Checklist for comparing LinkedIn with its alternatives

Judging any LinkedIn alternative: a checklist to work through before you switch

Whether you are thinking of leaving LinkedIn in 2026, or adding another service beside it, these questions apply to any option. Tick each one once you have an answer you are happy with.

The boxes are real checkboxes and the counter at the bottom of the screen updates as you tick them. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere; reloading the page clears them.

Know what you use LinkedIn for

A switch only makes sense against the parts you actually rely on.

I have listed which features I used in the last few months

Profile, messages, job search, posting, learning, sales or recruiting tools. Most people use a few, not all.

I know where the people I need to reach spend their time

Clients, hiring managers or peers may gather on LinkedIn, on a regional network, in a community or offline.

I know whether I want to replace LinkedIn or add to it

Many people keep a basic profile and move only one activity elsewhere.

Judge the alternative itself

Ask these of any service, whether it is a job board, a portfolio site, a newsletter tool or a prospecting database.

I can say what it does and where it stops being useful

If the service's own site only describes strengths, look for its help pages and terms to find the limits.

It is active in my field and region

A service that suits one market can be nearly empty in another. Browse it as a visitor before signing up.

I have read its current pricing on the vendor's own site

Prices vary by country and billing period, and third-party summaries go out of date. The vendor's pricing page is the only reliable source.

I understand how it makes money

Advertising, subscriptions, fees on transactions or selling access to data each shape how the service treats your information and attention.

I have discounted marketing figures I cannot check

User numbers and success claims are usually self-reported and defined in different ways, so they are hard to compare fairly.

Indeed

Broad job listings, including hourly and local roles.Stops: little help with relationships or reputation.

Xing

Jobs and profiles for German-speaking markets.Stops: limited relevance elsewhere.

Substack

Newsletters with a subscriber list you can export.Stops: no job search or hiring features.

Bluesky and Mastodon

Open social networks where some professional communities post.Stops: no structured work history, job board or recruiter search.

Check what transfers if you switch

LinkedIn lets members request a copy of their data from its settings. The matrix below summarises our reading of what can and cannot travel in 2026; open your own export to see exactly what it contains.

Illustrative summary, not a measurement. Filled circle: largely yes. Outline: partly. Export contents can change, so check your own download.

I have requested and opened my LinkedIn data export

It can take some time to arrive. Look through the files before you decide anything.

I have accepted that followers and post reach do not move

A list of names is not the same as an audience that sees your updates. Rebuilding that takes time anywhere.

I have asked people I value for another way to stay in touch

An email address or a newsletter subscription goes with you; a connection on one platform does not.

Look after your data

Not legal or privacy advice. How a service may use your personal data depends on its terms and on the law where you live. For your rights, consult your data protection regulator, such as the ICO in the United Kingdom or the relevant authority in your country, or a qualified adviser.

I have read the alternative's privacy policy and settings

Check who can see your profile, whether your data trains automated features, and whether you can opt out.

I know how to delete my account and data there

If leaving later is hard, that is worth knowing before you join.

I have reviewed what LinkedIn keeps if I close my account

Closing and deactivating can differ. LinkedIn's help pages describe what happens to your data.

Try it yourself with little risk

Testing in parallel tells you more than any comparison article, this one included.

I have run the alternative alongside LinkedIn for a set period

A month is often enough to see whether the right people are there. Keep LinkedIn as it is during the trial.

I have kept a simple log of what each service produced

Note replies, useful contacts, interviews or leads. Your own notes are more relevant than anyone's averages.

I have checked how any free trial ends

Some trials renew into paid plans automatically. Note the date and the cancellation steps.

Who made this checklist

This checklist was made independently and is offered purely as information for people weighing their options in 2026. It is not affiliated with LinkedIn Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Indeed, New Work SE (Xing), Substack, Bluesky Social or the Mastodon project, and it is not endorsed, sponsored or authorised by any of them. All trademarks are the property of their owners and are named only to identify the services under discussion. No compensation of any kind was received for this page, which carries no testimonials and no endorsements. Data export contents, prices and policies change, so confirm current details with each vendor before acting. Working through this list does not promise or imply any particular outcome.

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