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9 Best LinkedIn Alternatives of 2026
This list is for professionals who want to job hunt or network without relying on LinkedIn, or who want a second channel next to it. No single site copies everything LinkedIn does, so we grouped the options by job: general job search (Indeed, Glassdoor), niche job platforms (Wellfound for startups, Dice for tech, Handshake for students), networking (Meetup, XING) and portfolio networks for independent work (Contra, Behance). We compared documented features and published prices for 9 options. Scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%, judged from the job seeker's side.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 12, 2026 · 9 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 12, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Indeed is our top LinkedIn alternative because it replaces the part most people use LinkedIn for, finding and applying to jobs, for free and with more listings, plus 700 million+ company reviews and 1.1 billion+ salaries. Glassdoor ranks second for employer research and anonymous industry communities. Wellfound is the pick for startup roles, Meetup for meeting people in person, Handshake for students and Dice for tech. Freelancers should look at Contra or Behance, and anyone working in Germany, Austria or Switzerland at XING. Older names such as Polywork, Hired and Shapr are no longer operating, so we left them out.
Top picks
Runner-up
Glassdoor
9.0 / 10
professionals who research pay and culture before they apply
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Indeed | job seekers in any field who want the most listings | Free for job seekers | 9.2 |
| 2 | Glassdoor | professionals who research pay and culture before they apply | Free for job seekers | 9.0 |
| 3 |  Wellfound | people who want a job at a startup | Free for job seekers | 8.8 |
| 4 |  Handshake | students and recent graduates | Free for job seekers | 8.7 |
| 5 |  Meetup | people who network best face to face | Free to join groups and RSVP; optional Meetup Plus subscription in the US App Store from $4.99 | 8.7 |
| 6 |  Dice | tech professionals and IT contractors | Free for job seekers | 8.5 |
| 7 |  Contra | freelancers who want clients without platform commission | Free plan; Pro $29 per month or $199 per year | 8.2 |
| 8 |  Behance | designers, illustrators and photographers | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.1 |
| 9 |  XING | professionals job hunting in Germany, Austria or Switzerland | Free account; Premium Membership in the US App Store from $11.99 | 8.0 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Indeed
The largest general job site, with free resume hosting, application tracking, company reviews and salary data.
indeed.com9.2
out of 10
Best for: job seekers in any field who want the most listings
Indeed is the strongest replacement for the job hunting half of LinkedIn. Its app says it adds 12 jobs every second and its search also pulls in roles posted on other job search sites, so one search covers a wide share of the market. A free account stores your resume, or builds one, and reuses it for each application. Indeed then tracks every application and tells you when an employer has read and responded. Research sits next to the listings: more than 700 million company ratings and reviews and over 1.1 billion salaries searchable by title, company and location. What Indeed does not replace is the network. There are no connections, feeds or introductions, so pair it with Meetup or a community site if relationships matter in your field. Expect to filter hard, because the volume brings many near-duplicate listings.
Standout feature
Indeed is the best choice for job seekers in any field because it is free and searches listings from Indeed and other job sites in one place.
Use cases
Hourly and retail workers
Search nearby openings and apply with a saved resume
Outcome: Several applications sent in one session
Career switchers
Compare salaries before applying
Outcome: A shortlist of roles that meet a pay target
Key features
- Job search that includes openings posted on other job search sites
- Resume upload or Indeed's resume builder, reused for every application
- Application tracking with a notice when an employer reads and responds
- More than 700 million company ratings and reviews
- More than 1.1 billion salaries searchable by job title, company and location
Pros
- Free for job seekers, with no paid tier needed to apply
- Indeed says 12 jobs are added every second
- Filters for remote, part-time, freelance, side and government jobs
Cons
- No professional networking or contact graph like LinkedIn's
- Large result sets include many similar listings
- Little help with relationship building after you apply
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Glassdoor
Job search plus anonymous company reviews, salaries and community discussions about employers and industries.
glassdoor.com9.0
out of 10
Best for: professionals who research pay and culture before they apply
Glassdoor covers the part of LinkedIn that people use to size up employers, and does it with more candor. The app combines personalized job matches, built from your career goals, ideal manager and preferred culture, with a search of millions of active listings filtered by title, company, location and workstyle. Before you apply you can read employee reviews on culture, compensation, leadership and work-life balance, and check what others in the same role are paid, from entry level to C-suite. The networking piece is Glassdoor communities, where you talk anonymously with coworkers, peers and leaders about employers, industries and interests. That anonymity is the trade-off: it makes honest conversation easier, but it does not give you named contacts or introductions. Everything listed here is free for job seekers, so Glassdoor works well next to Indeed during an active search.
Standout feature
Glassdoor is the best choice for professionals who vet employers first because reviews, salaries and anonymous industry communities are free in one app.
