# LinkedIn vs LinkedIn Recruiter

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LinkedIn Recruiter at none against LinkedIn's 15. LinkedIn Recruiter also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). LinkedIn's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (645K vs 9.2K). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LinkedIn sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. LinkedIn Recruiter asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for LinkedIn against 4.8 for LinkedIn Recruiter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LinkedIn has 645K ratings behind it against 9.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 37% of LinkedIn's written reviews are positive against 25% of LinkedIn Recruiter's.

LinkedIn ships an update every 4 days, LinkedIn Recruiter every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LinkedIn | LinkedIn Recruiter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (645K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkedin-community-and-network/id288429040/reviews) | **[4.8 (9.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkedin-recruiter/id712437486/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **645K** | 9.2K |
| Positive reviews | **37.4% of reviews** | 25.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 425 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LinkedIn Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/288429043) | [LinkedIn Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/288429043) |

## What reviewers say

### LinkedIn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkedin-community-and-network/id288429040)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Business, #4 Top Free · Business, #10 Top Grossing, #66 Top Free (US App Store)

This app helps professionals find jobs, build their network, and stay updated on industry news. Create a resume, connect with recruiters, and apply for positions directly within the app. Access business insights and join communities to enhance your career.

**Highlights:** Job search and alerts, Resume builder, Professional networking, Business news and insights, Company research, Connect with recruiters

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Career Subscription with Free Trial | $29.99 | per month |
| Premium Career | $29.99 | per month |
| Premium Career | $39.99 | per month |
| Premium Career | $39.99 | per month |
| Premium Business Subscription with Free Trial | $69.99 | per month |
| Premium Business | $69.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌐 Professional networking platform
- 📚 Useful learning resources
- 🔗 Valuable connections and job opportunities
- 📈 Helps build career and reputation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Ineffective job search algorithms
- 📧 Excessive and irrelevant notifications/emails
- 🔒 Difficult to delete account or manage privacy
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription with limited value
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app experience

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to send messages
- Inability to view full articles or videos
- Inconsistent behavior between mobile and desktop versions

**Requested features**

- Chronological feed option
- Improved job search filters and recommendations
- Easier account management and privacy controls
- Better customer support and responsiveness


### LinkedIn Recruiter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkedin-recruiter/id712437486)

This app helps talent professionals find and engage ideal candidates quickly. Search and connect with a vast network, review profiles, and manage your recruitment pipeline from anywhere. It offers AI-powered messaging and smart filters to streamline the hiring process.

**Highlights:** Search entire LinkedIn talent pool, AI-generated messages for higher acceptance rates, Real-time candidate response notifications, Manage job posts and applicants, Collaborate with team members, Access ATS data on candidate profiles

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient for on-the-go recruiting
- 👍 Convenient messaging and notifications
- 🚀 Clean and intuitive interface
- 👍 Helpful suggested actions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Login issues and password problems
- 🔍 Limited search and project management functionality
- 🔍 Lack of desktop parity
- 💡 Need for more customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Messages not sending properly
- Profiles and projects not loading correctly
- Push notifications not working as expected
- Incompatibility with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit message templates
- Option to select candidate relocation preferences
- More granular distance search filters
- Expanded city/location database
- Direct access to job applicants and pipelines


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LinkedIn free?

LinkedIn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LinkedIn Recruiter free?

LinkedIn Recruiter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LinkedIn or LinkedIn Recruiter?

LinkedIn Recruiter is rated higher. LinkedIn averages 4.8 out of 5 from 645K ratings, while LinkedIn Recruiter averages 4.8 from 9.2K ratings.

### Do LinkedIn or LinkedIn Recruiter have ads?

Both LinkedIn and LinkedIn Recruiter show ads.

### Which is updated more often, LinkedIn or LinkedIn Recruiter?

LinkedIn ships an update every 4 days, and LinkedIn Recruiter every 5 weeks. Most recently, LinkedIn was updated on October 28, 2026 and LinkedIn Recruiter on October 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*