SmartRecruiters vs Workable:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Workable had more branded searches than SmartRecruiters among employee referral platforms worldwide. Workable had about 60,500 branded searches, while SmartRecruiters had 49,500. Workable made up 30.4% of all employee referral platform searches we track, and SmartRecruiters accounted for 24.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about employee referral platforms, Workable appeared in two of the five answers and SmartRecruiters in none.
Who do people search for more?
Workable, about 22% more searches than SmartRecruiters
Who does AI mention more?
Workable, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, SmartRecruiters in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Workable, the only one of the two named
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Top employee referral platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Workable was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. SmartRecruiters did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
ERIN1st
Teamable2nd
Greenhouse3rd- Workable4th
Jobvite5th
Lever6th
Teamtailor–
SmartRecruiters–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Greenhouse4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- ERIN4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Lever3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Teamable3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Workable2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Jobvite2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Teamtailor0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- SmartRecruiters0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about employee referral platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which employee referral platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best employee referral platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best employee referral platform for referral hires?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“employee referral software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“referral program software”
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 20, 2026.
Is SmartRecruiters or Workable more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for SmartRecruiters and Workable by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight employee referral platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Workable, SmartRecruiters. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Teamtailor | Workable | SmartRecruiters | Jobvite | Greenhouse | Lever | Teamable | ERIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 27.9% | 27.9% | 27.9% | 12.5% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 0.22% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 31.9% | 26.1% | 26.1% | 11.7% | 2.9% | 1% | 0.17% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 30% | 30% | 24.5% | 11% | 3.3% | 1.1% | 0.19% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.6% | 29.6% | 24.2% | 10.9% | 4% | 1.4% | 0.19% | 0.03% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.5% | 29.5% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 4.8% | 1.2% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| Mar 2026 | 33.8% | 27.6% | 22.6% | 10.1% | 4.5% | 1.1% | 0.22% | 0.03% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.5% | 29.5% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 4.8% | 1.2% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| May 2026 | 29.5% | 29.5% | 24.2% | 10.8% | 4.8% | 0.93% | 0.16% | 0.03% |
| Jun 2026 | 29.8% | 29.8% | 24.4% | 11% | 4% | 0.79% | 0.13% | 0.03% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.8% | 28.8% | 23.6% | 12.9% | 4.7% | 0.93% | 0.15% | 0.03% |
| Aug 2026 | 27.4% | 33.4% | 22.4% | 12.3% | 3.6% | 0.72% | 0.14% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | 30.4% | 30.4% | 24.9% | 11.2% | 2.2% | 0.65% | 0.13% | 0.03% |
How has the SmartRecruiters and Workable comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Workable was ahead of SmartRecruiters in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SmartRecruiters’ share of searches among employee referral platforms worldwide moved from 27.9% to 24.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 49.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Workable’s share of searches among employee referral platforms worldwide moved from 27.9% to 30.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 60.5K.
How did search popularity change for employee referral platforms worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Teamtailor overtook Workable to become the leader among employee referral platforms worldwide, with 30.4% of the searches.
In September 2026, SmartRecruiters gained share of searches among employee referral platforms worldwide, from 22.4% to 24.9%.
In September 2026, Workable lost share of searches among employee referral platforms worldwide, from 33.4% to 30.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using SmartRecruiters’ and Workable’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
SmartRecruiters
1 branded search term
- smartrecruiters
Workable
1 branded search term
- workable
Other head-to-heads among employee referral platforms
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