HR AI Index

Index › Function 01 of 6 · October 2026 Edition

October 2026 Edition

Core HR and payroll

The system of record and the money: HRIS and HCM, payroll at home and abroad, benefits, time, scheduling, leave and compliance. 11 of 13 categories scored, 2 planned.

Standing in core hr and payroll

First-choice share across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts, all fourteen models, for the eleven core hr and payroll categories scored in the October 2026 Edition.

Core HR and payroll

Workforce scheduling

A different leader in every segment

HomebaseContested

26%▼−18Since September 2026: 43% → 24%, −18 points. Past the 13-point floor: movement. Read over the models both editions asked.

DeputyContested

37%▲+9Since September 2026: 26% → 34%, +9 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

UKG Pro Workforce ManagementContested

20%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: UKG Pro Workforce Management (17%) replaces Workday Workforce Management (16% then, 8% now), 8 points clear, inside the 13-point floor.

Core HR and payroll

Global payroll and employer of record

Small business and mid-market share a leader. Enterprise differs.

DeelContested

33%▲+7Since September 2026: 29% → 36%, +7 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

30%▲+5Since September 2026: 22% → 27%, +5 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

G-PContested

23%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: G-P (21%) replaces Remote (19% then, 9% now), 13 points clear, inside the 13-point floor.

Core HR and payroll

Leave and absence management

A different leader in every segment

Vacation TrackerContested

23%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: Vacation Tracker (24%) replaces Timetastic (25% then, 10% now), 14 points clear, past the 13-point floor.

BambooHRContested

28%=heldSince September 2026: 28% → 29%, ±0 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

WorkdayContested

38%▲+4Since September 2026: 37% → 40%, +4 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Core HR and payroll

HRIS and HCM platforms

A different leader in every segment

GustoContested

32%▼−9Since September 2026: 42% → 33%, −9 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

RipplingContested

26%▲+5Since September 2026: 22% → 28%, +5 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Workday HCMClear leader

73%▲+6Since September 2026: 70% → 76%, +6 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Core HR and payroll

Whistleblowing and investigations

Small business and mid-market share a leader. Enterprise differs.

FaceUpContested

NAVEX OneContested

Core HR and payroll

Small business and mid-market share a leader. Enterprise differs.

JustworksClear leader

ADP TotalSourceClear leader

Core HR and payroll

Payroll software

A different leader in every segment

GustoClear leader

49%▼−7Since September 2026: 57% → 50%, −7 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

RipplingContested

20%▼−5Since September 2026: 28% → 23%, −5 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

ADPContested

31%▲+3Since September 2026: 32% → 35%, +3 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Core HR and payroll

Benefits administration

Small business and mid-market share a leader. Enterprise differs.

GustoClear leader

62%▼−7Since September 2026: 68% → 61%, −7 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

20%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: ADP Workforce Now (21%) replaces PlanSource (23% then, 5% now), 16 points clear, past the 13-point floor.

ADP Workforce NowContested

30%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: ADP Workforce Now (28%) replaces Workday HCM (29% then, 26% now), 2 points clear, inside the 13-point floor.

Core HR and payroll

HR compliance and policy management

A different leader in every segment

GustoContested

21%▼−2Since September 2026: 25% → 24%, −2 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

RipplingContested

19%▲+5Since September 2026: 16% → 21%, +5 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

WorkdayContested

23%▲+1Since September 2026: 22% → 23%, +1 point. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Core HR and payroll

Workforce management suites

A different leader in every segment

HomebaseClear leader

45%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: Homebase (42%) replaces When I Work (18% then, 6% now), 37 points clear, past the 13-point floor.

RipplingContested

17%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: Rippling (18%) replaces ADP Workforce Now (19% then, 14% now), 5 points clear, inside the 13-point floor.

UKG ProContested

32%▼−7Since September 2026: 42% → 35%, −7 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Core HR and payroll

Time and attendance

A different leader in every segment

HarvestContested

23%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: Clockify (21%) replaces Homebase (21% then, 13% now), 9 points clear, inside the 13-point floor.

Clockify tiedContested

12%↗new leaderNew leader since September 2026: Paylocity (13%) replaces UKG Ready (15% then, 7% now), 7 points clear, inside the 13-point floor.

UKG ProContested

25%▼−5Since September 2026: 29% → 24%, −5 points. Inside the 13-point floor: within noise. Read over the models both editions asked.

Next in core hr and payroll

Planned categories are in the build queue and are scored exactly like every other.

Employment eligibility verification plannedHR document management planned

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