Is the LinkedIn API Free?

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Introduction

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What is LinkedIn API?

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The Cost of Linkedin Api

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Exploring LinkedIn’s API Offerings

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Integrate Linkedin Api with Unipile

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All Linkedin Features

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Why Unipile and What is the price?

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Step by step guide and video

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FAQs

The LinkedIn API is a valuable tool for businesses and developers looking to automate processes, integrate communication tools, or leverage professional data. But one key question remains: Is the LinkedIn API free? In this article, we’ll explore the free and paid features of the LinkedIn API and how solutions like Unipile enhance its potential.

What is the LinkedIn API?

Inbox - Filters and Tags

The LinkedIn API allows developers and businesses to access and use LinkedIn features programmatically. It enables:

  • Retrieving professional profile information.
  • Managing connections and content sharing.
  • Integration with other tools like messaging or calendars through platforms like Unipile.

LinkedIn Integration Guide

LinkedIn activity feed showing posts, shares, and connection events for a user profile.

The Cost of Accessing LinkedIn API

LinkedIn’s API pricing varies depending on the type of data and functionality required. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is the LinkedIn API free?”, the answer depends on the level of access you need. Whether you’re looking for basic profile information, advanced job posting capabilities, or robust sales insights, LinkedIn offers tailored options for businesses of all sizes. Here’s a breakdown of the available APIs, their pricing models, and access requirements.

LinkedIn API Comparison Table
LinkedIn API Comparison Table
LinkedIn API Pricing Uses Access
People Profile API (custom plans) Retrieve individual LinkedIn profiles, work experiences, skills, etc. Requires application and LinkedIn partnership
Company Profile API (custom plans) Retrieve company info such as size, industry, employee count Requires LinkedIn partnership approval
Jobs API Variable, based on usage volume Retrieve job listings through authorized access Limited to LinkedIn partner integrations
Sales Navigator API $99.99 - $149.99 per month (per user) Access to advanced search and insights for sales engagement Via Sales Navigator subscription
LinkedIn API Comparison Table
People Profile API
Pricing Custom plan
Use Retrieve individual LinkedIn profiles, work experiences, skills, etc.
Access Requires application and LinkedIn partnership
Company Profile API
Pricing Custom plan
Use Retrieve company info such as size, industry, employee count.
Access Limited to LinkedIn partner integrations
Jobs API
Pricing Variable, based on usage volume
Use Exctract job listings, search for relevant job postings.
Access Limited to LinkedIn partner integrations
Sales Navigator API
Pricing $99.99 - $149.99 per month (per user)
Use Access to advanced search and insights for sales engagement
Access Via Sales Navigator subscription

Exploring LinkedIn’s API Offerings

LinkedIn provides a robust suite of APIs, each tailored to specific business needs. Below is a detailed overview of some of their key APIs, their capabilities, and the challenges associated with accessing them.

Data Handling Note

Whether an integration relies on LinkedIn’s free tier, a paid Partner Program access, or the Unipile API, the data returned stays scoped to what the authenticated user can already see from their own LinkedIn, Sales Navigator or Recruiter session. Unipile does not maintain an independent profile archive, job index, or company database to make up for free-tier limits: each call is fulfilled on demand from the connected user’s session and nothing is stockpiled in a parallel copy of LinkedIn on our side.

1. People Profile API: Unlocking Rich User Data

The People Profile API is ideal for businesses needing access to comprehensive user data, including work experience, skills, education, and recommendations. This API is essential for tasks like building recruitment tools, conducting talent analysis, or creating personalized professional experiences. However, LinkedIn requires developers to join its Partner Program, which involves a rigorous application process to ensure ethical data use.

Key Information Provided:

  • User profile names and URLs.
  • Current job titles and work experiences.
  • Skills, recommendations, and education history.

While this API offers unparalleled access to professional insights, its restrictive access policies and high cost make it less practical for smaller businesses. Alternative solutions like Proxycurl offer similar data with more flexibility and affordability.

2. Company Profile API: Essential for B2B Insights

The Company Profile API is designed to provide in-depth information about businesses listed on LinkedIn, such as their size, industry, and growth trends. This API is particularly valuable for corporations conducting market research or improving B2B sales engagement workflows. However, gaining access is expensive and restricted to LinkedIn partners, often requiring an annual commitment that exceeds $7,200.

Key Information Provided:

  • Company name, URL, and industry classification.
  • Employee growth trends and size.
  • Headquarters location.

While highly powerful for large enterprises, the cost and strict usage limitations make this API inaccessible to many small and medium-sized businesses.

3. Jobs API: For Job Market Insights

The Jobs API is ideal for retrieving job listings directly from LinkedIn. It’s a valuable resource for companies building custom job boards or conducting job market analysis. However, access requires a LinkedIn partnership, and pricing varies based on usage volume, making it difficult to budget for.

Key Information Provided:

  • Job descriptions and titles.
  • Employer details and job location.
  • Posting and expiration dates.

While large corporations may benefit from the Jobs API, the cost and complexity of access often deter smaller organizations from using it.

4. Marketing API: Driving Ad Campaign Success

The Marketing API helps businesses create, manage, and measure LinkedIn advertising campaigns. By offering real-time performance data, this API empowers organizations to optimize their ad strategies for better engagement. However, only LinkedIn Marketing Partners can access it, and the dynamic pricing structure can be a significant barrier for smaller advertisers.

Key Information Provided:

  • Campaign creation and management tools.
  • Ad performance metrics like impressions and clicks.
  • Audience targeting based on industry, job title, and other criteria.

While the Marketing API is critical for enterprise advertisers, smaller businesses may find its cost and access restrictions a challenge.

5. LinkedIn Learning API: Streamlining Training Integration

For organizations wondering “Is the LinkedIn API free?” and looking to integrate LinkedIn Learning into their platforms, the Learning API provides tools for course access and progress tracking. This API is invaluable for corporate training programs or educational platforms. However, as with other LinkedIn APIs, access is limited to approved partners, and the costs can be significant.

Key Information Provided:

  • Course descriptions and titles.
  • Enrollment and completion tracking.
  • Progress monitoring for learners.

While the Learning API is ideal for educational institutions and large corporations, its limited accessibility and high costs may lead smaller-scale initiatives to explore alternatives.

Integrate LinkedIn in Just 2 Days with Unipile

LinkedIn’s APIs offer powerful insights but come with steep costs, complex access requirements, and restrictions. Unipile simplifies this process with seamless integrations, enabling businesses to incorporate LinkedIn’s capabilities (like messaging, data enrichment, and engagement workflows) into their workflow in just two days. Save time, reduce hassle, and deliver impactful results to your users with Unipile

People Profile Data: Simplified Access

LinkedIn’s People Profile API requires lengthy approval processes and high upfront costs to access detailed personal information like job history, education, and skills. With Unipile, you can integrate LinkedIn messaging and profile data into your workflow without needing to jump through hoops.

Effortlessly retrieve professional insights and message contacts.
Access everything in one platform alongside Gmail, WhatsApp, and other tools.
Unipile Advantage: Simplified setup and consolidated data access at a fraction of the complexity.

Company Insights for B2B Success

LinkedIn’s Company Profile API is a powerful tool for understanding businesses, but it’s exclusive to LinkedIn partners and comes with hefty costs. Unipile provides a streamlined way to manage company-level insights and enhance your B2B engagement workflows.

Integrate company information directly with your communication tools.
Organize and analyze company data without costly contracts.
Unipile Advantage: Gain essential business insights without breaking the bank.

Discover all LinkedIn API Features

LinkedIn Endpoints
Account connectionAccount
Messages
Users/ProfilesProfiles
Posts/CommentsPosts
Specific
Webhooks
Inboxes

Account Connection

2 endpoints available

Hosted Auth: White label to connect your end users
Custom auth: connect user with credentials, cookies, your chrome extension

Messages

10 endpoints available

Send & Reply Messages
Send an InMail
List Messages, Chats & Attendees
List Reactions
Read Receipts
Send Files attachments
Receive Files attachments
Send Voice Notes
Send Embed Video

Users/Profiles

8 endpoints available

Retrieve a Profile
Retrieve & Edit own profile
List all relations & Followers
List all Invitations Sent & Received
Handle & Cancel a received Invitation
Send an Invitation
Cancel an Invitation
List all posts, comments, reactions

Posts/Comments

6 endpoints available

Retrieve & Create a post
List all comments from a post
List all posts, comments, reactions
Comment a post
List all reactions from a post
Add a reaction to a post, comment

Specific

17 endpoints available

Retrieve Recruiter hiring projects
Perform an action with a user profile
Retrieve a company profile
Get the raw API response from any endpoint
Get inmail credit balance
Retrieve LinkedIn search parameters
Perform LinkedIn search
List all job postings
Create a job posting
Get job posting
Publish a job posting
Solve a job publishing checkpoint
Close a job posting
List all applicants to a job posting
Get a specific applicant to a job posting
Download the resume of a job applicant
Endorse a user profile specific skill

Webhooks

3 events available

Account status
New Message
New Reaction / Read / Event

Inboxes

4 inboxes available

LinkedIn Classic Inbox
Sales Navigator Inbox
LinkedIn Recruiter Inbox
LinkedIn Company Page

Why Unipile Stands Out

Unlike traditional LinkedIn APIs, Unipile is designed with flexibility and efficiency in mind. We focus on:

  • Ease of Use: No complicated setup or restrictive access policies.
  • Affordability: Keep your costs predictable and manageable.
  • Multi-Platform Integration: Unify LinkedIn data with email, calendars, and messaging apps for seamless workflows.

At Unipile, we don’t just make LinkedIn data accessible; we make it actionable. Instead of navigating LinkedIn’s heavy costs and red tape, let Unipile simplify your professional networking, B2B strategies, and data management.

How Unipile Operates

Unipile is an independent technical intermediary, not a LinkedIn partner, reseller, or data vendor. Access is granted only once one of your end users has personally connected their own LinkedIn account and has initiated the workflow from your product. Every profile lookup, message, or integration call is executed on behalf of that authenticated user, bounded by what they can already do from their own session: no shared pools of accounts, no privileged backend, no action against accounts whose owner has not actively linked them.

Unipile API Pricing: Flexible and Scalable Solutions

At Unipile, we offer a tiered pricing model designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, ensuring cost-effectiveness as you scale.

Platform Limits & Responsible Use

LinkedIn defines and periodically adjusts the daily volumes, search quotas, invitation limits and cadence rules attached to each seat, regardless of whether integration goes through the free tier, a partner program, or the Unipile API. Unipile relays those live signals, rate-limit headers, quota responses, error states, so your application can slow down, requeue, or reschedule gracefully. Choosing a pricing plan, an account volume, and an automation cadence remains a customer-side decision, and every deployment must stay aligned with LinkedIn’s current terms and with what a single authenticated account can legitimately sustain.

How many accounts?

11 to 50 accounts
5.00 € /account/month
Pay as you go

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Full platform access

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Access to all features

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Unlimited API Calls

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7-Day Free Trial

Pricing

Cancel anytime. No credit card required

Pay as you go

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Access to all features

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Unlimited API Calls

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7-Day Free Trial

Pricing

Cancel anytime. No credit card required

  • Transparent Monthly Costs: For example, managing 15 linked accounts costs €75.00 per month (15 × €5.00).
  • Risk-Free Trial: Enjoy a 7-day trial to explore all features without any commitment.
  • Flexible Billing: Only pay for peak simultaneous linked accounts, all managed easily through our dashboard.
LinkedIn API Comparison Table
Service Details and Billing
Category Description Details
Example Calculation Monthly cost for linked accounts 15 accounts × €5.00 = €75.00 per month
Free Trial 7-day full access trial Explore all features with no commitment
Billing Details Peak simultaneous linked accounts Monitor and manage accounts via our dashboard

Seamless Integration for Smarter Communication Workflows

Step-by-Step Integration Guide

Sign Up with Unipile: Begin by creating an account on Unipile Dashboard.

Obtain API Credentials: Secure your LinkedIn API credentials from Unipile.

Select Data Points for Integration: Decide on the types of LinkedIn data your organization needs, such as profiles, posts, or messaging.

Develop Your Integration: Use Unipile’s detailed documentation to integrate the LinkedIn API with your existing software.

Test and Deploy: Validate the integration, ensuring data accuracy and proper API response before full deployment.

Video Integration Guide

Quick walkthrough to connect a LinkedIn account and start syncing inboxes or retrieving profiles via API.

Common Use Cases of LinkedIn Data Integration

Lead Generation

Sales teams use LinkedIn data integration to automate lead generation and get valuable insights, including work history and skills, which help in identifying the right contacts to pursue.

Recruitment and Hiring

HR teams leverage LinkedIn integration to streamline access to candidate profiles that users share, saving time during screening, and allowing recruiters to focus on interviewing the most qualified individuals.

Developer Advantages of the LinkedIn Data Integration API

1 Icon

Integration Call
Secure an on-demand meeting with our founders (CTO & CEO) to align on technical and product strategy.

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Integration Call
Secure an on-demand meeting with our founders (CTO & CEO) to align on technical and product strategy.

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Connect with Live Support
Our live support is at your disposal before, during, and after integration, ensuring guidance at every step without extra cost.

deliverability Icon

Connect with Live Support
Our live support is at your disposal before, during, and after integration, ensuring guidance at every step without extra cost.

Dedicated Assistance During Integration

Our support team is with you every step of the way, before, during, and after integration, to ensure a seamless experience. We’re here to provide real-time assistance, helping you avoid any hiccups and extra costs.

Comprehensive Developer Resources

Our API comes with detailed documentation and sample code to simplify integration. These resources are designed to enhance your application’s capabilities, making the process of sending LinkedIn invitations smoother and more efficient.

Ongoing Updates and Maintenance

With proactive updates and regular maintenance, our API remains aligned with LinkedIn’s latest standards and improvements, ensuring consistent performance and minimizing any potential downtime.

FAQs

Is there a public LinkedIn API?

Yes, LinkedIn provides a public API, but access is restricted based on usage and approval processes. Basic features are accessible with limited free functionality, while advanced features require joining LinkedIn’s Partner Program.

What features can I access with the LinkedIn API free tier?

The free tier allows access to basic public profile data and content sharing features. However, if you need advanced functionalities, such as deep integration or analytics, you’ll need to opt for paid options.

Is Unipile’s API DMA compliant?

Yes. Our API is designed in line with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). We only enable secure messaging interoperability and never store or collect user data without consent.

How do I get a LinkedIn API key?

To get a LinkedIn API key, you need to register your app on LinkedIn’s Developer Platform. Once approved, you’ll receive the key, but using it for advanced features may require additional permissions or partnerships with LinkedIn.

What can you do with the LinkedIn API?

Through Unipile’s API, your application can retrieve profile data, send messages, sync inboxes, and integrate LinkedIn functionality into CRMs, ATSs, or communication tools, on behalf of each authenticated user who has connected their own LinkedIn account. The scope of each call stays bounded by what that user can already see or do from their own session.

How does Unipile improve LinkedIn API integration?

Unipile acts as an independent technical intermediary: software publishers integrate the API once and their end users then connect their own LinkedIn accounts. Every call is executed on behalf of each authenticated user, within the scope of what that user can already access from their own LinkedIn, Sales Navigator or Recruiter session. Integration typically takes around 2 days, with pricing tied to active connected accounts rather than rigid partner tiers.

What LinkedIn data can the API actually access on the free tier vs Unipile?

LinkedIn’s official free tier exposes only a narrow set of basic endpoints and requires Partner Program approval for most advanced scopes. Through Unipile, the API only returns what the authenticated user can already see from their own LinkedIn, Sales Navigator or Recruiter session: their conversations, contacts, search results, and profile fields their plan entitles them to. There is no cross-account lookup, no privileged backend query, and no parallel LinkedIn database maintained on Unipile’s side.

Who is responsible for respecting LinkedIn's rate limits and terms?

Unipile relays LinkedIn’s own rate limits, invitation quotas, and usage signals so your application can slow down, requeue, or pause in real time. However, deciding which pricing plan to use, how many accounts to connect, and at what cadence to call the API remains the customer’s responsibility. Every deployment must stay aligned with LinkedIn’s current terms and with what a single authenticated account can legitimately sustain.

Is Unipile an official LinkedIn partner?

No. Unipile is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LinkedIn. It operates as an independent technical intermediary that lets software publishers connect authenticated LinkedIn accounts to their application. Every call is performed on behalf of the user who owns that account, within workflows the user has initiated. Third-party platform features, pricing conditions, and API availability may change over time.

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