The G2 on Xref

Xref Pros and Cons: Top Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find Xref to be very easy to use, thanks to simple questions and reliable integration with Oracle. (55 mentions)

Users commend the excellent customer support from Xref, highlighting responsiveness and quick resolution of queries. (32 mentions)

Users highlight the efficient reference check process with Xref, enhancing speed and ease in recruitment efforts. (23 mentions)

Users appreciate the speed of Xref, noting that the reference check process is now efficient and hassle-free. (23 mentions)

Users praise Xref for its time-saving efficiency, streamlining reference checks and relieving the hassle of communication. (22 mentions)

Users commend the helpful customer support of Xref, noting its responsiveness and tailored assistance for diverse needs. (17 mentions)

Users express frustration with the messy custom report design, which affects professionalism and usability of the product. (7 mentions)

Users find the intrusive notifications from Xref to be disturbing, especially when they occur too frequently. (6 mentions)

Users find the reference management limitations frustrating, particularly with sorting and editing references during progress. (6 mentions)

Users find the unclear information from Xref frustrating, especially regarding suspicious activity and submission steps. (6 mentions)

Users struggle with inadequate feedback due to a misleading scoring system affecting hiring managers’ decision-making. (5 mentions)

Users find the limited customization options in Xref frustrating, leading to time-consuming manual adjustments for reporting. (5 mentions)

Users find Xref to be a costly option, especially for smaller organizations and those with infrequent hiring needs. (4 mentions)

Users find the poor customization options limiting, especially in editing referees and survey metrics. (4 mentions)

Users are frustrated by emails frequently landing in junk/spam folders, causing delays in candidate responses. (3 mentions)

Users find the inadequate reporting from Xref concerning, impacting their ability to verify and manage referee information efficiently. (2 mentions)

Top Pros or Advantages of Xref

1. Ease of Use

Users find Xref to be very easy to use, thanks to simple questions and reliable integration with Oracle.

See 55 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you like about Xref?

The process of entering the information is very simple, and the system is extremely reliable. Not having to manage the process when you can't get i

Holly L.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"User friendly"

What do you like about Xref?

Very easy to use. I have used a few platforms previously and Xref is by far the easiest

2. Customer Support

Users commend the excellent customer support from Xref, highlighting responsiveness and quick resolution of queries.

See 32 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

Chris G.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Focused questions, easy to implement and great support from the XRef Engage team"

What do you like about Xref?

The survey questions are appropriate and the ability to include additional questions ensures the information received were aligned with the organisati

3. Reference Checks

Users highlight the efficient reference check process with Xref, enhancing speed and ease in recruitment efforts.

See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Xref -"

What do you like about Xref?

We have found Xref to be very easy to implement and use, a huge time saver in our recruitment process. The platform streamlines reference checking, sp

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

4. Speed

Users appreciate the speed of Xref, noting that the reference check process is now efficient and hassle-free.

See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Very good and easy to use"

What do you like about Xref?

saves a lot of time and does all the hard work. Never had any issues.

5. Time-saving

Users praise Xref for its time-saving efficiency, streamlining reference checks and relieving the hassle of communication.

See 22 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you like about Xref?

The process of entering the information is very simple, and the system is extremely reliable. Not having to manage the process when you can't get i

Ally T.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref Review"

What do you like about Xref?

We implemented Xref 4 months ago and it has improved our interview/reference check process immensely. The team like working with it and our hiring man

6. Helpful

Users commend the helpful customer support of Xref, noting its responsiveness and tailored assistance for diverse needs.

See 17 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Xref -"

What do you like about Xref?

We have found Xref to be very easy to implement and use, a huge time saver in our recruitment process. The platform streamlines reference checking, sp

Craig C.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref review"

What do you like about Xref?

I was amazed at the speed with which my requests were responded to, plus I received add information packages that I have since shared with the talent

Top Cons or Disadvantages of Xref

1. Reporting Issues

Users express frustration with the messy custom report design, which affects professionalism and usability of the product.

See 7 mentions

See Related User Reviews

4.5/5

"Easy to use, clear, quick results, minimal effort, automation"

What do you dislike about Xref?

I wish it could perhaps not send as many automated reminders out to the candidates and/or references, especially on the weekend, it feels slightly inv

4.0/5

"Platform is easy to use. Loads slowly."

What do you dislike about Xref?

Slow loading in the platform. Each report downloads as a separate report.

2. Intrusive Notifications

Users find the intrusive notifications from Xref to be disturbing, especially when they occur too frequently.

See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

4.5/5

"Easy to use, clear, quick results, minimal effort, automation"

What do you dislike about Xref?

