LinkedIn Alternatives for Networking in the UK (2026)

Most lists of LinkedIn alternatives are padded with apps that closed years ago. We checked every option on this page in November 2026. Below is what still works in the UK for meeting people professionally, what has shut down, and which option suits which need. We make one of these options, Linktwos, so we say plainly where something else is the better choice.

What are you actually trying to replace?

LinkedIn does several jobs at once: an online CV, a job board, a publishing platform, a messaging inbox and, in theory, a way to meet new people. Very few people want to replace all of that. Usually the frustration is with the last part. You send connection requests and nothing comes of them, or your inbox fills with sales pitches.

This guide is about that last job: meeting the right people for work, whether that's a client, a mentor, a co-founder, a peer or someone at a company you'd like to join. It isn't a list of job boards. If you're curious why LinkedIn is so good at being found and so poor at meeting strangers, we wrote about the reasons in LinkedIn was built for broadcasting.

One practical point before the list: you probably don't need to delete LinkedIn. Recruiters and new contacts will still look you up there. Keep the profile tidy and use the options below for the actual meeting.

LinkedIn alternatives that have shut down or changed

If you searched for any of these, here's where they stand.

Bumble Bizz: no longer available

Bumble's own support page says Bizz is no longer available, that Bizz profiles are no longer shown and that the option to switch on Bizz mode has been removed. Bumble points people towards its friendship app instead, and that app relaunched as Bumble BFF in September 2025 with a focus on friend groups and communities. It's a good way to make friends in a new city. It isn't built for career goals, so if you want a Bumble Bizz alternative for work, look further down this page.

Lunchclub: no longer the company it was

Lunchclub matched professionals for one-to-one video calls and coffees. According to Fortune, its growth stalled in 2022 and co-founder Vladimir Novakovski turned the company into Lighter, a crypto trading platform, keeping most of the team. We couldn't find any sign of active development on the networking product since, so we wouldn't count on it. If you liked the Lunchclub idea of being matched one to one, Linktwos is the closest thing on this page.

Shapr: closed

Shapr was the "swipe to network" app founded in Paris in 2015. Its Wikipedia entry says the service closed in 2023 after the company was acquired by the Lincoln Group. We couldn't find an official closure notice from Shapr itself, but we also couldn't find a working version of the app.

Polywork: shut down

Polywork was pitched as a friendlier LinkedIn, then pivoted to personal websites in 2023. Users were emailed on 1 January 2025 to say it was shutting down. It is no longer an option.

LinkedIn alternatives for networking, compared

Here are the options that still work in the UK in 2026, side by side. Costs are for attendees and members, not organisers.

Meetup: best for regular, local groups

Meetup is still the default place for recurring groups in UK cities: product managers in Manchester, women in tech in Bristol, freelance designers in Glasgow. The value comes from going back. The second and third time you turn up, people recognise you and the conversations get easier.

Joining groups and going to events is free. Meetup has moved some features into its paid Meetup+ plan, including unlimited direct messages and full member lists, so messaging other members before an event is harder on the free tier. Some organisers also charge their own dues.

Choose it if you live in or near a city and want a regular room of people who share an interest. Skip it if you need one particular person quickly.

Eventbrite and Luma: best for finding one-off events

Eventbrite lists a huge range of public events in the UK, from chamber breakfasts to industry conferences. Luma has become common for startup, tech and creative events, and you can follow organisers' calendars so new events reach you. Luma says free events carry no platform fees, which is partly why so many community events use it.

Neither is a networking tool in itself. They get you into a room, and then it's down to you. Our guides on networking at a conference and what to say at a networking event cover what to do once you're there.

Slack and Discord communities: best for peers in your field

Many of the most useful professional conversations now happen in invite-only or niche communities on Slack and Discord: groups for developers, designers, marketers, founders, people in climate or health tech. You won't find a single directory of them. Ask people in your field which ones they're in, and check the websites of newsletters and podcasts you already follow, since many run a community alongside.

The way in is to be useful in public first. Answer questions, share what you've learned, and the direct messages that follow are warm rather than cold.

