without citing its website?
Engines learn brand names from reviews, expert sites, retailers and forums, then cite those sources rather than the brand’s own pages. A brand can be named often while its own site is rarely among the sources.
What does “share of citations” mean?
Of all the citations one engine gave across our questions, the share that went to a given domain. The shares of one engine add up to 100%.
What types of HR & Payroll Software questions are included?
Questions real buyers ask across 14 product segments, from problem-aware to solution-aware, informational and branded ones. 79% are problem- or solution-aware; this is not a branded-prompt study.
Will I get the same answers if I ask these questions myself?
Not word for word. AI answers vary between runs, accounts and locations, which is why we ask every question three times per engine and report a 95% range instead of a single answer.