Glassdoor vs. Indeed: A detailed analysis

Lavishka Tyagi
March 28, 2025

Remember the first time you searched for a company online before applying for a job? You probably landed on Glassdoor, reading employee reviews and salary insights. But when it came to actually finding and applying for jobs, Indeed, Naukri, or LinkedIn were the first places you checked.

💡Quick fact: Both Glassdoor and Indeed are owned by the same parent company.

Yet, they serve entirely different purposes—one is where you uncover what it’s really like to work at a company, while the other is where you actually find the jobs. But here’s where things get tricky: Which one should you use to get ahead in your job search? And if you're an employer, where should you focus your hiring efforts?

So, let’s break it down and figure out which platform is truly the right fit for you.

About & Purpose of Glassdoor and Indeed

Glassdoor: Transparency in the Workplace

Glassdoor was founded in 2007 with the aim of increasing transparency in the job market. It allows employees to anonymously review companies, share salary information, and discuss workplace experiences. Additionally, Glassdoor offers employer branding tools that enable companies to engage with reviews and enhance their reputations. While Glassdoor does provide job listings, these are powered by Indeed, reinforcing its primary role as a company insights platform.

Indeed: The Job Search Powerhouse

Since its launch in 2004, Indeed has become one of the world’s largest job search engines. The platform aggregates job postings from company websites, recruitment agencies, and job boards, making it a central hub for job seekers. Unlike Glassdoor, Indeed focuses on job searching, resume uploads, and hiring tools, including paid job postings and applicant tracking services. This makes it an essential platform for employers looking to recruit talent efficiently.

Key Statistics and Market Reach

The following table highlights key statistics comparing Glassdoor and Indeed based on available market data:

Comparison Table
Feature Glassdoor Indeed
Founded 2007 2004
Monthly Active Users 55 million 300 million
Job Listings Powered by Indeed 300 million+
Company Reviews 150 million+ Limited
Salary Reports 100 million+ Limited
Countries Available 20+ 60+

Market Trends and User Preferences

Recent surveys indicate the following trends in job seekers' platform preferences:

  • 72% of job seekers check Glassdoor reviews before applying for a job.
  • 85% of recruiters post job openings on Indeed due to its large candidate pool.
  • 60% of employees say salary transparency influences their job application decisions.

Similarities Between Glassdoor and Indeed

Despite their differences, Glassdoor and Indeed share several key similarities:

  • Owned by the Same Parent Company: Both platforms are subsidiaries of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd., a Japanese HR technology firm.
  • Integration: Job listings on Glassdoor are sourced from Indeed, and Glassdoor reviews appear on Indeed job postings.
  • Tools for Job Seekers and Employers: Both provide employer branding options, salary insights, and job application functionalities.

Key Differences Between Indeed and Glassdoor

The primary distinction between the two platforms lies in their focus areas:

  • Glassdoor specializes in company insights, offering employee reviews, salary reports, and workplace culture insights.
  • Indeed is a job search engine, providing extensive job listings, application tracking, and employer recruitment tools.

Here is a comparative analysis of their key differentiators:

Glassdoor vs Indeed Comparison
Feature Glassdoor Indeed
Primary Function Focuses on company reviews, salary information, and employer branding Focuses on job search, resume posting, and job aggregation
User Base Employees and job seekers researching companies Job seekers actively searching for job opportunities
Key Features - Anonymous company reviews
- Salary reports
- Interview questions
- Employer branding tools
- Job postings
- Job search engine
- Resume posting
- Direct job applications
- Company reviews
- Salary estimates
Employer Focus Strong emphasis on employer branding and workplace transparency Strong focus on recruitment, with pay-per-click and pay-per-applicant models
Job Postings Employers can post jobs, but it’s primarily an employer branding tool Employers can post jobs, with a structured pay-per-click or pay-per-application model
Pricing for Employers Free and paid options, e.g., $15,000/year for 21-50 job postings Free and paid options, e.g., $120/month for unlimited postings with pay-per-click/applicant costs
Salary Insights Provides in-depth salary reports based on employee submissions Offers salary estimates based on job listings and employee contributions
Review System Employees can review companies, rate CEOs, and share workplace experiences Users can review companies, but the system is not as detailed as Glassdoor
Global Reach Available in multiple countries and languages Available in over 60 countries and 28 languages, making it more globally extensive
Integration Job postings from Indeed also appear on Glassdoor Job postings on Indeed are automatically shared with Glassdoor
Mobile App Available for job seekers and employers Available for job seekers and employers
Anonymity & Privacy Reviewers remain anonymous to protect their identity Maintains anonymity for company reviews but with stricter content policies

