Brandwave

How popular isXref?

In September 2026, people searched for Xref by name about 480 times worldwide, a 23.1% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 3% of all global reference checking software searches, placing Xref eighth out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about reference checking software, Xref appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Xref is the eighth most searched of 9 competitors and the 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. XrefShare of searches 3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

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Top reference checking software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Xref appeared in all five answers. Xref is the 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 Xref?

Xref 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 Xref and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Xref

8 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Xref worldwide rose from 390 to 480.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xref’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide increased from 2.4% to 3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xref’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide peaked at 3.9% in May 2026 and was lowest at 1.2% in January 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 Xref’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

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

  • xref reference check

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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