The short answer is yes, LinkedIn provides a free API that allows developers to access and integrate certain LinkedIn data and functionality into their own applications and websites. However, the free LinkedIn API is limited in the amount of requests and data you can access.
Overview of LinkedIn’s API options
LinkedIn offers a few different API options:
- LinkedIn API for free
- LinkedIn API for paid plans
- Partner Program API
LinkedIn API for free
The LinkedIn API for free provides developers with basic access to LinkedIn data and functionality with some usage limits. This allows you to get started building LinkedIn-enabled apps and websites without any upfront costs.
With the free LinkedIn API, you can access profile data, connections data, share updates and articles, and more. However, there are limits on the number of API requests and data you can retrieve per day/month before getting throttled.
LinkedIn API for paid plans
For more extensive API access with higher rate limits, LinkedIn offers paid API plans targeted at larger organizations and developers building robust apps. The paid plans remove API request limits and provide additional capabilities not available with the free plan.
The paid LinkedIn API plans provide access to more profile data fields, ability to post jobs, sponsored content API, analytics API, and more. Pricing starts at around $2,000 per month based on usage.
Partner Program API
The LinkedIn Partner Program provides the highest level of API access for approved business partners looking to deeply integrate LinkedIn data and functionality into their platforms. This is designed for large organizations with a strategic partnership with LinkedIn.
The Partner Program provides customized API packages and capabilities tailored to each partner’s needs. Access to this program is by invitation only.
Capabilities of the free LinkedIn API
Here are some of the key things you can do with the free tier of the LinkedIn API, with some limitations:
- Retrieve profile data – access member profile fields, positions, skills, etc. But limited profile fields compared to paid API.
- Get 1st degree connections – retrieve a member’s connections list.
- Share articles/updates – post articles and updates to a member’s profile.
- Messaging – send messages between connections.
- Search profiles and companies – search by keywords, name, location, etc.
Usage limits
The free LinkedIn API has the following usage limits per day/month:
- 300 API requests per day
- 50,000 API requests per month
- 200 1st degree connections retrieved per request
- 100 profile fields per request
- 10 messages sent per day
Exceeding these limits will result in your API calls being throttled/blocked until the next usage period.
Getting started with the free LinkedIn API
To start using the free LinkedIn API, you first need to follow these steps:
- Register as a LinkedIn app developer – create an app through the LinkedIn developer portal.
- Get API keys – LinkedIn will provide you with API keys and access token to make API calls.
- Pick your API endpoints – Review LinkedIn’s API documentation to see what endpoints you want to use.
- Make API calls – Use an HTTP client or one of LinkedIn’s SDKs to call the API endpoints with your keys.
- Display data – Parse the JSON response and display LinkedIn data as needed in your app or website.
API request process overview
At a high level, here is what a typical API call looks like with the LinkedIn API:
- Your app makes an API request to a LinkedIn endpoint with your API key and access token.
- LinkedIn authenticates the request and checks your usage limits.
- If valid, LinkedIn returns a JSON response with the requested data.
- Your app parses the JSON data to display or use within your app as needed.
Limitations of the free LinkedIn API
While the free LinkedIn API provides decent capabilities, there are some key limitations to be aware of:
- Limited profile data – you only get access to basic profile fields.
- No ability to post jobs or sponsored content.
- No analytics API.
- Lower rate limits – only 300 requests per day allowed.
- No technical support – you are on your own for debugging etc.
- Throttling once limits reached – API calls blocked if you exceed usage quotas.
For building robust, production-level apps with extensive LinkedIn integration, the paid API plans are usually required.
Use cases for the free LinkedIn API
Here are some examples of what you can build with the free version of the LinkedIn API:
- Profile pre-fill – pre-populate registration forms with LinkedIn profile data.
- Share job listings – let users easily share job posts from your website.
- Augment connections – display a user’s LinkedIn connections for social proof.
- LinkedIn login – enable LinkedIn login/authentication for your app.
- Auto-connections – automatically connect two users if they are connected on LinkedIn.
Summary
In summary, the LinkedIn API does provide a free tier that gives developers basic access to LinkedIn data and functionality to build apps and websites. However, usage is limited to 300 requests per day and 50,000 per month before throttling.
For more extensive API access, LinkedIn requires upgrading to paid plans starting at around $2,000/month. But the free tier is great for getting started and building basic integrations.
