Best LinkedIn Analytics Tools 2025

LinkedIn's native analytics only show 90 days of data. No competitor tracking. No content predictions.

Third-party tools fix this. Here's which ones actually work.

Quick Answer: Which Tool Should You Use?

Why LinkedIn's Native Analytics Fall Short

What you get for free:

• Post impressions and engagement
• Follower demographics
• Profile views (last 90 days)
• Search appearances

What's missing:

• Historical data beyond 90 days
• Competitor benchmarking
• Best time to post recommendations
• Content performance predictions
• Automated reporting

If you only need basics, native works. For growth, you need more.

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The 9 Best LinkedIn Analytics Tools

1. LinkedIn Native Analytics (Free)

Best for: Getting started at zero cost

What you get:

• Post impressions and engagement
• Follower growth and demographics
• Profile views
• Company page insights (admins)

Limitations:

• 90-day data only
• No competitor tracking
• No scheduling
• Basic export options

Verdict: Start here. Upgrade when you hit the limits.

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2. Shield Analytics ($8-25/mo)

Best for: Personal brand builders and content creators

Shield focuses on what most tools ignore: personal profile analytics.

Key features:

• Profile-level analytics (rare)
• Content performance tracking
• Best posting time analysis
• Historical data storage
• Engagement rate calculations

Why choose Shield: It's the only affordable tool built specifically for personal LinkedIn profiles.

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3. Hootsuite ($99-249/mo)

Best for: Teams managing multiple social platforms

LinkedIn features:

• Post performance tracking
• Audience demographics
• Best time to post
• Competitor benchmarking
• Custom reports

Limitations:

• Expensive for LinkedIn-only use
• Personal profile support limited
• Complex for simple needs

Verdict: Worth it if you manage Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook too. Overkill for LinkedIn alone.

See cheaper options: Hootsuite alternatives

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4. Sprout Social ($249-499/mo)

Best for: Agencies and enterprise teams

What makes it different:

• Full post analytics
• Competitor analysis
• Sentiment tracking
• CRM integration
• Professional reporting

The trade-off: Enterprise features at enterprise prices. Per-seat pricing adds up fast.

For budget alternatives: Sprout Social alternatives

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5. Buffer (Free-$12/mo)

Best for: Small teams and solopreneurs

Buffer keeps things simple. Schedule posts, track basic analytics, done.

What you get:

• Post performance metrics
• Engagement tracking
• Best time to post
• Multi-platform comparison

Free tier: 3 channels, basic analytics

Verdict: Great starting point. Upgrade when you need deeper insights.

Compare options: Buffer alternatives

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6. SocialRails (Free-$24/mo)

Best for: Scheduling with built-in analytics

LinkedIn features:

• Post performance tracking
• Engagement metrics
• Best time to post insights
• Visual content calendar
• Multi-platform comparison

Why choose SocialRails: Modern interface, affordable pricing, combines scheduling and analytics in one place.

Try it at SocialRails.

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7. Socialinsider ($99-149/mo)

Best for: Competitive analysis and benchmarking

If you need to know what competitors are posting and how it performs, this is the tool.

Key features:

• Deep competitor analysis
• Industry benchmarking
• Historical data tracking
• Automated reports
• Campaign tracking

What it doesn't do: Scheduling. It's analytics-only.

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8. Keyhole ($89-259/mo)

Best for: Hashtag and campaign tracking

Strengths:

• Hashtag performance tracking
• Campaign analytics
• Real-time monitoring
• Influencer identification

Weakness: More Twitter-focused. LinkedIn features are secondary.

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9. Inlytics (Free-$39/mo)

Best for: LinkedIn-only analytics depth

Built exclusively for LinkedIn. Nothing else.

Key features:

• Profile and company page analytics
• Content performance scoring
• Audience analysis
• Posting time optimization
• Growth recommendations

Why choose Inlytics: Purpose-built for LinkedIn means deeper features than multi-platform tools.

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Full Comparison Table

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Key Metrics to Track

Engagement Metrics

Engagement rate formula: (Reactions + Comments + Shares) ÷ Impressions × 100

What's good?

Growth Metrics

Track these weekly:

• Follower growth rate
• Profile views
• Search appearances
• Connection request rate

Content Performance

Compare across your posts:

• Impressions per post
• Best performing formats (text, image, video, document)
• Best posting times
• Comment quality (not just quantity)

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How to Choose the Right Tool

Step 1: Define Your Situation

Personal brand builder? → Shield or Inlytics

Small team, multiple platforms? → Buffer or SocialRails

Company page focus? → Hootsuite

Enterprise or agency? → Sprout Social

Need competitor insights? → Socialinsider

Zero budget? → LinkedIn Native + manual tracking

Step 2: Start Free, Then Upgrade

1. Use LinkedIn's native analytics for 30 days
2. Note what's missing (usually historical data or competitor tracking)
3. Pick a tool that solves your specific gap
4. Start with the cheapest tier
5. Upgrade only when you hit limits

Step 3: Track What Matters

Don't track everything. Pick 3-5 metrics that connect to your goals:

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Vanity metric obsession Impressions without engagement don't build business. Track engagement rate, not just views.

Inconsistent tracking Analytics only help if you review them regularly. Set a weekly 15-minute review habit.

Over-optimizing for algorithm Gaming the algorithm with engagement pods damages credibility. Build real relationships.

Ignoring qualitative data Comments tell you more than numbers. Read what people actually say.

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Related Resources

• Best LinkedIn Scheduler
• LinkedIn Ads vs Facebook Ads
• Best Social Media Scheduler
• Best Time to Post on LinkedIn
• LinkedIn Post Ideas Guide
• How Often Should You Post on LinkedIn
• LinkedIn Company Page Management
• LinkedIn Demographics Guide
• Best Hashtags for LinkedIn

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Summary

Quick picks:

• Personal brand, budget: Shield ($8/mo) or Inlytics (free-$12/mo)
• Multi-platform team: Buffer or SocialRails (free-$12/mo)
• Company page focus: Hootsuite ($99/mo)
• Enterprise: Sprout Social ($249/mo)
• Competitor research: Socialinsider ($99/mo)
• Free: LinkedIn Native + spreadsheet

Start with free tools. Upgrade when you know exactly what data you're missing.