What it is
- What it means
- A professional network for profiles, connections, job search, recruiting and ads [1]
Professional network · About guide
About LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional network with a smooth app and a poor record on accounts. Members rate the app 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, but Trustpilot scores it 1.1. It suits people who already use it daily for work, and it suits them less when something goes wrong with their account. [9] [10]
Add Omnitwine as a preferred source on GoogleOn this page
LinkedIn at a glance
Who's on it
Typical use
What it costs
How fast
- What it means
- A free job post is live for 14 days; typical applicants 10 to 30 [6]
Best at
- What it means
- Staying in touch with people you know and applying to listed jobs
Weakest at
- What it means
- Help when an account is locked or a charge is disputed [10]
| At a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| What it is | A professional network for profiles, connections, job search, recruiting and ads[1] |
| Who's on it | More than 1 billion members claimed; 1.3 billion registered (Wikipedia, March 2026)[1] [2] |
| Typical use | Profiles, applications, messaging connections, job posts, recruiting[6] |
| What it costs | Free core; Premium Career $39.99 a month or $239.88 a year[8] |
| How fast | A free job post is live for 14 days; typical applicants 10 to 30[6] |
| Best at | Staying in touch with people you know and applying to listed jobs |
| Weakest at | Help when an account is locked or a charge is disputed[10] |
LinkedIn at a glance
LinkedIn is a professional network for profiles, connections, job search, recruiting and advertising. LinkedIn says it has more than 1 billion members in over 200 countries and territories. Wikipedia reports 1.3 billion registered members, which counts sign-ups, not people who use it each month. [1] [2]
LinkedIn in one paragraph
LinkedIn was founded in Mountain View, California, in 2002 and launched in May 2003. Microsoft bought it for $26.2 billion, with the deal announced in June 2016 and closed on 8 December 2016. Microsoft's latest earnings release says LinkedIn's own revenue grew 12% in the quarter to 30 June 2026, though it gives no dollar figure. [1] [3] [4] [2]
Job seekers get the free core, and the frustration comes with it
Applying to jobs, building a profile and messaging people you're connected to all work without paying. The free job search is where the complaints concentrate: reviewers say filters are outdated and listings repeat, and one says paid placement affects ranking, which LinkedIn's help pages don't document. Premium adds InMail and profile-view history. Whether that pays off depends on whether you need to reach people outside your network. [10] [8]
Hirers get free pages and paid reach
Company pages and a single free job post cost nothing. A free post stays open for 14 days and typically draws 10 to 30 applicants. Promoted posts and Recruiter cost extra, and promoted posts bill every 30 days or when the balance reaches $500. [5] [6] [7]
What people love, and what frustrates them
Praise is rare on Trustpilot. Those who write positive reviews describe building a professional brand and applying for jobs. The App Store is where satisfaction shows, at 4.8 from hundreds of thousands of ratings. The frustration runs the other way: lockouts, ID checks that stall, support that doesn't answer, and charges after trials. [9] [10] [11]
Who LinkedIn suits
LinkedIn suits people who already work in a professional field and want a contact list, a public profile and a free route to applications. It suits you less if you depend on it as your only record of contacts, or if you expect quick help when your account is restricted. Keep your contacts elsewhere, and treat Premium as a short-term tool rather than an identity.
Bibliography
Sources
- LinkedIn About page (member figures) (official)
- Wikipedia, LinkedIn (registered members, history, country exits) (independent)
- Microsoft news release, Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn (13 June 2016) (official)
- Microsoft FY2026 Q4 earnings release (LinkedIn revenue growth) (official)
- LinkedIn Company Page FAQ (pages are free) (official)
- LinkedIn Help: free and promoted job posts (official)
- LinkedIn Help: promoted job billing (official)
- LinkedIn Premium Career plan page (official)
- Apple App Store, LinkedIn: Jobs, News, Networking (4.8 rating) (platform-hosted)
- Trustpilot, LinkedIn review page (TrustScore 1.1) (platform-hosted)
- Trustpilot, LinkedIn reviews, page 4 (platform-hosted)