Use cases
Mid-career professionals
Check pay ranges before a negotiation
Outcome: A target salary backed by peer data
Job seekers weighing offers
Read reviews and ask questions in an industry community
Outcome: A clearer view of culture at each employer
Key features
- Personalized job matches based on goals, ideal manager and culture preferences
- Search across millions of active listings with title, company, location and workstyle filters
- Salary data from entry level to C-suite for pay negotiation
- Company reviews on culture, compensation, leadership and work-life balance
- Glassdoor communities for anonymous conversations with coworkers, peers and leaders
Pros
- Free app with job search, reviews and salaries in one account
- Anonymous communities let you talk about employers without your name attached
- Reviews come from employees, which LinkedIn company pages do not show
Cons
- Anonymous communities do not build a named professional network
- The app listing does not describe recruiter messaging
- Review and salary data is thinner for small employers
Rank 3 · Also great
Wellfound
The startup job platform where candidates apply directly to founders and hiring managers, with salary and equity on listings.
wellfound.com8.8
out of 10
Best for: people who want a job at a startup
Wellfound replaces LinkedIn for one specific search: startup jobs. Its homepage says candidates can apply directly to founders and hiring managers at more than 27,000 startups, and listings shown there carry pay ranges and equity, for example Senior Software Engineer roles listed at $180K to $240K plus equity. Companies post jobs free and can also use Wellfound's AI sourcing and recruiter services, which is why the platform says 10 million candidates have joined to be found by startups. For the job seeker the tool is simple: a free profile, matches, and labels that show which companies are actively hiring and which recruiters are active now. The limits are scope and audience. You will not find many corporate or public sector roles, the mix leans to engineering, product and design, and there is no feed or group space for broader networking. Use it alongside a general site.
Standout feature
Wellfound is the best choice for startup job seekers because it is free and lets you apply directly to founders at 27,000+ startups.
Use cases
Software engineers
Compare startup offers by salary and equity
Outcome: A shortlist with pay ranges known before interviews
Product designers
Reach a founder directly
Outcome: A conversation with the person who decides
Key features
- Apply directly to founders and hiring managers at 27,000+ startups
- Listings show salary ranges and equity
- Job matches and a view of recruiters active now
- Company profiles with notes such as actively hiring and responds quickly
- Free sign-up for candidates
Pros
- Free for candidates
- Salary and equity shown up front on many roles
- Messages go to founders and hiring managers rather than a gatekeeper
Cons
- Only startup roles, so few listings at large companies
- Weighted toward tech and product jobs
- No general professional feed or groups
Rank 4
Handshake
A career network for students and early-career job seekers, with job matches, career fairs and paid AI projects.
joinhandshake.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: students and recent graduates
Handshake is the LinkedIn alternative built for the start of a career. The app gives students and recent graduates personalized recommendations for jobs and internships, a profile meant for recruiters, and filters that matter early on, such as visa status, which an international student credits on Handshake's site for saving time. The networking side is organized around events: career fairs, networking sessions and resume workshops, virtual and in person, plus direct access to your school's career center and its job collections. Handshake has also added two newer programs. Handshake AI pays people for flexible, remote AI projects with no prior AI experience required, and AI Skills Studio offers project-based courses co-designed with employers that are free to start. The limits are audience and stage. Experienced hires will find fewer relevant roles, and the school connection works best at partner institutions. For a first internship, though, it is the most targeted free option here.
Standout feature
Handshake is the best choice for students and new graduates because it is free and connects job matches with career fairs and your school's career center.
Use cases
College juniors
Find a summer internship and register for a career fair
Outcome: Interviews booked through school-linked events
Recent graduates
Earn from AI projects while job hunting
Outcome: Income and experience between roles
Key features
- Personalized recommendations for jobs and internships
- Career fairs, networking sessions and resume workshops, virtual and in person
- Direct access to your school's career center, events and job collections
- Handshake AI: paid, flexible, remote AI projects with no prior AI experience required
- AI Skills Studio project-based courses co-designed with employers, free to start
Pros
- Free for students and job seekers
- Employers on Handshake recruit early-career candidates specifically
- Built-in link to your school's career center
Cons
- Much less useful mid-career
- Strongest for people at schools that partner with Handshake
- Not a general professional network
Rank 5
Meetup
Groups and events, online and in person, for meeting people who share a profession or interest.
meetup.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: people who network best face to face
Meetup is the best replacement for the networking half of LinkedIn when you would rather meet people than message them. The App Store listing says Meetup has over 60 million members, over 330,000 groups and 100,000 events every week, and it names building a career network, finding a tech community and creating a personal brand among its uses. You search events by category or keyword or browse a map of what is popular nearby, RSVP, then keep in touch through direct messages and group discussions. If no group fits your field you can start one and host events online or in person, which is a practical way to become the connector in a local scene. Joining and attending is free for members, with optional subscriptions sold in the app; the US App Store lists Meetup Plus from $4.99 and organizer plans higher. Meetup has no job listings, so pair it with Indeed or Wellfound for the search itself.
