XING: Pros and Cons

The biggest pro: a free profile that still does the job

Basic costs nothing. You keep a profile, search jobs and stay in touch with people you already know. Job search is now the centre of the site: full listings have been visible to logged-out visitors since July 2024. ^{[1] [2]}

What the free tier cannot do is reach strangers. Basic members can message only existing contacts, and a connection request from Basic carries no note. That limit is the main reason to consider Premium. ^[9]

The biggest con: renewals you did not expect

Premium renews for a full term unless you cancel at least three weeks before the term ends. At least 15 reviewers describe a renewal they did not expect, and a 2021 German press investigation describes the same pattern. ^{[4] [11] [10]}

The safe response is to date the notice before you start: cancel at least 21 days before the term ends, and keep the confirmation. The step-by-step cancellation shows where people get stuck.

Basic cannot reach people outside your network

Basic members can message only existing contacts, so the free tier stops at your network. ^{[1] [9]}

Unsubscribing fails for everyone, and disputed invoices go to collection

At least 10 reviewers say unsubscribing from newsletters or notices often fails, and some say it needs a sign-in or a phone call. Collection letters follow disputed invoices in at least 8 reviews from 2018 to 2025, and XING's replies dispute some of those claims. ^{[3] [4]}

Job search and recruiting each have a catch

Reviewers from 2025 and 2026 say job listings are stale or duplicated, and some say the location filter does nothing. Check the posting date and the employer before you apply. ^[7]

For recruiters, TalentManager Core costs 366 EUR a seat a month (Sprad, October 2026), and one job ad costs 899 EUR net for a 60-day run (OnApply, 2026). A seat bills monthly, but its minimum term is disputed; an ad is one fixed price for a 60-day run. The vendor Pin says TalentManager suits some sectors, while Sprad, a competing vendor, calls its AI matching minimal. ^{[13] [15] [14] [16]}

A growing con: members are leaving

Five reviewers left XING or deactivated their accounts in 2025, and two moved to another job board or LinkedIn. Their reasons were a lost community and no reason left to pay. XING dropped groups and events in January 2022 to focus on job placement, and reviews from June 2025 on say networking has gone. ^{[3] [17]}

Which matter most for you

If you want a free profile for job search and your existing network, Basic does the job, and most cons stay away. Keep Premium off.

If you need to message people outside your network, Premium is the only XING option for it. A missed notice date can lock you into a year you did not plan to buy: 95.40 to 119.40 EUR at the 12-month rate (meetergo, October 2026).

If you are a recruiter, pay for a single ad when you have one role, and for a seat only when your team searches every month.

If you are trying to leave, cancel Premium and any add-on first, then delete the profile under Settings > Account. ^[12]