LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 810 million members worldwide. It’s designed to help members connect with other professionals, find jobs, build their professional brand, and grow their careers. However, LinkedIn isn’t the only professional networking platform out there. There are many alternative sites that offer similar or enhanced features compared to LinkedIn. This article will explore some of the top professional networking sites and how they compare to LinkedIn.
Key Factors for Comparison
When comparing professional networking platforms, here are some key factors to consider:
– Number of users/reach – How many members does the site have? The larger the user base, the more opportunities to connect and network.
– Features – What tools does the platform offer for networking, finding jobs, Showcasing skills, building a professional profile, etc.
– Cost – Is the site free or paid? What is the pricing structure?
– User experience – How intuitive and easy to use is the platform?
– Industry/professional focus – Does the site cater to all industries or specific sectors?
– Privacy/security – How does the site protect user data and privacy?
Weighing these factors can help determine which platform is the best fit depending on individual professional needs and preferences.
Top Alternative Professional Networking Sites
Here are some of the top professional networking platforms that can be comparable or superior alternatives to LinkedIn:
Xing is one of the largest professional networking sites in Europe with over 18 million members. Some key features include:
– Robust profile builder to showcase skills, experience, and background
– Job board with millions of listings
– News feed to share articles and content
– Groups and events for networking
– Premium membership option for enhanced features
Compared to LinkedIn, Xing has a strong presence and adoption in Europe. For professionals based in Europe, Xing may offer more localized networks and opportunities.
Viadeo
Viadeo is another prominent Europe-based professional networking site with over 15 million members. Key features include:
– Profile detailing experience, education, skills, and accomplishments
– Networking groups and events
– Job marketplace
– Recommendations and endorsements
– Ad-free experience for paying members
For those looking for a professional network focused in France and francophone countries, Viadeo has a strong footprint in this region.
GitHub Jobs
GitHub is a network for software developers and programmers. In recent years, they’ve built out a robust jobs board with listings from top tech companies. Benefits include:
– Millions of tech and programming job listings
– Location-based and remote filters
– Company profiles and reputation on GitHub
– Integration with GitHub profile and contributions
For tech professionals, especially developers, GitHub Jobs is a great resource given its tight integration with GitHub profiles and communities.
AngelList
AngelList is a site for startups, investors, and job seekers. Key features:
– Browse thousands of startup job openings
– Follow or highlight startups you’re interested in
– Connect directly with startup founders and employees
– Create a talent profile to showcase skills and experience
If you’re interested in working for a startup or fast-growing company, AngelList provides direct access to those opportunities.
Commun.it
Commun.it brands itself as the networking platform for community builders. It aims to connect leaders in social impact, sustainability, charities, and non-profits. Features include:
– Groups and forums for community leaders
– Non-profit and social good job board
– Events and webinars on community building topics
– Recognition programs and awards
For anyone involved in social impact, charities, or non-profits, Commun.it provides a dedicated network and resources.
Dribbble
Dribbble is an online community for designers featuring designer portfolios, job listings, connections, and inspiration. Benefits include:
– Portfolio showcase for designers
– Full-time and freelance job board
– Networking and connections with other designers
– Inspiration through designs and shots
– Groups and events focused on design
For graphic designers, web designers, and other creative professionals, Dribbble provides both a rich portfolio platform and professional networking.
Comparing the User Base
One of the biggest factors when choosing a professional networking platform is the size and activity level of the user base. More users mean more opportunities to connect and engage.
Here’s how some of the top sites compare to LinkedIn in terms of registered members:
| Site | Estimated Registered Users |
|---|---|
| 810 million | |
| 18 million | |
| Viadeo | 15 million |
| GitHub | 73 million |
| AngelList | 7 million |
| Dribbble | 4 million |
As these numbers show, LinkedIn still dominates in terms of total members. However, some niche sites like Xing and Viadeo have been able to build strong user bases in specific geographic regions. And sites like GitHub and Dribbble lead for technology professionals and creative fields respectively.
While LinkedIn benefits from having the most users, for some professionals, a smaller but more targeted network may provide greater value. The activity level and engagement of members can be just as important as raw registered users.
Comparing Features and Functionality
The various professional networking platforms differentiate themselves through the specific features and functionality they offer. Here is a comparison of some of LinkedIn’s core features versus alternatives:
Profiles
LinkedIn provides robust profiles that allow members to detail their work experience, education, skills, accomplishments and more. Many alternatives offer similarly strong profile creation. Xing, Viadeo, and GitHub all have customizable profile builders. Creative sites like Dribbble focus more on showcasing visual portfolios vs. traditional profiles.
Jobs and Hiring
LinkedIn has an extensive job board with hundreds of thousands of listings. It also provides tools like LinkedIn Recruiter for companies to source and hire candidates. Some alternatives with strong job board features include Xing, Viadeo, AngelList, GitHub Jobs, and Dribbble. Commun.it offers listings specifically for non-profit and social impact roles.
Messaging and Communication
Members can connect and message other users directly on LinkedIn to network and discuss opportunities. Messaging capabilities are more limited on some alternatives. Xing, Viadeo and Commun.it offer some messaging functionality while Dribbble and GitHub do not have one-to-one messaging.
Groups and Forums
LinkedIn Groups provide members a place to discuss topics, share content and connect with other professionals in their industry. Most alternatives offer similar community groups or forums. Xing, Viadeo, GitHub and Dribbble all have groups based on interests, skills and locations.
