The cost of LinkedIn Recruiter in 2024

LinkedIn is the professional networking giant with more than one billion users in more than 200 countries.

It all started in 2008 when LinkedIn launched LinkedIn Recruiter, a recruitment product with premium features, designed specifically to meet the recruiting needs of businesses.

Today, LinkedIn Recruiter has become the go-to tool for talent acquisition specialists who want to discover and engage candidates. However, the costs associated with LinkedIn Recruiter remain somewhat unclear. So here we are going to break down the expenses associated with the various LinkedIn recruiter packages and assess whether it is a profitable investment.

What is LinkedIn Recruiter?

LinkedIn Recruiter is a premium service specially designed for recruiters. It is an improved version of the standard LinkedIn, offering expanded access to a talent pool, contact information, and effective management of the recruitment process.

The platform allows recruiters to search for candidates using Boolean search — a method that refines searches with specific keywords. Recruiters can then send messages to candidates via InMails, allowing direct messaging without prior login.

Benefits of LinkedIn Recruiter

LinkedIn Recruiter outperforms a regular LinkedIn profile in a number of ways:

• Advanced search filters: Allows you to search for candidates based on specific skills, locations, training, industries, and more.
• Direct outreach to candidates: Send InMails and determine which candidates are free to receive messages. It is also possible to send mass messages via the dashboard.
• Pipeline Management: Organize your messages by adding candidates to a 'project' and get alerts when candidates change jobs or are promoted.

LinkedIn recruitment packages

LinkedIn Recruiter is available in two formulas:

Recruiter Lite

• Network visibility: Up to 3rd degree connections
• Search filters: Over 20 filters
• Search alerts: 10
• InMail messages: 30

Business Recruiter

The “Recruiter” version is the most powerful

• Network visibility: Full access to all profiles
• Search filters: All filters available
• Search alerts: 50
• InMail messages: 150
• Additional features include collaboration tools, candidate pipeline management, and custom reports.

LinkedIn Recruiter Pricing Factors

LinkedIn does not publicly disclose the prices of its recruiting products. Instead, pricing is customized based on factors such as:

• Number of licenses: Discounts are applied as more licenses are purchased.
• Company size and sector of activity: Larger businesses and those in competitive industries may incur higher costs.
• Location: Prices may vary by geographic region.

Estimated LinkedIn Recruiter Costs (April 2024)

The study suggests the following approximate costs:

• Recruiter Lite: $170 per month for a single license; $270 per month per license for 2 to 5 licenses.
• Business Recruiter: $12,960 per seat per year (approximately $1,080 per month)

Extra costs with LinkedIn Recruiter

• InMails: Beyond the monthly allowance (150 for Corporate, 30 for Lite), additional InMails cost $10 each.
• Publication of job offers: Publishing an offer is free but limited in visibility. Promoted publications require a budget, influencing ranking and visibility. Alternatively, a contract model can be set up with LinkedIn talent solutions for a more tailored approach.

Is LinkedIn Recruiter worth the price?

Generally, the answer is no. However, LinkedIn's dominance in the recruitment industry since its inception in 2003 makes it almost indispensable to remain competitive. Investing in a LinkedIn Recruiter license and additional InMails can be crucial.

Alternatives to LinkedIn Recruiter

For those looking for alternatives to LinkedIn Recruiter, here are a few options:

Free options

• Use connections: Send 100 login requests per week and send messages to connected users for free.
• Email search tools: Do a basic search on LinkedIn, then use tools like Kaspr or Lusha to find email addresses.
• Content creation: Strengthen your brand by publishing relevant content, such as blog posts, LinkedIn posts, and webinars to attract candidates.

Job Boards

Platforms like Indeed, Monster and Glassdoor can attract active job seekers, often at a lower cost than LinkedIn Recruiter subscriptions.

Job boards offer greater visibility and can be more profitable, although they can also lead to a lot of irrelevant applications.

These platforms attract users who are actively looking for new opportunities, which can potentially simplify your hiring process by reaching a pool of candidates who are ready to apply.

Compared to LinkedIn Recruiter, job boards could be more affordable with pricing structures tailored to your needs.

Publishing on relevant job boards can extend the reach of your business beyond existing networks, attracting a wider range of talent.

However, job boards have some disadvantages:

• They do not offer the same access to candidate profiles.
• You may receive thousands of irrelevant applications, making the screening process time consuming.
• Up to 70% of the workforce includes passive candidates who aren't actively looking for new positions, which means relying solely on job boards could limit your talent pool to just 30%.

Kalent AI

The best LinkedIn Recruiter alternative is Kalent AIone AI-powered recruitment sourcing tool to identify exactly who you are looking for, without having to do a Boolean search.

Here's what sets Kalent apart:

‣ Natural language research: Go beyond traditional Boolean searches by simply describing your ideal candidate to the system. For example, say, “I am looking for a Product Manager in Paris with more than 7 years of experience who previously worked at Apple, Amazon, or Google.”

‣ Advanced filters: Refine your searches to perfection. Our platform allows you to filter candidates by job title, location, keywords, skills, and more.

‣ Enrichment of the profile Access detailed contact information such as emails and phone numbers, and connect directly with candidates — it's like combining the powers of LinkedIn and Lusha.

‣ Multi-channel contact: Improve your open rates and speed up your recruitment process with our multi-channel approach, integrating LinkedIn, email and WhatsApp.

‣ A personalized approach: Kalent's AI email templates are designed to personalize your approach and significantly increase your response rates.

‣ ATS integration: Export candidates from your list directly into your ATS with a single click, making your hiring process smoother and more efficient.

Book a demo now -- with Kalent, sourcing is easy, hiring is easier