Payroll software is having a moment—and not because finance teams suddenly love compliance.
According to new data from G2, its Payroll Software category logged more than 30,000 new reviews over the past 12 months, a 90% year-over-year increase—the largest in the category’s history.
That surge isn’t random. It coincides with mounting regulatory pressure tied to global pay transparency mandates set to take effect in 2026, pushing organizations to modernize payroll systems fast.
Regulation Is Forcing the Upgrade Cycle
At the center of the shift is the EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970), which takes effect in June 2026. The directive requires employers with 100 or more employees to publish pay gap data—bringing the EU closer to U.S. transparency norms.
In the United States, 16 states have enacted pay transparency laws as of January 2026, according to Paycor’s 2026 Pay Transparency Report. The compliance burden is expanding—and payroll systems are on the front line.
Meeting these mandates requires more than basic salary processing. Employers now need:
- Audit-ready reporting
- Pay equity analysis tools
- Real-time compensation visibility
- Cross-border compliance tracking
That’s pushing buyers to reevaluate legacy payroll tools and invest in systems tightly integrated with HRIS, time tracking, and benefits platforms.
The 90% review growth on G2 suggests buyers aren’t just browsing—they’re actively vetting and replacing solutions.
January 2026 Market Movers
Through its Market Movers series, G2 identifies trending software using a weighted average of review volume, profile views, and verified buyer intent signals.
As of January 2026, three vendors stand out.
RemotePeople
RemotePeople operates as an international recruitment agency and Employer of Record (EOR), simplifying global hiring without requiring local entities. Its EOR model handles multi-jurisdiction payroll and pay reporting—an increasingly critical feature under transparency rules.
- G2 Rating: 4.9/5 (96 reviews, 188% YoY increase)
- Page Views: 24,900 (3,314% YoY increase)
- Average Time to ROI: 4.8 months
- Net Promoter Score: 98
The spike in page views suggests intense buyer interest, particularly among companies expanding cross-border operations.
Employment Hero
Employment Hero positions itself as an Employment Operating System, bundling payroll, HR, recruitment, and benefits into a single platform.
- G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (760 reviews, 548% YoY increase)
- Page Views: 12,500+ (17% YoY increase)
Its appeal lies in consolidation. As compliance requirements grow more complex, many organizations are opting for unified employment platforms rather than stitching together point solutions.
Keka
Keka brands itself as a People and Project Operations platform designed for growing businesses.
- G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (1,849 reviews, 59% YoY increase)
- Page Views: 12,500+ (16% YoY increase)
- Daily Usage: 92% of reviewers report daily use
Keka’s high daily engagement suggests deep operational integration—an important signal as payroll systems evolve from transactional tools into real-time workforce intelligence platforms.
Beyond Compliance: Payroll as Strategic Data Hub
What’s notable about this growth wave is how payroll is being reframed.
Historically viewed as a back-office necessity, payroll platforms are increasingly becoming data engines for:
- Workforce cost forecasting
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) reporting
- Talent retention analytics
- Real-time compensation benchmarking
Fifty percent of Market Mover products’ buyers cite rapid ROI, and trending products significantly outperform category benchmarks in Net Promoter Score—often driven by ease of compliance setup.
In other words, compliance is the trigger. Strategic workforce visibility is the longer-term value proposition.
AI and Automation Enter the Mix
As regulatory complexity increases, vendors are layering in automation and AI-driven analytics to:
- Flag pay equity risks
- Automate reporting disclosures
- Monitor compensation disparities in real time
- Surface compliance anomalies before audits
This mirrors broader HR tech trends, where AI is shifting systems from reactive reporting to proactive insight generation.
Buyers appear to be rewarding platforms that can adapt quickly to changing regulations while integrating seamlessly into broader HR ecosystems.
Category Benchmarks for 2026
The payroll software category on G2 now includes:
- 611 total product listings
- 30,000+ annual reviews (90% YoY growth)
Market Movers average significantly higher NPS scores than the broader category, indicating that compliance-friendly onboarding and transparency features are resonating with buyers.
The Bigger Picture: Transparency Is Structural, Not Temporary
The 2026 regulatory wave isn’t a one-off event. It represents a structural shift toward wage transparency and pay equity accountability.
Once reporting frameworks are established, expectations for ongoing disclosure and audit readiness will likely persist—and expand.
For payroll vendors, this is both an opportunity and a stress test. Platforms must scale compliance features across jurisdictions while maintaining usability and integration flexibility.
For employers, the message is clear: payroll is no longer just about paying people on time. It’s about proving fairness, visibility, and compliance—at scale.
And judging by G2’s 90% surge in review activity, the market is moving quickly to keep up.
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