On United States radio, the song was a multi-format smash, becoming just the fourth song in history to top the Mainstream Top 40, Adult Top 40, Alternative Songs, and Triple A charts. Peaking at number four on the Hot 100, it gave the band their first top five hit there, and spent 57 weeks on the chart. In the United States, 'Use Somebody' became the band's mainstream breakthrough.

Nick Levine of Digital Spy said, 'With its Springsteen-style 'oooah-woooah's, gathering storm of guitars and lusty, longing vocals from Caleb Followill, it's nearly as infectious as ' Sex on Fire'.' Gavin Haynes of NME praised the song as 'easily the best 80's power ballad of 2008', but cautioned that the band 'may be in danger of mistaking bluster for brilliance'. Mikael Wood of Entertainment Weekly called 'Use Somebody' a highlight of the album, describing the song as 'a too-cool hipster's cry for comfort'. The song has received generally positive reviews from music critics.