I wish it could perhaps not send as many automated reminders out to the candidates and/or references, especially on the weekend, it feels slightly inv

James H.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Talent Acquisition Manager"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes the level of remainders for candidates can cause negative feedback

3. Reference Management

Users find the reference management limitations frustrating, particularly with sorting and editing references during progress.

See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you dislike about Xref?

That the completed references don't get sorted in the order they are completed (they are ordered by when they were sent out) which makes it more diffi

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"It has been easy to use and quick to review references and details."

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes the AI description being at the top of references is confusing. It also sometimes formats in different ways, e.g., there can be a blank page

4. Unclear Information

Users find the unclear information from Xref frustrating, especially regarding suspicious activity and submission steps.

See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"I like X Ref, it's efficient!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes, suspicious activity/ flags don't show up on the initial report. Instead I get an email from X-Ref end of day.. which is unreliable.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Great tool to conduct reference checks for candidates"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Some referees find the frequent reminders are disturbing. Sometimes candidates missed the last step to click "Submit" and their referees' details di

5. Inadequate Feedback

Users struggle with inadequate feedback due to a misleading scoring system affecting hiring managers’ decision-making.

See 5 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Sandra H.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Xref Review – Great Experience!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

One area that could use improvement is the scoring system. While the platform provides a numerical score based on referee responses, we’ve found that

Annie K.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Easy, Fast, Efficent, Reliable"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Not being able to access the referees contact details until they have filled it out

6. Limited Customization

Users find the limited customization options in Xref frustrating, leading to time-consuming manual adjustments for reporting.

See 5 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you dislike about Xref?

That the completed references don't get sorted in the order they are completed (they are ordered by when they were sent out) which makes it more diffi

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Easy to use and saves time"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The configuration of questions makes it difficult to add or remove questions from existing surveys

7. Expensive

Users find Xref to be a costly option, especially for smaller organizations and those with infrequent hiring needs.

See 4 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Helpful tool for large organisations"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The pricing structure is on the higher side. This would be more noticible for those with less frequent hiring needs, like smaller organisations.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Exactly what we needed"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Whilst ability to conduct different types of surveys are good once you have engaged the company, there are some hidden costs (mainly set-up and for mi

8. Poor Customization

Users find the poor customization options limiting, especially in editing referees and survey metrics.

See 4 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy to set and forget"

What do you dislike about Xref?

That the completed references don't get sorted in the order they are completed (they are ordered by when they were sent out) which makes it more diffi

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

3.5/5

"Easy to use and saves time"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The configuration of questions makes it difficult to add or remove questions from existing surveys

9. Email Management

Users are frustrated by emails frequently landing in junk/spam folders, causing delays in candidate responses.

See 3 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"I like X Ref, it's efficient!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes, suspicious activity/ flags don't show up on the initial report. Instead I get an email from X-Ref end of day.. which is unreliable.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Xref, references at your fingertips"

What do you dislike about Xref?

sometimes the emails to candidates go to junk/spam folders.

10. Inadequate Reporting

Users find the inadequate reporting from Xref concerning, impacting their ability to verify and manage referee information efficiently.

See 2 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"I like X Ref, it's efficient!"

What do you dislike about Xref?

Sometimes, suspicious activity/ flags don't show up on the initial report. Instead I get an email from X-Ref end of day.. which is unreliable.

Miranda R.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Talent Acquisition Lead"

What do you dislike about Xref?

The only thing we wish was possible is customising metrics and questions for pulse surveys along with exporting results and reports but apart from tha

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Verified User in Legal Services

10/30/2025

"It's efficient and well presented"

4/5

What do you like best about Xref?

The notifications when a ref has been complete and the status Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

I wish it connected with Workday so we don't have to do manual requests Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

Thanks for your review; it is really appreciated. We do integrate with Workday for many of our customers. Take a look at this video walkthrough showcasing our integration with Workday.

See how Xref improved

Verified User in Construction

10/30/2025

"Xref helps build a pool of potential talent and insights on candidates performance and behaviours."

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Easy to use and only takes 30-40 seconds to launch Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Nothing. The questionaire and navigation are easy Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

It's great to hear you are getting results from Xref's Talent Pool feature. Thanks so much for taking the time to give this review. We hope you are enjoying the new AI Summaries recently launched.

See how Xref improved

Verified User in Primary/Secondary Education

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

9/23/2025

Business partner of the seller or seller's competitor, not included in G2 scores.

"Great way to get information in a timely manner"

4/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Ease of Use

Customer Support is great

Get information quickly and helps with our processes Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Can't edit a template that has already been create Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

We're glad to hear that you find Xref easy to use and that our customer support has been helpful. We understand the frustration with not being able to edit a template that has already been created and will pass this feedback along to our product team.

