Our Growth Methodology
We analyzed market data, funding rounds, customer acquisition, and social signals to identify platforms with genuine momentum. Our scoring criteria:
- Customer Growth Rate (30%): Year-over-year user base expansion
- Market Buzz (25%): Social mentions, review volume, search trends
- Product Velocity (20%): Feature release cadence, innovation speed
- Funding & Valuation (15%): Investment rounds, market confidence signals
- Category Expansion (10%): Moving into new markets, industries, use cases
Data Sources: Public funding announcements, G2/Capterra review volume trends, Google search interest, LinkedIn growth, customer case studies.
Growth Snapshot: 2024-2026
| Rank | Platform | YoY Growth | Recent Funding | Customer Count | Why They're Hot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rippling | +278% | $500M (2024) | 15,000+ | All-in-one automation |
| 2 | Deel | +312% | $425M (2024) | 30,000+ | Global hiring boom |
| 3 | Bob (HiBob) | +185% | $150M (2025) | 4,500+ | Remote-first culture tools |
| 4 | Lattice | +167% | $175M (2025) | 5,200+ | Performance mgmt revolution |
| 5 | Factorial | +203% | €80M (2024) | 8,000+ | European SMB domination |
Detailed Rankings
Rippling
From 5,400 to 15,000+ customers (2024-2026)
Latest funding round (May 2024)
Google search volume increase vs. 2023
G2 reviews added in 24 months
Why Rippling Is Exploding
Rippling isn't just growing — it's redefining what HR software should be. By unifying HR, IT, and Finance in one platform, they've created a category of one. The "compound startup" model (building multiple products on one unified database) is working spectacularly.
🔥 What's Driving Growth
- Automation Obsession: "Hire someone → provision laptop, software, benefits, payroll" in one click
- IT/HR Convergence: First platform CIOs and CHROs both love
- Global Expansion: 90-country payroll launched 2024, fueling international adoption
- App Ecosystem: 500+ integrations vs. competitors' 50-150
- Viral Word-of-Mouth: Tech Twitter can't stop talking about it
Market Signals:
- Founder Momentum: Parker Conrad (founder) is becoming a household name in startup circles
- Customer Logos: Landing major accounts (Vanta, Notion, Mercury) fuels FOMO
- Product Velocity: Ships major features monthly (vs. quarterly for incumbents)
- Switching Wave: "We're leaving [legacy vendor] for Rippling" posts go viral weekly
Who's Switching: Tech companies, remote-first startups, fast-growing SMBs that outgrew Gusto/Zenefits
Growth Trajectory: On pace to reach $1B ARR by 2027. If momentum continues, could challenge Workday for enterprise market by 2030.
Deel
From 7,300 to 30,000+ customers
Series D (October 2024)
Hire anyone, anywhere legally
Active contractors paid via Deel
Why Deel Is Exploding
Deel rode the remote work wave better than anyone. They made global hiring — previously a legal nightmare — feel as easy as hiring locally. The timing was perfect: remote work surged, Deel was there with the solution.
🌎 What's Driving Growth
- Remote Work Boom: 73% of companies now hire remote workers (up from 23% in 2020)
- Compliance Made Simple: Legal entity setup, contracts, taxes handled automatically across 150 countries
- EOR Model: Employer of Record service lets you hire internationally without entities
- Network Effects: More contractors → more companies → more contractors (flywheel accelerating)
- Full HRIS Pivot: Launched Deel HR (2024) to compete with BambooHR/Gusto
Market Signals:
- Competitive Displacement: Taking market share from Remote.com, Oyster, even ADP GlobalView
- Crypto/Web3 Domination: De facto standard for crypto startups hiring globally
- Enterprise Expansion: Landing Fortune 500 accounts (Dropbox, Shopify, Nike)
- Product Expansion: Adding payroll, stock options, immigration support
Who's Switching: Remote-first companies, startups hiring internationally, agencies with distributed talent
Growth Trajectory: Aiming for $500M ARR by end of 2026. IPO likely 2027-2028.
Bob (HiBob)
From 1,580 to 4,500+ customers
Series E (March 2025)
Highest-rated HRIS on G2 (2026)
Top quartile for HR software
Why Bob Is Exploding
Bob understood what BambooHR and Namely missed: the future of work is remote, culture-driven, and mobile-first. They built the HRIS for how companies actually operate in 2026, not 2016.
💼 What's Driving Growth
- Culture Focus: Built-in social features, recognition, engagement tools that actually get used
- Hybrid Work Tools: Office booking, desk hoteling, remote work policies — native features
- Beautiful UX: First HRIS that employees genuinely enjoy using (rare!)
- Mid-Market Sweet Spot: Positioned perfectly between SMB tools and enterprise bloatware
- International Support: Multi-currency, multi-language, global compliance out of the box
Market Signals:
- Win Rate: Winning 60% of competitive deals against BambooHR (up from 35% in 2023)
- Expansion Revenue: Existing customers adding modules at 130% rate year-over-year
- Review Velocity: Adding G2 reviews faster than any competitor (signal of genuine enthusiasm)
- Partnership Strategy: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom integrations drive viral adoption
Who's Switching: Remote/hybrid companies (50-500 employees) leaving BambooHR, Namely, or legacy systems
Growth Trajectory: Positioned to become the default mid-market HRIS by 2028. International expansion will unlock next growth phase.
