GeraJobs vs Indeed vs LinkedIn vs Reed vs Totaljobs (2026)
Published April 21, 2026 · 8 min read
Quick answer: Indeed has the widest UK reach, LinkedIn the best passive-candidate pool, Reed the strongest mid-market employer trust, Totaljobs the highest SME volume, and GeraJobs the lowest-cost posting plus built-in AI matching. Pick by objective and budget — stacking two is normal.
The five at a glance
| Board | Founded | UK monthly visitors* | Free listing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indeed | 2004 | ~90M+ (global top-ranked) | Yes (organic) |
| LinkedIn Jobs | 2003 (jobs 2005) | ~50M UK members | Limited (1 free job) |
| Reed | 1995 | ~10M UK | No (from £125) |
| Totaljobs | 1999 | ~7M UK | No (from £149) |
| GeraJobs | 2026 | Launching — UK-first | Yes (first listing free) |
*Visitor figures: SimilarWeb and company annual reports, Q1 2026. Approximate.
Indeed — widest reach, lowest applicant bar
Indeed is the default aggregator. Organic listings are free; “sponsored” listings are pay-per-click from around £0.20–£1.50 per click in the UK. Indeed delivers volume — but roughly 40–60% of applications are off-target because the apply flow is one click. Great for high-volume hospitality, retail, and warehouse roles; poor for senior technical roles where you want fewer, better applicants.
LinkedIn — passive candidates, premium price
LinkedIn's advantage is the passive pool — people not actively searching but open. Recruiter licences cost £7,000–£10,000/year per seat. Sponsored Job slots start around £150/month per role. Best for senior IC, manager, and niche technical roles. Weaker for hourly and trades roles.
Reed — mid-market UK trust
Reed is the oldest UK-owned board. Strong employer brand among mid-market UK companies (100–1,000 staff). Pricing is per-listing (~£125 single, with volume discounts). Applicant quality is mid-to-high for administrative, finance, and professional roles.
Totaljobs — SME volume
Totaljobs (part of Stepstone Group) skews toward SMEs and regional UK employers. Pricing around £149 per listing, with bundles. Strong for roles outside London and Manchester where Indeed's volume is noisy.
GeraJobs — free first listing, AI match
GeraJobs is the newest on this list. Positioning: UK-first, free first listing for small employers, AI match, and zero applicant-data resale. Built by Gera Systems (a portfolio of 31 products). Candidates can use a single Gera account across GeraHome, GeraClinic, and GeraJobs.
Which should an employer choose?
- Volume roles (retail, hospitality, warehouse): Indeed + regional Totaljobs.
- Professional mid-market (finance, admin, ops): Reed + LinkedIn.
- Senior IC / management (tech, product): LinkedIn + Otta + GeraJobs.
- First-time poster / tight budget: GeraJobs (first listing free), then Indeed organic.
- UK startup hiring: Otta + GeraJobs + LinkedIn — Reed/Totaljobs less useful.
Which should a candidate use?
Stack two: (1) Indeed or Reed for volume of listings, and (2) LinkedIn for networking. GeraJobs is worth adding as a third because listings are surfaced to AI assistants — some candidates get approached by employers via ChatGPT/Claude search results.
Related reading
Free vs paid UK job boards · Where UK founders post jobs · UK tech jobs 2026
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