Standout feature
Meetup is the best choice for face-to-face networkers because joining its 330,000+ groups is free and events run online and in person.
Use cases
Developers new to a city
Join a local tech group and attend talks
Outcome: Named contacts in the local industry
Consultants
Host a monthly event on their specialty
Outcome: A steady local network of prospects and peers
Key features
- Over 330,000 groups matched to your interests, from tech conferences to hobbies
- Search events by category or keyword, or browse a map of what is popular nearby
- Direct messaging and group discussions to keep in touch after events
- Start your own group and host events online or in person
- Save events and return to them later
Pros
- Free to join groups and attend most events
- Meets people in person, which online networks cannot
- Organizers can build a local professional community of their own
Cons
- No job board or recruiter tools
- Group quality and event frequency vary by city
- Organizer plans are sold separately in the app
Rank 6
Dice
A job site only for technology roles, with skill-based search and career resources for tech professionals.
dice.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: tech professionals and IT contractors
Dice is the narrow but useful option for tech workers who mainly use LinkedIn to be found by recruiters. Its homepage lists 5,000+ companies hiring on Dice, 200,000+ jobs posted each month and 8.5 million+ tech professionals, and every listing is a technology role. You create a free profile, filter jobs by skills, experience and career goals, and let tech employers find you, which matters for contractors who move between short engagements. Dice also publishes career advice on job hunting, resumes, interviews, pay and growth, and offers an AI route to finding roles. What it lacks is the social layer: there are no groups, feeds or connections. If you work outside tech, skip it.
Standout feature
Dice is the best choice for tech professionals because it is free and every one of its 200,000+ monthly job posts is a tech role.
Use cases
IT contractors
Keep a profile visible to staffing firms
Outcome: A steady flow of contract offers
Data engineers
Filter jobs by specific skills
Outcome: A focused list of matching roles
Key features
- Tech-only job listings with filters for skills, experience and career goals
- Free profile that tech employers and recruiters can find
- 200k+ jobs posted monthly, per Dice
- Career advice on job hunting, resumes, interviews and pay
- An AI option to find your next job
Pros
- Free profile and search for job seekers
- Every listing is a tech role, so less noise than a general site
- Lists 5k+ companies hiring on Dice
Cons
- Only tech roles
- No groups or feed for networking
- Little help for non-tech roles adjacent to IT
Rank 7
Contra
A commission-free network for independent creatives and freelancers to show work, find jobs and get paid.
contra.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: freelancers who want clients without platform commission
Contra suits independent workers who use LinkedIn mostly to win clients. Its pricing page says Contra is always commission-free for creatives, so you keep what clients pay, and the free plan includes community access, limited job opportunities and standard discoverability. Contra Pro costs $29 per month or $199 per year and adds unlimited job opportunities, a boost in Discover and job results, no client payment fees, no fees on digital products, free faster payouts and priority support. On the free plan clients pay $15 or $29 per payment over $500, and digital product fees are capped at 5% with a $3 minimum and $29 maximum. The profile doubles as a portfolio, and contracts, invoices and payouts live in the same account. The audience is mostly designers, developers and other creatives, and the tool is built for project work, not full-time job searches.
Standout feature
Contra is the best choice for freelancers who want clients because earnings are commission-free and Pro is $29 per month.
Use cases
Brand designers
Publish a portfolio and send invoices
Outcome: Paid projects without platform commission
Freelance developers
Apply to Contra job posts with Pro
Outcome: More visibility in Discover and jobs
Key features
- Commission-free payments for all creatives
- Community access and job opportunities (limited on Free, unlimited on Pro)
- Pro boosts your profile in Discover and jobs
- Contracts, invoices and payouts in one place
- Digital product sales, with fees capped at 5% on Free and none on Pro
Pros
- Free plan with commission-free earnings
- Pro waives client payment fees, which are $15 or $29 per payment over $500 on Free
- Portfolio, jobs and payments live in one account
Cons
- Mainly for creative and tech freelancers
- Free plan limits job opportunities
- Not suited to people seeking full-time employment
Rank 8
Behance
Adobe's portfolio network for creatives, with job listings, hiring tools and an optional Pro plan.
behance.net8.1
out of 10
Best for: designers, illustrators and photographers
Behance is where creative work replaces the resume. The free account lets you publish projects across graphic design, photography, illustration, 3D, UI/UX and more, follow other artists, and get feedback from the community. For job hunting, Behance lets you set your availability so visitors know you are open to opportunities, send proposals to hirers, get paid directly on the platform and share images, videos and files in the Behance inbox. Behance Pro adds tools aimed at earning: boosted projects, insight into who viewed your profile and projects, scheduled publishing, pricing guidance and weekly recommendations for exclusive freelance jobs, with 0% platform fees for you and your clients. Behance says Pro members see job inquiries and leads rise 4x on average after subscribing. We could not confirm the USD price of Pro from our location, so check the plans page. Outside visual fields it adds little.
