Launched in May 2003, LinkedIn has become the leading professional networking platform, boasting over 500 million registered users spanning 200 countries. However, despite its extensive user base, the imposition of a $50 subscription fee for access to advanced features is a significant drawback for many. While this fee alone may not be the sole reason for users to seek alternatives, an increasing number are exploring other platforms for professional networking. If you find yourself among this cohort, consider exploring our curated list of the top 8 LinkedIn alternatives:
Premier Professional Networking Platforms Beyond LinkedIn
1. Xing
Xing is widely regarded as a major competitor to LinkedIn in continental Europe. However, it still has a long way to go to be a true global alternative. Like LinkedIn, Xing connects job-seekers and headhunters across numerous countries. With over 14 million users globally, it is touted as the largest business network in Germany and German-speaking Europe.
Like LinkedIn, Xing operates on a freemium model, meaning basic membership is free, but premium features are behind a paywall. Employers must pay to search for people with specific qualifications. Other features include discussion forums and event coordination. The site is available in at least 17 languages including English, German, French, Korean, Chinese, and Turkish. Xing also has a mobile app on Android and iOS.
2. Meetup
Meetup, an online social networking website, facilitates “offline group meetings” worldwide. Like Linkedin and other platforms, Meetup began as a web-only service but now offers a mobile app for Android and iOS. Users can join groups based on common interests such as movies, music, sports, and politics. The platform operates in over 280 countries with 32 million members in 280,000 groups. While individuals can join groups for free, organizers must pay a subscription fee.
Meetup is an invaluable tool for real-world networking. Whether arranging meetings or hosting events offline, it’s a must-try alternative to LinkedIn. Overall, Meetup facilitates networking with like-minded individuals, professionally or personally.
3. Opportunity
Opportunity, an “online business network,” employs a matching algorithm to discover business opportunities worldwide. It stands out as a premier alternative to LinkedIn, connecting jobseekers with sales leads and similar professionals globally. Millions of new jobs are sourced monthly from various websites and distributed to members based on their skills, interests, and experience.
As expected on any serious networking platform today, Opportunity offers mobile apps for Android and iOS to aid jobseekers and headhunters on the go. The app sends notifications to users for new, matching job listings in the locality. Opportunity claims to have found over 380 million jobs from various online listings and connected over 50 million professionals in more than 190 countries.
4. Connect (Data.com)
Operated by Salesforce, Connect.Data.com serves as a LinkedIn alternative, offering employers and job seekers a platform for interaction. Unlike LinkedIn, it uniquely provides users with the contact number and email of individuals at targeted companies, regardless of their role. While contingent upon availability in a company’s directory, Connect ensures regular updates to maintain accuracy.
The website enables users to search business directories by name, company, or industry type, simplifying networking within the same industry locally. While some features are free, premium ones cost up to $250 annually.
Top Alternatives to LinkedIn for Freelancers
1. Upwork
Not strictly a ‘networking’ site like LinkedIn, Upwork offers diverse job opportunities for freelancers worldwide. It emerged from the merger of Elance and oDesk in 2013, rebranding as Upwork a few years later. Serving as a middleman between freelancers and employers, it facilitates contract-based hiring. Users can opt for short- or long-term engagements, whether paying per hour or per project.
Listings encompass software developer, content writer, legal consultant, marketing expert, PR consultant, and more. The platform now offers a real-time chat service hailed by the company’s CEO, Stephane Kasriel, as a “Slack Killer”. Upwork, like its competitors, provides new mobile apps for Android and iOS, facilitating online opportunity browsing and hiring.
2. Freelancer
Similar to Upwork, Freelancer isn’t an exact LinkedIn replacement, but while LinkedIn suits those seeking full-time employment, Freelancer is ideal for contract-based work. It stands as one of the oldest online platforms connecting independent professionals with employers seeking freelancers. With over 15 million registered freelancers and 5 million clients, they’ve completed 7 million projects.
The unique aspect of Freelancer is its competitive bidding system, albeit with bid limitations for free members. To remove these restrictions, users must subscribe, with fees ranging from $0.99 to $49.95 per month. Freelancer also hosts contests with monetary prizes.
Top LinkedIn Alternative Job Sites
1. Indeed
Indeed.com, not an exact replacement for LinkedIn, is generally considered the gold standard of job search websites, boasting millions of job listings from thousands of sites, job boards, and classifieds. The company posts thousands of new job listings weekly, accommodating over a billion job searches monthly. Users can create a free profile, upload a resume, and search job postings aggregated from the web. Like other job search websites, you can filter results by category, location, or salary. Indeed, like LinkedIn and many other sites on this list, offers mobile apps for Android and iOS, facilitating job searches on the go.
Indeed.com serves as a valuable resource for both jobseekers and employers. Its minimalist UI may initially deter some users, but its effectiveness is evident, with the website ranking among the top 200 most-trafficked sites globally, according to Alexa.
2. Monster
Monster.com, a top job portal, attracts global headhunters. Established in the nineties, it’s now among the world’s busiest job sites per Alexa. Similar to LinkedIn, Monster.com offers Android and iOS apps on Play Store and App Store. Despite its past dominance, it yielded to Indeed.com in 2010, remaining in second place.
While you search, view, and apply for jobs locally, the site also features an “International Search” function, displaying job opportunities worldwide based on your skills. Additionally, you can save job searches, set email alerts, and edit cover letters, making Monster.com a convenient choice for online job seekers.
Top LinkedIn Alternatives to Consider
Although LinkedIn remains the dominant professional networking platform globally, there are numerous alternatives online to foster meaningful connections. The mentioned websites perform well, serving as valuable resources alongside LinkedIn. Whether you’re sticking with LinkedIn or exploring other options, share your thoughts with us—we value your input.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