Content Sharing and Blogging
Users can publish long-form posts on LinkedIn to share content, express opinions and demonstrate thought leadership. Xing, Viadeo and Dribbble have their own blogging platforms as well. GitHub focuses more on code sharing vs. traditional blogging.
Events and Webinars
LinkedIn allows users to organize in-person meetups and also host virtual events and webinars. Xing and Viadeo have their own event platforms focused on in-person meetups and seminars. Dribbble allows users to post virtual meetups.
Premium Memberships
LinkedIn offers premium tiers like LinkedIn Premium Career to access additional features like expanded profiles, unlimited searching and messaging, and comprehensive analytics. Most alternatives have free access but also provide paid tiers with enhanced functionality.
Ease of Use
In terms of user experience, LinkedIn sets a high standard that newer competitors strive to match. Its interface and navigation are generally intuitive for professional networking purposes across desktop and mobile.
Xing and Viadeo offer a similarly polished experience, especially when using their sites for core functions like creating a profile, networking and job searching. Their feature depth isn’t quite on par with LinkedIn but the user experience is comparable.
Creative community platforms like Dribbble have prioritized crafting interfaces to best showcase visual portfolios and designs. For the target user, it provides a great experience tailored to that use case. However, it may not be as intuitive for a general professional audience.
GitHub and AngelList feel a bit more utility focused in their interface design. GitHub is focused primarily on software development workflow vs. networking so the UI reflects those priorities.
Overall most competitors provide a capable user experience even if LinkedIn still leads in terms of general polish and refinement. But alternatives tailored for specific verticals often prioritize crafting UIs optimized for those particular use cases over being a broad professional platform.
Industry and Geographic Focus
A key differentiation among professional networking sites is industry and geographic focus.
LinkedIn aims to be a global platform for all industries and professionals. Others take a targeted regional or vertical approach:
– Xing and Viadeo cater to European professionals, especially German speakers and French/Francophones respectively.
– GitHub is dedicated to the tech scene, primarily software developers and programmers.
– Dribbble centers around designers and creative fields.
– AngelList focuses on startups and early stage companies.
– Commun.it connects non-profit leaders and social impact professionals.
This targeted approach can benefit certain members that want to connect within a specific niche. For example, GitHub makes it easy for developers to showcase coding contributions and connect with tech peers and companies.
LinkedIn’s breadth still provides value by allowing connecting across industries and locations. But for deep networking within a specialized field, vertical communities can have advantages.
Privacy, Security and Trust
For any professional networking platform, privacy protections and security measures are critical for building user trust and adoption.
LinkedIn has implemented generally strong privacy and security practices especially around identity verification, data encryption, and securing user content. Their security team is composed of engineers and analysts dedicated to protecting user data.
Most leading alternatives claim to take data protection just as seriously. Xing, Viadeo, GitHub and others state they use encryption, monitor for suspicious activity, enable privacy controls and follow applicable regulations. However, LinkedIn’s scale provides resources to maintain high standards industrywide.
Smaller niche platforms may not fully match the level of privacy protection as the top tier sites. But for the most part, all credible professional networking brands today know user trust is mandatory, especially regarding data handling.
As with any platform relying on user generated content, members should be thoughtful about what information they share publicly vs. privately. Following sound privacy practices remains the responsibility of the individual user.
Cost Comparison
Most of the core professional networking platforms offer free access to basic features:
– LinkedIn – Free to create profile, search jobs, make connections and more
– Xing – Free to build profile, network, browse jobs
– Viadeo – Free registration and access
– GitHub – Free to create code repository, user profile and connect
– Dribbble – Free membership to post shots and connect
Paid tiers provide additional capabilities:
| Site | Sample Paid Tier | Price (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Premium Career | $29.99 | |
| Xing Premium | €7.95 | |
| Viadeo Premium | €9.99 | |
| GitHub Team | $4 per user | |
| Dribbble Pro | $10 |
LinkedIn Premium runs about $30/month which is fairly typical pricing for enhanced professional networking capabilities. Some alternatives like Xing and Dribbble are a bit cheaper while providing solid extra features.
Free access is still very capable though for basic networking needs. So the free tiers provide a way to test out multiple platforms before investing in premium features.
Which Platform is Best for You?
With so many professional networking options, which platform is best really depends on individual needs and preferences.
Here are some recommendations based on common user profiles:
– Job seekers open to roles across industries – LinkedIn still provides the greatest reach and opportunities
– Professionals focused in Europe – Xing for German speakers, Viadeo for French/Francophones
– Developers and programmers – GitHub provides the strongest community, especially around coding
– Designers and creatives – Dribbble allows showcasing visual portfolios and connecting with peers
– Social impact professionals – Commun.it specifically connects non-profit leaders and charities
– Startup/entrepreneur community – AngelList gives access to early stage companies and roles
The best approach may be to start with LinkedIn for broad networking then join an industry specific platform like GitHub or Dribbble. Complementing LinkedIn with vertical communities can provide unique value.
For regions like Europe, both LinkedIn and local players like Xing or Viadeo catering to that geography can be worthwhile. Maximizing reach while also connecting deeply within niches and locales balances the strengths of broader and more focused networks.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn continues to dominate the overall professional networking landscape, viable alternatives exist that can provide unique value in certain cases. For some professionals, joining both LinkedIn and a niche community tailored to their field or location delivers the most benefit.
The optimal strategy depends on personal preferences, industry focus, region and career objectives. But the diversification of professional networking platforms provides more choice than ever to showcase skills, find opportunities and make meaningful connections.
