Heralded
Start free trial
Heralded

The most visible HR and payroll tools, October 2026

October 2026 · 12 questions asked in English, worldwide · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 75 answers read

Leader

Gusto

73%of answers name it

Most cited source

gusto.com

27citations

From Google AI Mode, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

HiBob

1/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on Google AI Mode, not on Gemini, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
1 Gusto US New entry 76 , range 63–84
76
  • : score 76 · #1
 73% 54% First reading
2 Rippling US New entry 68 , range 51–78
68
  • : score 68 · #2
 62% 47% First reading
3 BambooHR US New entry 54 , range 42–70
54
  • : score 54 · #3
 53% 31% First reading
4 Deel US New entry 42 , range 33–55
42
  • : score 42 · #4
 31% 25% First reading
5 HiBob US New entry 33 , range 15–44
33
  • : score 33 · #5
 23% 11% First reading
6 ADP Workforce Now US New entry 25 , range 6–39
25
  • : score 25 · #6
 11% 11% First reading
7 Paylocity US New entry 24 , range 6–39
24
  • : score 24 · #7
 15% 7% First reading
8 Patriot Software US New entry 22 , range 6–38
22
  • : score 22 · #8
 12% 9% First reading
9 Justworks US New entry 16 , range 5–37
16
  • : score 16 · #9
 9% 9% First reading
10 Workday US New entry 11 , range 4–35
11
  • : score 11 · #10
 11% 5% First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

This month's moves

First reading. No comparable previous month yet.

Biggest risers

No clear rise.

Biggest fallers

No clear fall.

Drop-outs

No drop-outs.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
1 gusto.com Brand site 26.7% 4 of 4 12 29
2 google.com Vendor site 10.7% 1 of 4 26 Not read
3Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
4 rippling.com Brand site 20.0% 4 of 4 11 12
5Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
6Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
7Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
8 reddit.com Community 13.3% 2 of 4 7 29
9 paylocity.com Brand site 13.3% 4 of 4 7 Not read
10Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.

The questions, and who wins each

QuestionLanguageWins it
best HR and payroll software for a scale-up company English Rippling
HR and payroll software recommendations for a people operations lead English Rippling
top HR and payroll software English Gusto
how to choose HR and payroll software English ADP Workforce Now and Rippling, tied
what to look for in HR and payroll software English No brand recommended
HR and payroll software for a team of 20 to 200 English Gusto
HR and payroll software that integrates with Slack English Deel, Gusto and Rippling, tied
HR and payroll software with GDPR-compliant hosting English Personio
HR and payroll software for hospitality English Fourth
most reliable HR and payroll software English Gusto and Rippling, tied

Each engine's top three

Method

Each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured