Mobile appSocial media & communityOriginal by LinkedIn (Microsoft)
What makes LinkedIn indispensable is that it turns professional identity into a living network. A CV stops being a static document and becomes a profile constantly updated with connections, recommendations, posts and skills. Recruiters search for candidates in this network, companies build employer brands with their pages, and users follow developments in their industry through the feed. The bigger the network grows, the more valuable it becomes for everyone.
Building something similar means building a social network and a jobs platform together: mobile app and web, a connection graph, a personalised feed, messaging, company pages, job ads and recruiter tools. Behind the scenes run a graph data model, feed ranking, search and recommendation systems, spam and fake account detection and content moderation. Starting with a niche industry rather than a general competitor is the realistic approach.
How LinkedIn works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Mobile app and web
Users create profiles, connect, post, search for jobs and message.
Company page panel
Companies manage their pages, share content, post jobs and view follower analytics.
Recruiter tools
Recruiters search for candidates, build lists and message candidates directly.
Admin and moderation panel
The team handles fake accounts, complaints, content violations and subscriptions.
Critical features of a product like LinkedIn
Connection graph
First, second and third-degree connections are calculated; “mutual connections” and “people you may know” are suggested.
Professional feed
Posts from connections and followed pages are ranked by engagement and interests.
Skills and recommendations
Users add skills, connections endorse them or leave written recommendations.
Job ads and easy apply
Users apply with one click using their profile data; job ads are personalised to the profile.
Recruiter search
Candidates are searched with title, company, location and skill filters; premium members can message people outside their network.
Who viewed your profile
Users see who looked at their profile; the detailed list can be offered as a premium feature.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Professional profile with experience and skills
- Connection requests and follow system
- Feed with text and image posts, likes and comments
- One-to-one messaging
- Company pages and simple job ads
Later releases
- Recruiter search tools and premium subscription
- Graph-based people and content recommendations
- Groups, events and newsletter publishing
- Video posts and live streaming
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 38 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 224 person-days for the full scope and 133 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| Real-time messaging | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Email / SMS notifications | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| AI features (LLM, RAG, recommendations) | Later release |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €750 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Graph scaling
Calculating second and third-degree connections and mutual connections quickly requires graph-oriented data structures and caching.
Fake accounts and spam
Bots sending mass connection requests and fake recruiters damage trust; behavioural analysis and rate limits are essential.
Cold start
Network-effect products are worthless when empty; you need to start with a specific industry, profession or city.
Business model
Offering a free core experience and selling advanced features through a premium subscription (who viewed your profile, direct message credits) is one pillar of the model. The main revenue comes from employers: paid job ads, recruiter licences and targeted B2B advertising. Analytics packages for company pages and paid access to learning content can also be added.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like LinkedIn
Most people searching “build an app like linkedin” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the LinkedIn name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like LinkedIn?
A first version with profiles, connections, a feed and messaging can launch in a few months. Recruiter tools and recommendation systems are added gradually as the user base grows.
A general LinkedIn competitor or a niche network?
Starting with a niche professional network, for healthcare, engineering or the creative industries for example, is far more realistic than a general competitor. Finding the first users is much easier in a niche.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
The professional network model and its general features are free to use; names, logos, design, content and code cannot be copied. This is not legal advice.
What should I look for in an app development company?
Choose a team with experience in social feeds, real-time messaging and scalable back ends. Ask how they approach moderation and GDPR processes.
