LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda, is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of courses taught by industry experts. One of the great things about LinkedIn Learning is that it offers a free 1-month trial so you can test out the platform before committing to a paid subscription. However, many people wonder if they can cancel their LinkedIn Learning free trial before it expires if they decide the service isn’t for them. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about canceling your LinkedIn Learning free trial.
What is the LinkedIn Learning free trial?
The LinkedIn Learning free trial gives you full access to their entire course library for 1 month. This allows you to explore the platform, preview courses, and determine if LinkedIn Learning’s offerings are worthwhile for you before paying.
Some key things to know about the free trial:
– It lasts for 30 days from when you first sign up
– You get unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses during the trial
– No payment information is required when you start the trial
– You can take as many courses as you want and earn certificates of completion
– You can cancel at any time during the 30 days
– If you don’t cancel, you’ll automatically be charged the monthly subscription fee after the trial ends
How do I start the LinkedIn Learning free trial?
Getting started with the free trial is quick and straightforward:
1. Go to the LinkedIn Learning website and click “Try for free”
2. Log in with your LinkedIn account credentials
3. Select “Start your free month”
4. That’s it! You now have full access to all courses for 30 days.
Once you’ve signed up, you can browse courses, create a customized learning plan, take assessments, earn certificates, and make use of all platform features.
Can I cancel my LinkedIn Learning free trial?
Yes, you can absolutely cancel your LinkedIn Learning free trial at any time during the 30 days. The platform makes it simple to opt out if you decide LinkedIn Learning isn’t providing value for you or your learning goals.
Some key things to know about canceling the free trial:
– You won’t be charged anything if you cancel during the trial period
– You can still continue accessing courses until the 30-day period ends after canceling
– All your progress and achievements will be saved in your account if you cancel
– To fully cancel, you must opt out before the 30-day trial concludes
– If you don’t cancel, you’ll be automatically charged the monthly fee after the trial ends
How do I cancel my LinkedIn Learning free trial?
Follow these simple steps to cancel your LinkedIn Learning free trial:
1. Go to your Account Settings in the app or website. This is typically located behind your profile icon.
2. Click “Subscription” in the left sidebar.
3. Under your subscription plan, click “Cancel subscription”
4. On the pop-up, select a reason for canceling or click “Other.”
5. Check the box confirming you want to cancel.
6. Click “Continue to cancel.”
7. You’re done! Your subscription will remain active until the end of your 30-day trial period.
The cancellation process takes less than a minute. You’ll receive confirmation on-screen as well as via email that your trial membership will expire at the end of the 30 days.
Can I reactivate my subscription later?
If you end up canceling your trial but later decide you want to subscribe to LinkedIn Learning, you can easily reactivate your membership.
To resume your subscription after canceling:
– Log back into your LinkedIn Learning account
– Go to Account Settings and click “Subscription”
– Click “Resume Subscription” and follow the prompts
– Your subscription will be reactivated immediately
You’ll be able to pick back up right where you left off with all your previous progress intact. Reactivating does not extend your initial 30-day free trial. You will immediately be charged the standard monthly fee once your subscription resumes.
What happens to my progress if I cancel?
Any work you completed or progress made during the LinkedIn Learning free trial will remain safely in your account even if you decide to cancel your subscription early.
Here’s an overview of what happens to your data if you cancel the trial:
– Course history: All records of courses started or completed will remain
– Learning checkpoints: Quizzes, practice exercises, and other work is retained
– Certificates: Any certificates earned are still accessible in your account
– Exercise files: Downloads and other supplemental materials are still available
– Test scores: Grades and results from any assessments stay in your profile
– Bookmarks: Courses bookmarked as favorites remain marked after canceling
– Recommendations: Suggested courses based on your interests stay visible
– Curated learning paths: Any personalized learning paths created in your account remain intact
So you don’t have to worry about losing anything if you choose to cancel the trial early. Your work is saved, and you can pick up where you left off if you restart your subscription later on.
What are some reasons I might want to cancel?
There are a few common reasons you may decide to cancel the LinkedIn Learning free trial:
– **The courses aren’t relevant to your goals:** Upon previewing, you find the selection lacking in content tailored to your interests and learning objectives.
– **You’re short on time:** You took the trial with the intent to take courses but don’t have time to make the most of the platform with your current schedule.
– **You can’t afford the subscription fee:** The monthly subscription cost is not in your budget after the trial ends.
