--- title: "Xref: search popularity worldwide" description: "Xref is automated reference checking software. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/brands/xref" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Xref: search popularity worldwide Xref is automated reference checking software. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Brand**: Xref - **Market**: Global - **Measured month**: Sep 2026 - **Share of Search among reference checking software**: 3% ## Where the brand sits | Competitive set | Rank | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Reference checking software | 8 | 3% | 480 | - [Reference checking software](/demand/global-en/categories/reference-checking-software) ## 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. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Xref | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | HiPeople | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | Checkmate | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | | Crosschq | 4th | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | RefNow | 5th | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | SkillSurvey | 6th | 2 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 5 | | Zinc | 7th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | Checkster | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Referoo | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about reference checking software - Asked ChatGPT "Which reference checking software should we use for hiring?": 1. Xref, 2. HiPeople, 3. Crosschq, 4. Checkmate - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best reference checking software platforms?": 1. Xref, 2. Checkmate, 3. HiPeople, 4. Crosschq, 5. RefNow, 6. SkillSurvey, 7. Zinc - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best automated reference checking software for a growing company?": 1. Xref, 2. HiPeople, 3. Crosschq, 4. SkillSurvey - Searched Google, AI Overview "reference check software": 1. Xref, 2. Checkmate, 3. RefNow, 4. HiPeople - Searched Google, AI Overview "reference checking software": 1. Xref, 2. Checkmate, 3. RefNow, 4. HiPeople Not named in any answer: Checkster and Referoo. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 22, 2026. ## How has branded search demand for Xref changed worldwide over the last 12 months? - 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? - 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. ## Historical estimated branded-search demand | Month | Competitive set | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | Reference checking software | 390 | 2.4% | 8 | | Nov 2025 | Reference checking software | 390 | 2.7% | 8 | | Dec 2025 | Reference checking software | 320 | 2.6% | 8 | | Jan 2026 | Reference checking software | 170 | 1.2% | 8 | | Feb 2026 | Reference checking software | 260 | 1.8% | 8 | | Mar 2026 | Reference checking software | 480 | 3% | 8 | | Apr 2026 | Reference checking software | 480 | 3.2% | 8 | | May 2026 | Reference checking software | 590 | 3.9% | 8 | | Jun 2026 | Reference checking software | 480 | 3.2% | 8 | | Jul 2026 | Reference checking software | 390 | 2.5% | 8 | | Aug 2026 | Reference checking software | 390 | 2.5% | 8 | | Sep 2026 | Reference checking software | 480 | 3% | 8 | ## How are Xref’s branded searches counted? 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” ## Which reference checking software compete with Xref? - [Zinc](/demand/global-en/brands/zinc-work) - [Checkster](/demand/global-en/brands/checkster) - [Referoo](/demand/global-en/brands/referoo) - [Crosschq](/demand/global-en/brands/crosschq): Head-to-head: /demand/global-en/compare/crosschq-vs-xref - [HiPeople](/demand/global-en/brands/hipeople): Head-to-head: /demand/global-en/compare/hipeople-vs-xref - [SkillSurvey](/demand/global-en/brands/skillsurvey): Head-to-head: /demand/global-en/compare/skillsurvey-vs-xref - [RefNow](/demand/global-en/brands/refnow): Head-to-head: /demand/global-en/compare/refnow-vs-xref - [Checkmate](/demand/global-en/brands/checkmate-tech): Head-to-head: /demand/global-en/compare/checkmate-tech-vs-xref ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Xref: search popularity worldwide". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/brands/xref This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/brands/xref. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.