How popular isCheckmate?
In September 2026, people searched for Checkmate by name about 140 times worldwide, a 17.6% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.87% of all global reference checking software searches, placing Checkmate ninth out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about reference checking software, Checkmate appeared in four of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the nine.
Checkmate is the ninth most searched of 9 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.
ZincShare of searches 22.3%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
ChecksterShare of searches 18%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
ReferooShare of searches 18%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
CrosschqShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
CheckmateShare of searches 0.87%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top reference checking software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Checkmate was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Checkmate is the third most recommended of the nine.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
HiPeople5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Xref5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Checkmate4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Crosschq3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
RefNow3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
SkillSurvey2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Zinc1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Checkster0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Referoo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about reference checking software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which reference checking software should we use for hiring?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best reference checking software platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best automated reference checking software for a growing company?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“reference check software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“reference checking software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.
Which reference checking software compete with Checkmate?
Share of searches by month for Zinc, Checkster, Referoo, Crosschq, HiPeople, SkillSurvey, RefNow, Xref, Checkmate. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Zinc | Checkster | Referoo | Crosschq | HiPeople | SkillSurvey | RefNow | Xref | Checkmate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 18.1% | 15% | 18.1% | 15% | 15% | 10% | 5.5% | 2.4% | 1.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 19.8% | 16.4% | 19.8% | 11% | 16.4% | 6.8% | 6% | 2.7% | 0.96% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.4% | 15.3% | 15.3% | 12.9% | 19.4% | 8.1% | 5.8% | 2.6% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.2% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 13.3% | 16.7% | 9.1% | 5% | 1.2% | 0.98% |
| Feb 2026 | 20.5% | 17% | 20.5% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 7.1% | 5.1% | 1.8% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 18.3% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 15.2% | 12% | 8.2% | 5.6% | 3% | 1.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 19.1% | 19.1% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 12.5% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 1.1% |
| May 2026 | 19.1% | 23.8% | 15.8% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 6.6% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 0.92% |
| Jun 2026 | 19.1% | 19.1% | 19.1% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 23.2% | 23.2% | 15.5% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 6.4% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 0.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.7% | 22.7% | 15.1% | 12% | 12% | 8.2% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 22.3% | 18% | 18% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 9.9% | 4.5% | 3% | 0.87% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, moved from 2nd to 1st | 22.3% | 3.6K | 0% | -0.4 pointsmoved from 2nd to 1st | |
| 2, moved from 1st to 2nd | 18% | 2.9K | -19.4% | -4.7 pointsmoved from 1st to 2nd | |
| 3, held 3rd | 18% | 2.9K | +20.8% | +2.8 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 11.8% | 1.9K | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 11.8% | 1.9K | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 9.9% | 1.6K | +23.1% | +1.7 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 4.5% | 720 | +22% | +0.7 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 3% | 480 | +23.1% | +0.5 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.87% | 140 | -17.6% | -0.2 points |
1.
Zinc22.3%
Moved from 2nd to 1st. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
18%
Moved from 1st to 2nd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, -19.4% vs prior month. Share -4.7 points.
3.
Referoo18%
Held 3rd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, +20.8% vs prior month. Share +2.8 points.
4.
Crosschq11.8%
Held 4th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
5.
HiPeople11.8%
Held 5th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
9.9%
Held 6th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.
7.
RefNow4.5%
Held 7th. 720 estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
8.
Xref3%
Held 8th. 480 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
0.87%
Held 9th. 140 estimated branded searches, -17.6% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
Compare popularity between Checkmate and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Checkmate
8 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Checkmate changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Checkmate worldwide fell from 170 to 140.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Checkmate’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide held steady, from 1.1% to 0.87%.
How did search popularity change for reference checking software worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes

In September 2026, Referoo gained share of searches among reference checking software worldwide, from 15.1% to 18%.

In September 2026, SkillSurvey gained share of searches among reference checking software worldwide, from 8.2% to 9.9%.

In September 2026, RefNow gained share of searches among reference checking software worldwide, from 3.7% to 4.5%.

In September 2026, Xref gained share of searches among reference checking software worldwide, from 2.5% to 3%.

In September 2026, Checkster lost share of searches among reference checking software worldwide, from 22.7% to 18%.

Crosschq’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 12.5% to 11.8% in September 2026.
How are Checkmate’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Checkmate’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- checkmate.tech
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Is Checkmate your brand?
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