Is there a fully free way to do all this?
Yes. Every platform commonly compared here has a free tier that covers its main purpose for individuals.
Job seekers can search, apply and research employers at no cost across aggregators, review platforms and general networks. Community platforms are usually free to join, and portfolio and publishing platforms are free to use at the base level.
What paid tiers add is volume and visibility, not access. More search results, message allowances for contacting people outside your network, and placement features within applicant lists. If you cannot name the limit you keep hitting, the free tier is very likely enough.
Should I delete my account if I move elsewhere?
Usually no. Leaving an accurate but dormant profile costs nothing and keeps you findable.
Deleting removes two separate things at once: the habit of using a platform, and the public record that lets people find you. Most people who are frustrated want to change the first, not the second.
In fields where recruiters search one platform first, removing your profile removes the thing that was doing that job. A reasonable middle option is to update the profile, add a link to wherever you are more active, and stop checking it.
Which platform has the most job listings?
Aggregators generally show the highest counts, but the total is not the useful number.
Aggregators index the same role from several sources, so duplicates, expired posts and agency reposts are all included in headline figures. A larger total does not mean more distinct opportunities.
The number that matters is how many roles from employers you would actually join appear on a given platform. Checking ten target employers directly answers that in about twenty minutes and is more reliable than any published listing count.
Can I use several platforms at the same time?
Yes, and most people who report success are doing exactly that rather than switching.
The platforms in this category cover different tasks, so running two or three in parallel is the normal arrangement rather than an unusual one. An aggregator for listings, a general network for being found, and one community for peers covers most needs.
The cost is maintenance. Three profiles that are all slightly out of date perform worse than one that is current, so more is not automatically better.
Where do recruiters actually look?
It varies by industry, seniority and region, and there is no single answer that holds everywhere.
In corporate and knowledge work in English-speaking markets, general professional networks are widely used for sourcing. In technical fields, code hosting and specialist communities matter. In creative fields, portfolios carry more weight than profiles. In trades and shift work, aggregators with strong local search and direct employer applications dominate.
Recruiting practice also differs by country. In German-speaking markets a regional network holds significant ground, and in several Asian markets local services and agencies lead.
Can I find work without a general professional network profile?
Yes in many fields, and it is harder in some others.
Applying directly through company career pages and aggregators does not require a network profile. Freelance and creative work frequently runs through marketplaces, portfolios and referrals instead.
Where it becomes harder is in industries where a profile functions as a default credential check before an interview. That is a real cost worth weighing, and it is not evenly distributed across fields.
How should I actually choose?
Start from the task, not the platform. Then check where the specific people you need are.
Name the concrete thing you want to happen: applications answered, clients found, peers met, or an audience built. Each of those has a different best-suited tool, and the general network appears on several lists precisely because it attempts all of them.
Then run the check that no comparison article can run for you. List ten employers, clients or communities you actually want, find where they are active, and note which platforms repeat. Anything appearing more than twice is relevant to you regardless of its size, and anything appearing zero times is not relevant regardless of its size.