Monster vs Indeed: Which is Best?

For those currently in the hiring process, you’ll need to invest some time into searching for the right person. With an abundance of job recruitment sites out there, it can be difficult to determine one that suits all of your needs. 

Two of the biggest competitors operating in the recruitment world are Indeed and Monster. These sites are used by a plethora of employers and employees on the hunt for their next position. If you’re currently comparing Indeed vs Monster, we’re here to help! 

In this article, we will compare and contrast Indeed and Monster to help you make an informed decision to improve your recruiting efforts. From the cost to ease of use and whether it works, we will take a deep dive into these websites to help uncover the one that works best for you. 

Why Do Companies Use Jobs Sites? 

Recruitment sites like Monster and Indeed focus on advertising job roles to attract the right candidates for that position. They help to place job seekers in roles that are relevant to their skills and expertise in a particular industry. 

Job sites are also an excellent opportunity to advertise your available positions to a huge audience, as they tend to have a large reach. Job seekers can compare a variety of positions to help them narrow down their options. It also provides a great place to showcase why your business is different and what you have to offer, helping companies improve their employer branding. 

With special functions such as filters and notifications for specific roles, job seekers can use these sites to remain up to date with recruitment in a variety of ways. Both Monster and Indeed provide an array of services to employers and candidates and create a space to communicate and search in a way that is specifically tailored to the person or company.

Monster vs Indeed Overview 

When comparing the best recruitment sites, several factors should be taken into consideration. Both Monster and Indeed provide a similar offering, so differentiating between the two can appear tricky at first. However, certain features on each of these sites will be better suited to you. 

To help make your decision-making process a little easier, we have drawn these comparisons for you below. This way you can see clearly what differentiates Monster from Indeed, to ensure you’re using a platform that caters to your needs. 

At a glance, Monster is split into two branches. You can sign up for the regular Monster account or opt for Monster +. 

You’ve probably already guessed it, but the latter of the two allows you to access more recruitment tools such as free job posting and paid sponsorship on listings, but no access to the resume database. 

In comparison, regular Monster allows you to access its resume database and integrate your applicant tracking system. Which you decide to choose will ultimately depend on what you’re looking to get out of using this platform. 

Indeed, on the other hand, has one of the biggest databases for CVs, making it great for those looking to recruit globally. It also allows you to post your current jobs alongside other listings, great for providing a place for the candidate to compare. 

As a general overview, Monster provides an excellent platform for those seeking local recruitment and provides job seekers with fewer listings to scroll through. Whereas Indeed has a much larger database and operates in more countries, making it perfect for those in need of international recruitment. 

For those of you looking to uncover the differences between Monster and Indeed, below you will find a ton of information that will help you compare and select the right site for your recruitment needs. 

Monster 

To kick start our comparison, Monster’s job recruitment site operates in around 14 countries, allowing recruiters and job seekers to connect worldwide. Here you will discover a ton of businesses operating in a variety of industries, alongside a great selection of candidates. Keep reading to learn more about the cost, ease of use and whether or not Monster is the one for you. 

Cost

When looking at Monster for hiring, you’ll want to consider costs. It was found by the British Business Bank that hiring someone in the UK on an average salary costs around £3,000, so plenty of businesses are trying to get it right the first time around.

With recruitment costs already stacking up, you’ll want to ensure that you get the most for your money when using sites like Monster or Indeed. There are two different plans when signing up to Monster. 

The first option is their Monster+ Standard. This option allows you to pay when candidates view or apply to your jobs, adjust your budget anytime, is great for a single user and includes onsite applicant tracking. You can choose to set your average daily budget with a minimum spend of £7 per day, great for those looking for flexibility from their Monster job posting cost. 

Another option when using Monster is the Monster+ Pro plan. This allows employers to promote jobs and find candidates with a monthly subscription, monthly credits included to either promote jobs and/or search databases, great for teams or multiple users, includes onsite applicant tracking, provides the ability to proactively message qualified candidates and includes Monter’s CV search. The cost for this plan is £99 a month and provides you with more tools than the standard option. 

How Easy is it to Use? 

Another thing to consider when pondering if Monster is a good job site is the ease of use. This will help determine whether or not it is worth investing your time and money into, allowing you to make an informed decision. 

Monster is known for being easy to use, making finding candidates an efficient process for many. There are plenty of features included in the functionality of Monster that make it a relatively easy site to use. With phone support, a CV database, CV search, budget control, an activity dashboard, and a built-in database, you will discover plenty of options to make your life easier when using the site. 

In comparison to Indeed, it is clear to see that Monster has fewer features than its opponent, some of which might make the former easier to use. These are explored in the how easy is it to use section below. 

Does it Work? 

When looking at hiring through Monster, you’re likely wondering if it works. After you have invested time and money into the platform, results are key. 

