iCIMS vs SmartRecruiters:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, SmartRecruiters had more branded searches than iCIMS among recruitment marketing platforms worldwide. SmartRecruiters had about 49,500 branded searches, while iCIMS had 40,500. SmartRecruiters made up 28.6% of all recruitment marketing platform searches we track, and iCIMS accounted for 23.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about recruitment marketing platforms, iCIMS appeared in two of the five answers and SmartRecruiters in none.
Who do people search for more?
SmartRecruiters, about 22% more searches than iCIMS
Who does AI mention more?
iCIMS, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, SmartRecruiters in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
iCIMS, the only one of the two named
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Top recruitment marketing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, iCIMS was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either 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.
Phenom1st
Beamery2nd
Teamtailor3rd- Joveo4th
- Symphony Talent5th
- Appcast6th
- iCIMS7th
- SmartRecruiters–
Clinch–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Phenom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Teamtailor4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Beamery4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Appcast3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- iCIMS2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Joveo2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Symphony Talent2 of 5Named in 2 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
- Clinch0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about recruitment marketing platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which recruitment marketing platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best recruitment marketing platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best recruitment marketing platform for attracting job candidates?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“recruitment marketing platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“employer branding platform”
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 21, 2026.
Is iCIMS or SmartRecruiters more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for iCIMS and SmartRecruiters by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine recruitment marketing platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for SmartRecruiters, iCIMS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Teamtailor | SmartRecruiters | iCIMS | Joveo | Appcast | Beamery | Symphony Talent | Phenom | Clinch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 32.2% | 32.2% | 26.4% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 0.47% | 0.35% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.9% | 30.2% | 24.7% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.44% | 0.41% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 32.8% | 26.8% | 32.8% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 0.39% | 0.38% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 34.6% | 28.3% | 28.3% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 0.41% | 0.37% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 34.7% | 28.4% | 28.4% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 0.51% | 0.37% | 0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 39.5% | 26.4% | 26.4% | 2.9% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 0.47% | 0.35% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 33.9% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 5.6% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 0.49% | 0.36% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 36.7% | 30% | 24.5% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.44% | 0.39% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 37.2% | 30.4% | 24.9% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.36% | 0.4% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 35% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.51% | 0.46% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 34% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 5.6% | 2% | 2% | 0.49% | 0.39% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 35% | 28.6% | 23.4% | 8.6% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.58% | 0.39% | <0.01% |
How has the iCIMS and SmartRecruiters comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: iCIMS took it in December 2025, SmartRecruiters took it in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iCIMS’s share of searches among recruitment marketing platforms worldwide moved from 26.4% to 23.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, SmartRecruiters’ share of searches among recruitment marketing platforms worldwide moved from 32.2% to 28.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 49.5K.
How did search popularity change for recruitment marketing platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, SmartRecruiters overtook iCIMS to rank 2nd among recruitment marketing platforms worldwide, with 28.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, iCIMS lost share of searches among recruitment marketing platforms worldwide, from 27.8% to 23.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iCIMS’s and SmartRecruiters’ 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.
iCIMS
1 branded search term
- icims
SmartRecruiters
1 branded search term
- smartrecruiters
Other head-to-heads among recruitment marketing platforms
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