# XML sitemaps vs IndexNow

> Sitemaps and IndexNow solve different problems and can be used together. Sitemaps are a pull mechanism that crawlers read on their own schedule, while IndexNow pushes change notices to participating engines. Google does not participate in IndexNow.

- URL: https://geo.casa/tools-protocols/sitemaps-vs-indexnow/
- Comparison · Officially documented
- Reviewed: 2026-10-25

## At a glance

| | XML sitemap | IndexNow |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Pull — crawler fetches a file | Push — site pings an endpoint |
| Specification | sitemaps.org protocol | indexnow.org |
| Discovery | `sitemap:` in robots.txt, or submission in webmaster tools | HTTP request with a key hosted on your site |
| Limits | 50,000 URLs or 50 MB (uncompressed) per file | Up to 10,000 URLs per POST request |
| Signals | URL list, optional `lastmod` | "This URL was added, updated or deleted" |
| Google | Supported | Not a participating engine |

> **Officially documented:**
> A single sitemap file may contain at most 50,000 URLs and must not exceed 50 MB uncompressed; larger sites use a sitemap index file.
>
> Sources: [sitemaps.org: Sitemaps XML format](https://www.sitemaps.org/protocol.html)

> **Officially documented:**
> IndexNow lets a site notify participating search engines of added, updated or deleted URLs, with up to 10,000 URLs in a single POST request.
>
> Sources: [IndexNow.org: IndexNow documentation](https://www.indexnow.org/documentation)

> **Officially documented:**
> A submission alerts all participating engines that content changed, "but each engine makes its own decision about whether to index it." The FAQ lists Amazon, Bing, Naver, Seznam.cz, Yandex and Yep as endpoints; Google is not among them.
>
> Sources: [IndexNow.org: IndexNow FAQ](https://www.indexnow.org/faq)

## When to use which

- **Always:** a sitemap listing only canonical, indexable URLs, with accurate `lastmod`.
- **Add IndexNow** when freshness on Bing and other participating engines matters (news, prices, frequently updated docs).
- Neither guarantees crawling or indexing.

## Not established

Whether IndexNow submissions change how quickly content is cited in AI answers on participating platforms. We know of no published measurement.

## Sources

- [sitemaps.org: Sitemaps XML format](https://www.sitemaps.org/protocol.html)
- [IndexNow.org: IndexNow documentation](https://www.indexnow.org/documentation)
- [IndexNow.org: IndexNow FAQ](https://www.indexnow.org/faq)