Standout feature
Behance is the best choice for designers and photographers because a free portfolio shows work to hirers and Pro charges 0% platform fees.
Use cases
Illustrators
Publish projects and mark availability
Outcome: Inbound inquiries from hirers
Photographers
Send proposals and get paid on Behance
Outcome: Projects handled in one inbox
Key features
- Portfolio projects across creative fields, searchable by tool and color
- Availability setting to tell visitors you are open to opportunities
- Proposals and payment directly on Behance
- Private messages and file sharing in the Behance inbox
- Pro adds project boosts, profile view insights and exclusive freelance jobs with 0% platform fees
Pros
- Free account for portfolios and messaging
- Pro charges no platform fees to you or your clients
- Large audience of creative peers and hirers
Cons
- Only useful for visual and creative work
- Best jobs and insights sit behind Pro
- USD Pro price not confirmed from this location
Rank 9
XING
The professional network and job platform for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with kununu employer reviews.
xing.com8.0
out of 10
Best for: professionals job hunting in Germany, Austria or Switzerland
XING is the closest like-for-like LinkedIn alternative, but only for one region. Its App Store listing describes a network of 22 million members, over 1 million jobs and more than 20,000 recruiters, used by employers hiring in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. You build a profile, set preferences such as remote, part-time or relocation, and create search alerts so jobs come to you. Listings include salary ranges and kununu reviews from employees, and many job ads show who works at the company so you can contact them before applying. The network side works like LinkedIn's: contact suggestions, recruiter connections and notes when contacts change jobs or get promoted. Applications can be sent from your profile and tracked in the app. A free account covers the basics, and the US App Store lists XING Premium Membership from $11.99. Outside the DACH region it adds little over the global sites on this list.
Standout feature
XING is the best choice for professionals job hunting in Germany, Austria or Switzerland because its 22 million members and 20,000+ recruiters are concentrated there.
Use cases
Engineers relocating to Germany
Set relocation preferences and alerts
Outcome: Recruiter contact from DACH employers
Swiss professionals
Check salary ranges and kununu reviews
Outcome: Better-informed applications
Key features
- Over 1 million jobs across every industry and career level
- Visibility to more than 20,000 recruiters
- Job preferences and search alerts for remote, part-time and relocation
- Salary ranges and kununu employer reviews on listings
- Contact suggestions and updates when contacts change jobs
Pros
- Strongest network for jobs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Shows who works at a hiring company so you can reach out
- Salary ranges and kununu reviews next to job ads
Cons
- Limited value outside the DACH region
- Premium price varies by plan length in the App Store
- Premium features cost extra
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best alternative to LinkedIn?
Indeed is the best alternative to LinkedIn for job hunting, because it is free and its search covers jobs posted on Indeed and on other job sites, with 1.1 billion+ salaries and 700 million+ company reviews. For networking, Meetup is the better fit, with over 330,000 groups that meet online and in person.
+Is there a free alternative to LinkedIn for job seekers?
Yes. Indeed, Glassdoor, Wellfound, Handshake and Dice are all free for job seekers to search and apply. Joining Meetup groups is also free.
+What is the LinkedIn of Germany?
XING is the main professional network in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Its App Store listing cites 22 million members, over 1 million jobs and more than 20,000 recruiters.
+Where can I network professionally without LinkedIn?
Meetup is the strongest option for in-person networking, with over 330,000 groups and 100,000 events a week according to its App Store listing. Glassdoor communities offer anonymous industry discussions, and Handshake runs career fairs for students.
+What is a good LinkedIn alternative for startup jobs?
Wellfound is the best choice for startup jobs. Candidates sign up free and apply directly to founders and hiring managers at 27,000+ startups, and many listings show salary and equity.
+What is a LinkedIn alternative for freelancers?
Contra is a commission-free network for freelancers with a free plan and Pro at $29 per month or $199 per year. Visual creatives can also use Behance, where Pro charges 0% platform fees.
+Are Polywork, Hired and Shapr still available?
No, we could not find them operating. Polywork's site no longer loads, Hired's domain now leads to LHH, and Shapr's site does not load, so they are not on this list.
About this list
Updated November 12, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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