When it comes to hiring, every employer wants the best talent with the least hassle. Two of the most popular platforms for recruiting are ZipRecruiter and Indeed. But which one should you use?
The internet is filled with comparisons, but some of the spiciest takes come from real users on Reddit, where hiring managers, small business owners, and job seekers don’t hold back.
We scoured Reddit threads to find out what real people think about ZipRecruiter vs. Indeed, and here's the breakdown.
If there’s one thing that Reddit users agree on, it’s that ZipRecruiter excels at getting your job postings in front of a wide audience. According to many employers, Ziprecruiter is particularly good for casting a wide net—perfect if you’re looking to hire at scale. But that reach comes with a caveat.
What Reddit says:
“ZipRecruiter pulls in tons of applicants, but be prepared for a lot of unqualified people. It’s like drinking from a firehose,” one Redditor lamented in the popular thread discussing recruiting tools. Several others echoed this sentiment, pointing out that while you get more candidates, the quality of applicants can be hit or miss. Another user said, “It’s great for volume, but half the time I’m sifting through resumes of people who didn’t even read the job description.”
Employer takeaway:
If you’re a business that needs to fill multiple positions quickly, ZipRecruiter can get your job posting seen by a lot of candidates fast. But be ready to spend extra time filtering out applicants who don’t meet your criteria. It’s a great tool for large companies or those hiring for lower-level positions, but for specialized roles, you may find yourself doing a lot of weeding out.
When it comes to Indeed, the feedback from Reddit users tends to highlight higher-quality candidates but a more cumbersome process for employers. Many claim that the Indeed resume search feature gives them better-qualified applicants compared to ZipRecruiter, but navigating the platform can feel a bit clunky.
What Reddit says:
One frustrated user shared their experience: “I’ve found better candidates through Indeed, but their system is so glitchy. Sometimes my job postings get buried unless I pay to sponsor them.” Other users backed this up, complaining about Indeed’s free job postings not getting much traction. One business owner said, “You’re basically invisible unless you pay for boosts, and even then, you’re competing against hundreds of other listings.”
However, Redditors do praise Indeed’s resume search tool, where employers can actively hunt for candidates rather than waiting for applications. “When I search for resumes, I get way better results. I’d rather go through the resumes myself than get hit with 100 bad applications,” said a hiring manager on r/RecruitingHell.
Employer takeaway:
Indeed can be a goldmine for higher-quality candidates, especially if you’re willing to use their resume search feature. But be aware of the pay-to-play nature of the platform. If you’re only posting for free, don’t expect your job ad to get as much visibility. For employers with a specific, hard-to-fill role, Indeed may offer better results than ZipRecruiter, but you might need to invest some cash.
Both ZipRecruiter and Indeed offer free and paid options, but Reddit users are quick to point out the major differences in what you get for your money. ZipRecruiter tends to be more expensive overall, but many employers think it’s worth it for the volume and automation, while Indeed users feel frustrated by the need to constantly pay for boosts to get their listings seen.
What Reddit says:
A post on r/AskTO summed it up perfectly: “ZipRecruiter charges more upfront, but at least I feel like I’m getting something out of it. Indeed feels like death by a thousand cuts. You have to keep sponsoring or your post just disappears into the void.”
A hiring manager from r/recruitinghell added, “With ZipRecruiter, I just set a budget and forget it. They handle distribution, and I don’t have to constantly fiddle with the settings. On Indeed, it feels like I have to constantly manage and tweak things to keep my posting alive.”
Employer takeaway:
If you want a set-it-and-forget-it option, ZipRecruiter may be worth the extra cost, especially for companies hiring at scale or needing fast results. Indeed, on the other hand, can be more cost-effective for smaller businesses, but it requires ongoing management to ensure your Indeed job ads get noticed.
One of the most interesting debates on Reddit revolves around which platform is better suited for small businesses. Indeed tends to be favored by smaller companies that don’t want to shell out a lot of money upfront, while ZipRecruiter is praised for its automation features, making it easier for business owners who wear multiple hats.
What Reddit says:
In the r/antiwork thread, one user posted, “As a small business, Indeed’s free posting option works, but I really hate having to pay to get noticed. I don’t have time to monitor the job all day, but ZipRecruiter’s fees are too high for my budget.”
Another small business owner shared on r/RecruitingHell, “ZipRecruiter has been a game-changer for me. It’s more expensive, but I just don’t have time to manually go through everything. They automate a lot of the heavy lifting, and I’ve had better results overall.”
Employer takeaway:
If you’re a small business on a tight budget, Indeed’s free job posting is a good option, but you’ll need to be more hands-on with the process. If you can afford to spend a bit more and need the process to be more automated, ZipRecruiter could save you time, even if the cost is higher.
The ultimate choice between ZipRecruiter vs. Indeed often comes down to whether you prioritize quantity or quality in candidates. Reddit users tend to agree that ZipRecruiter will flood your inbox with applicants, but not all of them will be qualified.
Meanwhile, Indeed seems to offer fewer applicants, but those that do apply tend to be more qualified for the job.
What Reddit says:
A user in the r/AskTO thread put it simply: “With ZipRecruiter, it’s quantity over quality. I’d rather have 10 good candidates than 100 random ones who didn’t read the job description.” Another user agreed, saying, “I’ve had to hire for some really niche roles, and Indeed gave me way fewer applications, but they were way more relevant.”
However, not everyone agrees. One Redditor shared on r/recruitinghell: “If you need someone fast for a general role, ZipRecruiter is amazing. For specialized roles, go with Indeed or another niche site.”
Employer takeaway:
If you’re doing high-volume hiring for a general role and need a lot of options quickly, ZipRecruiter might be the better bet. But if you’re looking for specific qualifications or a niche position, Indeed could save you time by delivering more relevant candidates from the start.
The ZipRecruiter vs. Indeed debate on Reddit is far from settled, but there are clear trends in what employers and recruiters think:
At the end of the day, the best platform depends on your hiring needs. If speed and scale are your priorities, ZipRecruiter might be the way to go. If you’re looking for specific talent and are okay with fewer applicants, Indeed offers more control and better filtering options.
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