Choose it if you want peers and advice. Skip it if you hate the always-on chat feeling.

Alumni networks: the most underrated option

If you went to university, your alumni office very likely runs some mix of a directory, a mentoring scheme and events, often in London and other big cities. People respond to "we both studied at Leeds" far more readily than to a cold message. Look on your university's alumni pages, and check whether your old department or society has its own group too.

Former employers often have alumni groups as well, and those can be even more useful for work, because everyone shares a frame of reference.

Industry bodies and chambers of commerce: best for business owners

If you run a small business, local chambers of commerce (find yours through the British Chambers of Commerce) and the Federation of Small Businesses both run events where you'll meet other owners, local suppliers and advisers. If you work in a profession with a chartered institute or trade association, its regional branch meetings are often small, friendly and full of exactly the people you want to know.

These usually cost a membership fee, so try an event as a guest first if you can.

X and Threads: best for a public reputation

If you're willing to write in public, X and Threads can still put you in front of people who would never accept a cold LinkedIn request. It's slow. It tends to reward people who post useful things about a narrow topic for months, and reply thoughtfully to others in that niche. Treat it as a long game, not a way to meet someone this month.

Linktwos: best when you know who you need

Linktwos is the app we make, so weigh this section accordingly. It works like a matchmaker you text. You say in your own words who would help, such as "a bookkeeper for my bakery in Leeds" or "a mentor who has raised a seed round", and it introduces you to one well-matched person at a time with a short reason you should meet. You connect with a short note or skip, and skipping teaches it what you want. People who are a good fit both ways come first.

There's no feed and nobody can cold-message you: messages come from people where you both said yes. It runs in the browser on any phone or computer, is free to start (one match a day), and is starting in the UK, so it's strongest for people here. It also runs at events, where guests get a ranked list of their top people in the room. See plans or how it works at events.

Choose it if you have a specific need and would rather be introduced than search. Skip it if you want to browse lots of people at once or build a public audience; Meetup or X will suit you better.

Which LinkedIn alternative should you use?

Match the tool to the job rather than looking for one app to do everything.

• Clients for a local business: your chamber of commerce or FSB events, plus a regular Meetup group in your sector.
• A mentor: your alumni mentoring scheme first, then a matched introduction. Our guide on how to find a mentor has scripts.
• A co-founder: founder communities on Slack or Discord, startup events on Luma, and introductions. See how to find a co-founder.
• A job: alumni of the companies you want to join, and people in the team itself. How to network for a job goes through it step by step.
• Friends in a new city: Bumble BFF or Meetup's social groups.
• Peers to swap notes with: a niche Slack or Discord community.

Whichever you choose, the fastest route to a specific person is often someone you already know. If that's the case, read how to ask for an introduction before you go looking for an app.

Questions about LinkedIn alternatives

Is there a good alternative to LinkedIn for networking?

Yes, but it depends on what you need. For regular local contacts, Meetup groups and industry events work well. For peers in your field, Slack and Discord communities. For one specific kind of person, a matched introduction service such as Linktwos. Most people keep a LinkedIn profile as their online CV alongside these.

Is Bumble Bizz still available?

No. Bumble's support pages say Bumble Bizz is no longer available and the option to switch on Bizz mode has been removed. Bumble points people to Bumble BFF, which is for making friends rather than career networking.

What happened to Lunchclub?

Fortune reported that Lunchclub's growth stalled in 2022 and its co-founder turned the company into Lighter, a crypto trading platform, keeping most of the team. We couldn't find signs of active development on the networking app since, so it isn't a reliable option.

Does the Shapr networking app still work?

As far as we can tell, no. Its Wikipedia entry says Shapr closed in 2023 after being acquired by the Lincoln Group, and we couldn't find a working version of the app.

What is the best LinkedIn alternative in the UK?

For business owners, chambers of commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses are hard to beat. For tech and creative work, Meetup groups, Luma events and niche online communities. Linktwos is starting in the UK, so it's built for people here who want introductions to specific people.