Pros and Cons of Glassdoor and Indeed

Strengths and Weaknesses Breakdown

Job Platforms Comparison
Platform Pros Cons
Glassdoor Comprehensive employee reviews, Salary transparency, Employer branding opportunities Reviews may be biased, Limited job listings, dependent on Indeed
Indeed Vast job listing database, Advanced search filters and applicant tracking, Strong hiring tools for employers Lacks in-depth company reviews, Some job listings may be outdated or duplicated

Modern Recruiting tools: AI Agents vs. Glassdoor & Indeed

Understanding AI Agents

AI agent based platforms are designed to automate and streamline recruitment processes. They focus on building talent pipelines, speeding up hiring, and enhancing candidate experiences. For instance, the Talowiz AI Recruiting agents are trained to Instantly build talent pipelines using the Largest Talent Database, engage candidates across channels & manage the entire hiring process without you getting directly involved—so you can focus on what truly matters.

How these Agents differs from Glassdoor and Indeed?

While Indeed and Glassdoor help with job postings, employer branding, and company reviews, they don’t actually solve the core hiring challenges. They are marketplaces—platforms where job seekers and employers connect, but they don’t actively streamline the hiring process.

Here’s where Talowiz Agents stand out:

  • AI-Powered Teammates, Not Just Job Boards – Unlike Indeed and Glassdoor, Talowiz Agents don’t just list jobs; they actively find and engage top talent for you.
  • End-to-End Recruitment, Not Just Visibility – They source, filter, and optimize outreach, handling hiring from start to finish.
  • Smarter, Faster Hiring – No more irrelevant applications or waiting for candidates—Talowiz Agents proactively find the right fit before your competitors do.

While Indeed and Glassdoor focus on job seekers, Talowiz Agents actually fix hiring.

Comparison

Job Platforms Comparison
Aspect Indeed Glassdoor Talowiz
Primary Purpose Job search and recruitment platform Company reviews and employer branding Recruitment automation and talent intelligence
Job Posting Direct postings, large database Handled through Indeed, cross-posted Not applicable, focuses on sourcing and automation
Company Reviews Basic review feature Comprehensive, anonymous reviews Not a focus, internal tool for recruiters
Automation AI-driven job matching, candidate search Limited, focuses on branding and insights Full automation: sourcing, outreach, operations, ATS integration
Candidate Outreach Basic, through job applications Through employer branding, no direct outreach tools Personalized, multi-channel (email, LinkedIn, etc.), automated follow-ups
Target User Job seekers and employers Job seekers and employers for branding Recruitment teams, HR professionals
Scalability High, global reach, 60+ countries Global, but U.S.-centric, integrated with Indeed Scalable for high-volume, niche, and leadership hiring

Conclusion

Both Glassdoor and Indeed serve distinct yet complementary roles in the job market, helping job seekers make informed decisions and employers attract talent. However, AI Agent platforms like Talowiz represent the future of recruitment by automating and optimizing hiring processes. As recruitment becomes more data-driven, organizations leveraging AI tools will likely gain a competitive edge in talent acquisition, reducing hiring times and improving candidate experiences. By understanding these platforms' strengths and integrating them strategically, recruiters can maximize their success in an evolving job market.

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