Verified User in Information Technology and Services

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/15/2025

"Easy to use and saves time"

3.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

The fact that as a user, it’s easy to send out the checks Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

The configuration of questions makes it difficult to add or remove questions from existing surveys Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

We're glad to hear that you find Xref easy to use and that it saves you time! We understand your feedback about the configuration of questions and will take it into consideration for future improvements. We refrain from editing used surveys as they drive insights and benchmarks overtime. Instead, try duplicating and editing - this tends to be best practice and doesn't alter statistics already collected.

Mitchell B.

Recruitment

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/18/2025

"Recruitment Business Partner"

3.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Ease of use, multiple references to be sent as one. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

Better implementation could be of use into Pulse platform. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Zoe T.

Talent Acquisition Partner

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

10/28/2024

"Awesome platform!"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

What I like most about Xref is that I don’t have to chase down references anymore—referees can complete them at their own convenience, which saves me a lot of time and hassle. I also appreciate the security feature that tracks IP addresses, so I can feel confident about the authenticity of the responses. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

One thing I dislike about Xref is that I sometimes lose the personal touch that comes with directly speaking to a referee. While it’s convenient, the automated process can feel a bit impersonal. Additionally, if a referee is slow to respond, there’s not much I can do to speed things up, which can sometimes delay the process. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Xref solving and how is that benefiting you?

Xref is solving the time-consuming problem of chasing down references and manually coordinating schedules. With referees able to complete their references at any time, I save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent following up. The platform also adds a layer of security by tracking IP addresses, giving me confidence in the accuracy and authenticity of the references. Overall, Xref helps streamline my workflow, allowing me to focus on other aspects of the hiring process. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Shieanne Dcruz of Xref

edit

Thank you for your review, Zoe.

We’re pleased to hear you’re benefiting from the advantages of automated reference checking. Many of our customers find Xref’s ability to flag potentially suspicious activity invaluable in making informed hiring decisions.

Regarding your comment about losing personal touch due to the automated process, we’d like to tell you more about Xref’s sentiment tool. The tool’s algorithm measures a referee's 'tone of voice'. It picks up on the referee's positive, neutral, and negative language to give you an indication of the candidate's performance, reducing the chance for a reference to be misinterpreted.

Interestingly, 65% of reference checks submitted through Xref are completed outside business hours—a feature our customers love, as it eliminates phone tag, and the referee completes the check at their convenience.

Thanks again for your review.

Mark F.

Recruitment Officer

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2/10/2025

"The Best Tool for Recruiters"

5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

Xref is a fantastic time saver - no more making phone calls, leaving messages that aren't answered and asking the same questions over and over.

I love that it's candidate led - if the candidate wants the job they will complete their references!

Send off the link to Xref and leave it ALL with Xref Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

There's absolutely nothing I dislike about Xref Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

Thank you for sharing how Xref is helping you save time and improve your recruitment process. We appreciate your positive review!

Miranda R.

Talent Acquisition Lead

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

11/26/2024

"Talent Acquisition Lead"

5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

The platform is easy to use, and the integration is straightforward. I love that there are extra features like Pulse surveys and Exit interviews. Jackie our account manager and Jonathan have both been great at providing updates and timely personable support. The best support compare to other products we have. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

The only thing we wish was possible is customising metrics and questions for pulse surveys along with exporting results and reports but apart from that it's a great. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Shieanne Dcruz of Xref

edit

Thank you for your glowing review, Miranda. We're thrilled to hear that you find Xref easy to use and are enjoying the many benefits of an automated platform.

Pulses and Exit Survey help reduce attrition and improve retention over time by collecting consistent data to improve organisational performance so we’re glad you are making the most of both these features.

We agree that Jackie and Jonathan are stars, and we are glad you are satisfied with their support.

It's great to hear that Xref is saving you time on reference checking and helping you capture new talent efficiently. Thank you for choosing Xref!

Verified User in Civil Engineering

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

9/15/2025

"Very good and easy to use"

5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

saves a lot of time and does all the hard work. Never had any issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

nothing, it's very easy to use and very quick. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Lee Seymour of Xref

edit

Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We're glad to hear that Xref is making your job easier and more efficient. We have some future Workday improvements so watch this space :-)

Jessica D.

Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

2/10/2025

"Seamless platform, simple to access"

4.5/5

What do you like best about Xref?

As a recruiter, it is important we have an easily accessable platform for both our hiring team and candidates. Xref makes it very easy to send, complete and retrieve candidate references, and the suspicious activity flag is really beneficial. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Xref?

It would be useful to increase the amount of referrer fields by one or two, or an edit function, in the case of incorrect or bounced referee email addresses/phone numbers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.