Brandwave

How popular isRefNow?

In September 2026, people searched for RefNow by name about 720 times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 4.5% of all global reference checking software searches, placing RefNow seventh out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about reference checking software, RefNow appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

RefNow is the seventh most searched of 9 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. ZincShare of searches 22.3%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  2. ChecksterShare of searches 18%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. ReferooShare of searches 18%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. CrosschqShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. RefNowShare of searches 4.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top reference checking software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, RefNow was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. RefNow is the fifth most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Xref1st
  2. HiPeople2nd
  3. Checkmate3rd
  4. Crosschq4th
  5. RefNow5th
  6. SkillSurvey6th
  7. Zinc7th
  8. Checkster–
  9. Referoo–

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

Not named in any answer:

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 RefNow?

RefNow against reference checking software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Zinc, Checkster, Referoo, Crosschq, HiPeople, SkillSurvey, RefNow, Xref. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthZincChecksterReferooCrosschqHiPeopleSkillSurveyRefNowXrefCheckmate
Oct 202518.1%15%18.1%15%15%10%5.5%2.4%1.1%
Nov 202519.8%16.4%19.8%11%16.4%6.8%6%2.7%0.96%
Dec 202519.4%15.3%15.3%12.9%19.4%8.1%5.8%2.6%1.1%
Jan 202620.2%16.7%16.7%13.3%16.7%9.1%5%1.2%0.98%
Feb 202620.5%17%20.5%13.4%13.4%7.1%5.1%1.8%1.2%
Mar 202618.3%18.3%18.3%15.2%12%8.2%5.6%3%1.1%
Apr 202619.1%19.1%15.8%15.8%12.5%8.6%4.7%3.2%1.1%
May 202619.1%23.8%15.8%12.5%12.5%6.6%4.8%3.9%0.92%
Jun 202619.1%19.1%19.1%12.5%12.5%8.6%4.7%3.2%1.1%
Jul 202623.2%23.2%15.5%12.2%12.2%6.4%3.8%2.5%0.9%
Aug 202622.7%22.7%15.1%12%12%8.2%3.7%2.5%1.1%
Sep 202622.3%18%18%11.8%11.8%9.9%4.5%3%0.87%

  1. 1.Zinc

    22.3%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  2. 2.Checkster

    18%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, -19.4% vs prior month. Share -4.7 points.

  3. 3.Referoo

    18%

    Held 3rd. 2.9K estimated branded searches, +20.8% vs prior month. Share +2.8 points.

  4. 4.Crosschq

    11.8%

    Held 4th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  5. 5.HiPeople

    11.8%

    Held 5th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.SkillSurvey

    9.9%

    Held 6th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.

  7. 7.RefNow

    4.5%

    Held 7th. 720 estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  8. 8.Xref

    3%

    Held 8th. 480 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  9. 9.Checkmate

    0.87%

    Held 9th. 140 estimated branded searches, -17.6% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

Compare popularity between RefNow and its closest rivals

Every comparison with RefNow

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for RefNow changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for RefNow worldwide fell from 880 to 720.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RefNow’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide decreased from 5.5% to 4.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RefNow’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide peaked at 6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 3.7% in August 2026.

How did search popularity change for reference checking software worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

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

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

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

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

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

  6. 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 RefNow’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using RefNow’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.

  • refnow

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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