IndexNow vs. XML Sitemaps
A sitemap is a full list search engines check occasionally; IndexNow is an instant heads-up for one change.
What it means
An XML sitemap is a complete list of every page on your site, which search engines revisit periodically to look for changes. IndexNow is the opposite approach — instead of waiting to be checked, your site actively pings the search engine the moment one specific page changes.
Why it matters
These solve different problems and work best together, not as substitutes. A sitemap is how a search engine discovers your site's overall structure; IndexNow is how it hears about a single urgent change without waiting for its next scheduled crawl. Relying on only one leaves a gap — a sitemap alone means updates can sit unnoticed, and IndexNow alone (where it's supported) doesn't help with a search engine that ignores it, like Google.
ask datanephew
Do I need both, or is one enough?
Keep both — your sitemap should stay up to date automatically, and ask datanephew to submit specific pages through IndexNow whenever you make a time-sensitive change.
Since Google doesn't support IndexNow, does any of this help my Google traffic?
Not directly for Google, but Bing and the other IndexNow search engines do get faster updates, and your sitemap continues to help Google in the background. Ask datanephew to check your Search Console status if Google-specific speed is your main concern.