Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs are 2.6x times faster to first hire than non-sponsored jobs.**
  • Attract the talent you’re looking for
  • Get more visibility in search results
  • Appear to more candidates longer

Free vs Sponsored Jobs on Indeed

Ready to get started?

Post a Job

When posting a job on Indeed, you’ll have the option to post a job for free* or sponsor (pay to post) your job to get better visibility, attract more of the right candidates and unlock other useful hiring tools.

But which one is right for your company and the roles you’re hiring for? This post breaks down the differences between posting a job for free vs Sponsored Jobs on Indeed to help you decide.

*Terms, conditions, quality standards and usage limits apply

Ready to get started?

Post a Job
Optimize Your Interviews
Use our toolkit to optimize your interview process, improve your hiring decisions and enhance the candidate experience.
Get the Toolkit

Quick intro: Free vs Sponsored Jobs

There are two types of job postings on Indeed: posting a job for free and paid job postings (also known as Sponsored Jobs).

Both of these job listings appear on Indeed in relevant job seeker search results and candidates can apply on nearly any device. With both posting a job for free and Sponsored Jobs, you’ll also get access to your Employer Dashboard, where you can easily manage jobs and candidates all in one place.

So what’s the difference between posting a job for free vs Sponsored Jobs on Indeed? Posting a job for free falls back in job seeker search results as new jobs are posted. Since 15 jobs are added per second on Indeed, these job postings can lose visibility quickly. 

Sponsored postings, on the other hand, appear more often and for longer in search results than non-sponsored jobs and don’t need to be reposted. This makes it more likely that your jobs will be seen by the candidates you’re looking for. In fact, Sponsored Jobs have 3.1X as many impressions per day than non-sponsored jobs.[1] Sponsored Jobs also come with other exclusive hiring tools and benefits that can help you attract the right candidates faster.

What is posting a job for free?

Most jobs can be posted for free on Indeed. When you post a job for free, it will appear in relevant search results but will lose visibility over time. A job posted for free can be a great option to start out with. As your hiring needs evolve, Indeed can help you focus on the right candidates with hiring tools like:

How to post a job for free on Indeed

To post a job for free on Indeed, sign up for an Indeed employer account and click the “Post a Job” button, or ​​click here. Add important information to your job posting, like job title, location and a detailed job description. If you need help writing a great job description check out our job description guide.

When you’re done creating your job posting, click “Confirm” and your job will be posted. Afterward, you’ll have the option to sponsor your job, which you can skip.

Check out How to Post a Job on Indeed: Employer Guide for more details.

What is a Sponsored Job?

A Sponsored Job is a paid job posting. Sponsoring your job makes it appear more often in job seeker search results than a job listing posted for free. This can make a significant impact on hiring.

A Sponsored Job includes everything a job posted for free comes with, plus other advanced hiring tools and benefits that can help you compete for great talent. With a Sponsored Job, you’ll also get:

  • Better job post visibility: Sponsored Jobs have more staying power in job seeker search results than non-sponsored jobs. That means you’re more likely to receive the applicants you’re looking for. Indeed data shows that Sponsored Jobs deliver 60% more applicants on average than non-sponsored jobs.[2]
  • Pay for performance: Reach the right candidates faster when you sponsor your job on Indeed. Increase your visibility in search results, and place your posts in front of active job seekers. Learn more about pricing on Indeed.

Check out our Sponsored Jobs FAQs for more details.

How to post a Sponsored Job on Indeed

To sponsor your job, post a job directly on Indeed or from your career site or ATS. After adding your job description and other job details, we’ll show you the cost for your specific job title and location. We’ll help you decide which jobs to promote and how to budget. Post your job to get started.

You can also upgrade any of your job posts to a Sponsored Job at any time from your Employer Dashboard. Just click “Sponsor Job” on the right-hand side of the job you want to sponsor.

Should you post for free or sponsor your job?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to sponsor a job:

  • How quickly do you need to hire? If you need someone fast, you may need the optimal visibility a Sponsored Job provides. You can also use the Urgently Hiring label to show job seekers you’re actively recruiting. This label will only appear on your job card when you sponsor.
  • How many people do you want to hire for the job opening? The more openings you have, the more applications you’ll likely need.
  • Is it a hard-to-fill position? Roles that require specialized skills (e.g., nurses, software engineers, managers) can benefit from the added visibility that comes with a Sponsored Job.
  • Are you hiring in a competitive market? If you live in an area with a smaller pool of candidates or if there are a large number of companies in your area vying for that talent, sponsoring can help you stand out.
  • Do you already have a good job description and job title? If your job posting isn’t bringing in the right candidates, try optimizing your job description. Find out exactly what job seekers are looking for in a job description or check out this article to improve your job descriptions. If you’re still not receiving the right applications, try sponsoring your job to get it in front of your ideal candidates.

Free job post vs Sponsored Jobs FAQs

How much does it cost to sponsor a job on Indeed?

The cost to sponsor a job depends on your specific hiring needs. We take into account the local market conditions in your area, as well as the job title and location for your job post to determine pricing.You’ll always see the price upfront before sponsoring and can easily adjust the timeframe by setting a daily or monthly budget to meet your needs.

Check out our article Indeed Pricing: Job Posting Costs for more information.

Can sponsoring a job improve time-to-hire?

Yes, Indeed data show that Sponsored Jobs are 2.6X faster to first hire than non-sponsored jobs.[3]

How many jobs can you post for free on Indeed?

There is no exact limit to the number of jobs you’re allowed to post on Indeed unless it’s determined that you’re using your account incorrectly.

What jobs can you not post for free?

Indeed may require certain jobs to be sponsored in order to verify the legitimacy of the job and/or the employer, to prevent abuse of the free to post system, to improve our services or for any other reason in Indeed’s sole discretion.

For example, sponsorship may be required for the following types of jobs: identical jobs posted in multiple locations, jobs posted with a confidential or generic company name, jobs that are commission-only, hard-to-fill jobs, or jobs posted by a staffing agency, recruitment process outsourcer, or other recruitment-based company.

See Indeed’s terms and conditions for more information.


Optimize Your Interviews
Use our toolkit to optimize your interview process, improve your hiring decisions and enhance the candidate experience.
Get the Toolkit