LinkedIN and Xing are social platforms where you can establish and maintain business contacts. Both portals have their advantages and disadvantages.
International job network: LinkedIn
LinkedIn connects you with other people in the same professional field around the world.
- Reach: On LinkedIn you will not only find contacts from Germany, but also international companies. With 850 million users worldwide, the reach is greater than that of Xing. In the DACH region, however, LinkedIn is behind its competitor with 22 million users, while Xing has 22.1 million in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. (User numbers as of 2023)
- Basis-Account: As a user of the free LinkedIn account, your options are limited. For example, you cannot see who has viewed your profile and you are not immediately visible to potential employers. The free account is only useful for you if you just want to keep in touch with colleagues.
- Subscription prices: To use all features, you can choose between four different subscriptions. If you are looking for work, you can get the Premium Career Package for around 39 euros per month. For employers who want to maintain contacts, LinkedIn offers the Business Subscription for just over 44 euros per month. You can also choose between the Sales Package and the Recruiter Package. These cost just under 79 and 123 euros per month. (Prices: as of August 2024)
- Operation: LinkedIn is structured similarly to other social networks and offers a clean user interface. After you have created your profile and filled it with content, you can immediately start looking for members for your company or a new job. It is extremely easy to use. If you still have questions, you will be helped with short explanations of individual features.
- Smartphone-App: You can also get LinkedIn as an iPhone or Android app.
Career network for Germany: Xing
While LinkedIn is represented internationally, Xing focuses on the German-speaking region.
- Reach: 22 million users, including job seekers, companies and freelancers, use the Xing contact exchange. The reach you can achieve with Xing is limited to the German-speaking area. If you are only looking for a job in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, Xing is a completely sufficient platform. (User numbers as of 2023)
- Basis-Account: Similar to LinkedIn, you first create a free account that does not contain all the features. You use the basic functions of the social network: for example, manage your contacts and communicate with them. You can also post a job advertisement.
- Subscription prices: To be able to use all features to their full extent, there is a premium membership. With a twelve-month term, you pay 9.95 euros per month. If you choose a term of three months, you pay 11.95 euros per month. Those who use Premium for the first time receive a discount. To unlock even more functions, you can take out the Xing ProJobs subscription (term six months) for 17.45 euros per month. (Prices: as of August 2023)
- Operation: Xing is also structured like a typical social network. You will be helped to create your profile and then you will receive initial contact suggestions. You can start looking for a job straight away. The website is easy to use.
- Smartphone-App: With the social network’s Android or iOS app, you can manage your profile and contacts while on the go.
- By the way: Like CHIP, Xing belongs to Hubert Burda Media.
Fazit: LinkedIn vs. Xing
Both networks have their advantages and disadvantages:
- The reach of LinkedIn is many times greater than that of Xing. However, Xing is perfectly sufficient for job searches in German-speaking countries.
- LinkedIn costs significantly more than Xing. With LinkedIn, you pay for the larger number of potential contacts. However, both platforms offer a free account.
- Xing is more suitable for small to medium-sized companies and for job seekers in German-speaking countries. For large companies and for international job seekers, LinkedIn is the better, but also more expensive, solution.