Lattice
From 1,950 to 5,200+ customers
Series F (January 2025)
Employees using Lattice daily
Performance Management on G2
Why Lattice Is Exploding
Lattice proved that performance management doesn't have to suck. They made reviews continuous, goals transparent, and feedback meaningful. Then they expanded into engagement, compensation, and growth — becoming the full people management suite.
🎯 What's Driving Growth
- Annual Review Death: Companies abandoning annual reviews for continuous feedback (Lattice is the solution)
- OKR Movement: Goal-setting framework adoption (Lattice makes OKRs actually work)
- Engagement Crisis: Post-pandemic engagement scores tanked — Lattice offers pulse surveys, 1-on-1 tools
- Compensation Transparency: New laws requiring pay equity — Lattice Comp bands feature is killer
- HRIS Integrations: Works with all major HRIS platforms (Rippling, BambooHR, Gusto, Workday)
Market Signals:
- Category Dominance: "We use Lattice for performance reviews" is becoming default answer
- Upmarket Movement: Landing enterprise accounts (Slack, Robinhood, Glossier)
- Competitive Wins: Replacing 15Five, Culture Amp, even Workday Performance
- Product Breadth: Now competing with full talent management suites (SuccessFactors, Cornerstone)
Who's Switching: Tech companies, professional services firms, any org serious about performance management
Growth Trajectory: Becoming the "performance layer" for every HRIS. Could reach 10,000 customers by 2027.
Factorial
From 2,640 to 8,000+ customers
Series C (November 2024)
Fastest-growing HRIS in Spain, France, Germany
Highest-rated on Capterra (EU)
Why Factorial Is Exploding
Factorial is the European Gusto — beautiful, affordable, built for SMBs. They understand that European companies need GDPR-native, multi-country compliant HR software that doesn't cost €50/employee/month. They're winning by being local-first.
🚀 What's Driving Growth
- European Focus: Built for EU employment law complexity from day one
- Pricing Disruption: €3-9/employee/month vs. €15-25 for BambooHR/Personio
- Local Compliance: Knows Spanish labor law, German works councils, French payroll regulations
- Multi-Language Native: Full UI in 10+ European languages (not just translations)
- Modern UX: First European HRIS that looks/feels like a 2020s product
Market Signals:
- Market Displacement: European SMBs leaving Personio, Sage, local legacy vendors for Factorial
- Geographic Expansion: Started in Spain, now dominant in France, Germany, UK, Italy
- US Entry (2025): Launched US product to compete with Gusto/BambooHR
- LatAm Opportunity: Expanding to Mexico, Colombia, Brazil (huge untapped market)
Who's Switching: European SMBs (10-250 employees), US companies with European subsidiaries
Growth Trajectory: On track to become the European BambooHR. US expansion could be game-changer if executed well.
Common Threads: Why These Platforms Are Winning
After analyzing the fastest-growing HR software companies, clear patterns emerge:
1. They Solve New Problems
Rippling (IT/HR convergence), Deel (global hiring), Bob (remote culture), Lattice (continuous performance), Factorial (European SMB gap). Each identified an underserved need.
2. Modern UX Is Table Stakes
Every fast-growing platform has beautiful, intuitive design. Clunky interfaces are an existential threat in 2026.
3. They Pick Specific ICP
None are trying to be everything to everyone. Bob owns remote/hybrid mid-market. Factorial owns European SMBs. Deel owns global hiring. Focus wins.
4. Product Velocity Matters
Fast-growing platforms ship features monthly, not annually. Speed = competitive advantage.
5. Word-of-Mouth Is King
These platforms grow through referrals, not just ads. Build something people love, they tell everyone.
Honorable Mentions: Watch These Platforms
- Remote.com: Direct Deel competitor, strong European presence, watch for growth acceleration
- Oyster HR: Global employment platform, smaller than Deel but growing fast
- Personio: Established European leader, defending market share but still growing
- ChartHop: People analytics + org design, niche but explosive in specific verticals
- Lattice: Already on our list but worth repeating — the momentum is real
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose fast-growing platforms over established ones?
Not necessarily. Fast growth signals product-market fit and innovation, but established platforms offer stability and mature feature sets. Consider: Do you want cutting-edge features (choose growth) or proven reliability (choose established)?
Why is Rippling growing so fast?
Rippling unified HR, IT, and Finance in one platform, creating unprecedented automation. Companies switching from 5-10 tools to one Rippling instance see massive efficiency gains. The product truly is that much better.
Are these platforms more expensive?
Not always. Factorial is cheaper than incumbents. Deel and Rippling price competitively. Bob and Lattice are mid-range. Growth doesn't always mean premium pricing.
What's the risk of choosing a fast-growing startup?
Potential risks: rapid product changes, customer support strain during scaling, feature prioritization shifts. Mitigate by: checking recent funding (well-funded = safer), reading recent reviews, asking about customer success team size.
Which platform will be biggest in 5 years?
If current trends continue: Rippling and Deel are on trajectory to become next-gen Workday/ADP equivalents. Bob could own mid-market. Lattice may become default performance management layer. Factorial could dominate Europe + LatAm.