Yes, Indeed is free for employers up to a point. Indeed says you can post up to three free jobs directly on Indeed per calendar month, each staying live for up to 30 days, and the limit resets every month. You only pay if you pay to promote a job for more visibility, post more than three in a month, or post certain job types that Indeed says require payment.
For a small business hiring its first assistant or a part-time role, that's good news. You can test the market without spending anything. But Indeed's own pricing pages list some rules that catch employers out, so read them before you hit publish.
Free vs paid jobs on Indeed
| Free job post | Paid job post | |
|---|---|---|
| How many | Up to three per calendar month | As many as you pay for |
| How long it's live | Up to 30 days | Visibility lasts while it's paid |
| Visibility | Shown in relevant results, then falls back as new jobs arrive | Prioritised in relevant search results |
| Tiers | One free listing type | Standard or Premium paid job posts |
Indeed says free listings appear in relevant job seeker search results but then fall back in search as newer jobs are added. That's the real trade-off. A free post gets seen, just not for long.
When Indeed makes you pay
Indeed's pricing article lists reasons you may be required to pay, and says the list isn't complete:
- You've posted more than three free jobs directly on Indeed in one calendar month.
- Your jobs reach Indeed through a data feed, careers site or ATS while you're also posting jobs directly on Indeed.
- The job requires the candidate to relocate.
- It's a confidential job that doesn't name your organisation.
The second one surprises people. If your recruitment software already sends jobs to Indeed automatically and you also post directly, Indeed may ask you to pay. Check what your ATS is doing before you add a manual post.
How paid job pricing works
Indeed says there's no universal flat fee to post a job. When you pay to promote a job, you set a budget and pay based on results, either per click or per started application depending on your account and market. Indeed recommends a budget based on the job title, location and description, but says the recommendation isn't mandatory, and you can pause or close a paid job post at any time from your employer dashboard.
One detail worth knowing: Indeed says that if you downgrade a job from paid to free, you may still see remaining charges for billable activity, though they'll never exceed your maximum budget. Indeed also sends invoices on the first day of the month for the previous month's clicks or started applications.
How to post a free job on Indeed
- Create an employer account on Indeed.
- Write a clear job title and description, including your organisation's name.
- When Indeed offers to promote the job, skip it if you want the post to stay free. Indeed says it asks for payment information before it begins to promote a job.
- Publish the job and track applicants from your employer dashboard.
- Close or refresh the post before the 30 days run out if you still need candidates.
Indeed isn't the only place to advertise for free. My list of free job posting sites covers others worth adding alongside it.
Is Indeed free for job seekers?
Job seekers search and apply on Indeed without paying. Indeed's own myths and facts page warns candidates to watch for red flags, such as requests for payment, instant job offers without an interview or unusually high pay, and says Indeed never contacts job seekers offering employment through social media or text messages. If you're hunting for remote work, my guide on finding legitimate remote jobs on Indeed shows how to spot the fakes.
What paying to promote adds
Indeed offers two tiers of paid job posts, Standard and Premium, and says paid jobs keep their increased visibility for as long as you keep paying to promote them. It also sells tools such as Smart Screening and Smart Sourcing, which it describes as helping you find and screen candidates with the right credentials. You don't need any of them to hire, but they're where the costs start if you opt in.
Indeed is open about its billing safeguards too. For new accounts paying to promote a job for the first time, it says it may send an early invoice once the balance reaches a set threshold, as a secondary check on your payment method. If you're on a tight hiring budget, set your maximum before you start rather than after.
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Making a free post work harder
Because free posts slide down the results as new jobs are added, timing and wording matter. Post when you're ready to review applications quickly, use the job title people search for rather than an internal one, and put the essentials in the first lines of the description. If you're screening lots of applicants, my roundup of AI recruiting software covers tools that sort them faster.
My verdict
Indeed is free for small employers who post a few roles a month and can live with visibility that fades. Start with the three free posts, name your business and avoid the job types that trigger a payment. Pay only when a role is urgent or hard to fill, and set a budget you're comfortable with, because Indeed charges for engagement, not results.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to post a job on Indeed?
Yes. Indeed says you can post up to three free jobs directly on Indeed per calendar month, each live for up to 30 days.
Does the free job limit reset?
Yes. Indeed says the three free job postings limit resets automatically each month.
When does Indeed ask for payment information?
Indeed says you'll be prompted for payment information before it begins to promote your job post, and it validates billing details to help prevent fraud.
Why is Indeed asking me to pay for my job post?
Indeed lists reasons such as going over three free posts a month, posting directly while an ATS also feeds jobs, relocation roles and confidential jobs.
Can I pause a paid job post on Indeed?
Yes. Indeed says you can pause or close a paid job post at any time from your employer dashboard.
How does Indeed charge for paid job posts?
Indeed says you set a budget and pay based on results, per click or per started application depending on your account and market.