Many users found that the site’s ability to attract and match candidates to jobs has proved very helpful in the recruitment process. With this in mind, it would suggest that Monster does work for what it is intended to do. 

Some of the other pros of using Monster include the site also saves time in the hiring process and helps to narrow down the options for those who are unqualified for the position you are advertising. The site also allows you to easily navigate and streamline your approach, providing users with a great layout and user-friendly features. 

For those looking to hire with specific criteria in mind, Monster’s CV search filter is great. This provides users with a detailed search option that allows them to narrow down their choices and only browse for candidates who fit what they’re looking for. The Monster search engine is a fantastic tool for those hoping to save time as it allows them to select key features and determine appropriate candidates. 

Indeed 

Now you know a little more about what Monster has to offer, let’s dive into Indeed for recruitment to uncover some of the site’s features. Below you will find an overview of what it can provide in terms of cost, ease of use and whether or not it works. 

Cost

Similar to Monster, Indeed has a couple of different pricing options. You can either set a custom limit to spend on your job advertisements or pay the monthly fee to receive applications until you pause or close the position. 

Once you have created an employer account on Indeed, you can then choose to post your jobs for free or opt for the pay-per-click option. This means that you can post jobs for free on this site as soon as you have created an account. Within this, you’re able to add a job description, the location of the role, skills and qualifications you’re looking for, alongside the level of experience needed. 

Free job adverts will then appear in general search results on Indeed, which is great for those searching for roles with a specific set of criteria. However, it is important to note that although these types of posts are saving you money, they are only most visible in the first few days. After which, they will fall in the search results as new employers begin to post their ads which will be boosted to the top. 

For those looking to keep their job advertisement higher up in the search results, sponsored job posts on Indeed are likely a better choice. These allow you to attract more candidates and are said to be 80% more likely to receive more applications than the non-sponsored option. 

The pricing for sponsored ads on Indeed is also super flexible, great for those looking to cut costs during the recruitment process. It is determined by things like the job location, job title and available candidates in your market. There is no set limit for sponsored jobs on Indeed, meaning you get to set your price depending on how much you’re looking to invest into your recruitment. 

Ultimately, what you spend on Indeed depends on what you are aiming to get out of the site. There are added features such as Indeed Resume that allow you to search the site’s database for suitable candidates. This means you can contact potential hires, without waiting for them to find you. The pricing for this varies depending on whether you’re using a standard or Indeed Plus account. With the cost ranging from around £100 to £250 a month, allowing from contacts of 30 to 100, you get to decide the plan that best suits you.

Other features can be added to your account. These include Featured Employer, Company Pages, Indeed Hiring Events and Target Ads, all of which require you to contact Indeed for a price. 

How Easy is it to Use? 

Indeed is considered to be one of the easiest sites to use for both job seekers and employers. With options to see applicants’ skills assessments, invitations, specific applicants and job alerts, you’ll find this a great tool with simple navigation. 

Posting a job on Indeed is also an easy process and can be done for free, making it great for those looking to target a smaller audience. You can also use features on the site that allow you to scour relevant candidates through their CV search, perfect for recruiters aiming to save time during this process. 

Plus, with the option to set up an account for free, you can spend some time navigating Indeed and learning how to use the platform without paying a penny! 

Does it Work? 

Indeed is an excellent tool for those looking to reach a large number of candidates, as it has one of the biggest databases on the market. This makes it perfect for those posting multiple job ads, or looking to choose from a variety of applicants.

Indeed is also great for communicating with applicants through the platform and the easy-to-use app provides a convenient way to manage your advertisements on the go. Its comprehensive skills assessment feature also makes it easier to narrow down your options and find the most suitable hire. So, for those looking to hire someone with a specific skill set, Indeed is the place for you.

Summary 

We hope that you now have a comprehensive insight into both Monster and Indeed for employers. Both of these sites are great tools for those looking to boost their company and attract some of the best talent. 

Monster has plenty of amazing features that provide recruiters with an abundance of tools for finding the right candidate. With options to search for a specific set of skills and an impressive database of candidates, it makes for an excellent choice for those looking for local hires or smaller companies with fewer job advertisements. 

Indeed allows you to tailor your spending and also provides users with a larger database of candidates, which is great for those looking for international hires. What’s more, the verified skills assessments and CV searches allow employers to narrow down their options and save time. 

Deciding on the winner between Indeed and Monster is difficult as both sites have something to offer for different businesses. Larger companies are likely to get more for their money when using Indeed, whereas Monster is great for smaller businesses with fewer recruiting needs. However, when looking for a winner, Indeed seems to have more to offer for its cost than its opponent.

If neither of these sites has what you’re looking for and you’re aiming to attract and retain the best and brightest talent in your field, the Marketists can help. Specialising in marketing for recruitment businesses, we can support you in getting your brand in front of the right people. Get in touch to find out more about our services or check out our other articles to learn more.