--- title: "RefNow vs Xref: Which is searched more?" description: "Is RefNow or Xref more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Reference checking software set worldwide. 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/compare/refnow-vs-xref" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # RefNow vs Xref: Which is searched more? Is RefNow or Xref more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the Reference checking software set worldwide. 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 - **Compared**: RefNow and Xref - **Competitive set**: Reference checking software - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Sep 2026 - **RefNow Share of Search**: 4.5% - **Xref Share of Search**: 3% ## Is RefNow or Xref more popular in search? - In September 2026, RefNow had more branded searches than Xref among reference checking software worldwide. RefNow had about 720 branded searches, while Xref had 480. RefNow made up 4.5% of all reference checking software searches we track, and Xref accounted for 3%. - RefNow was ahead of Xref in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RefNow’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide moved from 5.5% to 4.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 880 to 720. - Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xref’s share of searches among reference checking software worldwide moved from 2.4% to 3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 390 to 480. ## 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. RefNow was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Xref was listed before RefNow in every answer. 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 did search popularity change for reference checking software worldwide in September 2026? - 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%. ## Month by month | Month | RefNow estimated searches | RefNow Share of Search | RefNow rank | Xref estimated searches | Xref Share of Search | Xref rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | 880 | 5.5% | 7 | 390 | 2.4% | 8 | | Nov 2025 | 880 | 6% | 7 | 390 | 2.7% | 8 | | Dec 2025 | 720 | 5.8% | 7 | 320 | 2.6% | 8 | | Jan 2026 | 720 | 5% | 7 | 170 | 1.2% | 8 | | Feb 2026 | 720 | 5.1% | 7 | 260 | 1.8% | 8 | | Mar 2026 | 880 | 5.6% | 7 | 480 | 3% | 8 | | Apr 2026 | 720 | 4.7% | 7 | 480 | 3.2% | 8 | | May 2026 | 720 | 4.8% | 7 | 590 | 3.9% | 8 | | Jun 2026 | 720 | 4.7% | 7 | 480 | 3.2% | 8 | | Jul 2026 | 590 | 3.8% | 7 | 390 | 2.5% | 8 | | Aug 2026 | 590 | 3.7% | 7 | 390 | 2.5% | 8 | | Sep 2026 | 720 | 4.5% | 7 | 480 | 3% | 8 | ## How each brand is measured Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using RefNow’s and Xref’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. - **RefNow**: Measured on the search term “refnow”. - **Xref**: Measured on the search term “xref reference check”. - [RefNow profile](/demand/global-en/brands/refnow) - [Xref profile](/demand/global-en/brands/xref) - [All reference checking software worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/reference-checking-software): The set both shares are measured inside, 9 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is RefNow or Xref more popular in search? In September 2026, RefNow had more branded searches than Xref among reference checking software worldwide. RefNow had about 720 branded searches, while Xref had 480. RefNow made up 4.5% of all reference checking software searches we track, and Xref accounted for 3%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "RefNow vs Xref: Which is searched more?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/refnow-vs-xref This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/refnow-vs-xref. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.