– **You prefer different learning resources:** You determine you learn better with platforms like Udemy, Coursera, edX, etc.
– **You only need a specific course:** You joined to take a certain course and no longer need the service after completing that class.
– **It’s not user-friendly for your learning style:** You find the interface cumbersome or have issues accessing content easily.
Knowing why you want to cancel can help you determine if alternatives like a more affordable plan or selective course purchases might better suit your needs after the trial.
What are the pros and cons of canceling?
Here are some key pros and cons to weigh when considering canceling your LinkedIn Learning platform trial:
**Pros**
– Avoid being charged the monthly fee after your trial ends
– Cancel early in the trial if you realize it won’t provide value for you
– Continue accessing all courses and materials for remainder of 30-day trial
– Keep all your progress if you cancel your subscription
– Pick back up where you left off if you resume your subscription later
**Cons**
– Lose unlimited access to 16,000+ courses after trial period ends
– Won’t be able to earn additional certificates until you reactivate subscription
– Gap in your learning if you want to continue courses after the 30-day trial
– Lose out on personalized recommendations and resources after canceling
– No refunds provided on unused portion of free trial if you cancel
Overall, canceling the trial early on is typically recommended if you know the service will not be a good fit. This prevents getting charged for content you won’t use. However, staying subscribed can be more beneficial if you want ongoing education.
Can I get a refund if I cancel the trial?
Since LinkedIn Learning’s free trial does not require any payment upfront, there are no refunds provided if you cancel your subscription early. The 30-day free access is a promotional period to experience the platform.
However, by canceling before the end of the trial, you avoid being charged the monthly membership cost after the 30 days are up. So canceling promptly once you determine the service isn’t for you will allow you to avoid paying any subscription fees at all.
How much does a LinkedIn Learning subscription cost?
If you don’t cancel before your trial concludes, here is what you will be charged for a full LinkedIn Learning subscription:
– **Monthly plan:** $29.99 per month billed monthly
– **Annual plan:** $19.99 per month billed as one $239.88 payment annually
There are occasional promotional offers that lower the price or provide discounts for the first few months. But the standard pricing is either $29.99 paid month-to-month or $239.88 annually.
Corporate and group plans are also available if purchasing through an employer or organization.
What happens after my trial ends if I don’t cancel?
Here’s an overview of what to expect if your 30-day free trial concludes without canceling:
– You’ll be automatically charged the monthly subscription rate or annual fee based on the plan you selected when signing up.
– Monthly billing will begin on the same calendar day that your trial started.
– You maintain full access to all courses, features, certificates, and materials.
– You can still cancel at any time after being charged. You just pay for that billing cycle.
– Ongoing subscription fees will continue each billing period until you decide to cancel.
– Failure to pay subscription charges could result in suspended account access.
So if you forget to cancel the trial, be sure to monitor your first payment date and account usage to decide whether to continue the plan or cancel ahead of your next billing cycle.
What are some alternatives to LinkedIn Learning?
If you decide LinkedIn Learning isn’t the right fit after testing the free trial, here are a few alternative online learning platforms to consider:
**Udemy**
– Marketplace with 130,000+ courses on business, tech, personal development & more
– Courses range from $10-$200+; free & discounted options available
– Instructors set pricing; quality varies
**Skillshare**
– 25,000+ classes in design, photography, marketing, leadership & productivity
– Mainly short form classes and projects
– $19/month or $99/year subscription; 7-day free trial
**Coursera**
– 3,000+ courses and certificates from top universities
– Offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in certain subjects
– Most courses are free with upsells; $39-$79 per month for Specializations
**edX**
– 2,500+ courses from 130 institutions like Harvard, MIT, Microsoft
– Free courses or up to $300 for certificates and graded assignments
– MicroBachelors and MicroMasters credentials available
**Pluralsight**
– 7,000+ tech-focused courses on development, IT ops, security, data, etc.
– $45/month Core plan or $299/year Premium plan
– 10-day free trial
**Masterclass**
– 85+ classes taught by celebrities and experts
– Covers arts, sports, cooking, business, writing, acting, and more
– $15/month annual plan or $180 one-time purchase for site access
Evaluating the course catalog, subscription model, pricing, and overall learning experience of alternatives can help identify if another platform suits your needs better than LinkedIn Learning. Taking advantage of free trials and intro offers is recommended when deciding.
Can I download courses to access offline?
Yes, one of LinkedIn Learning’s helpful features is the ability to download courses to access offline when you don’t have an internet connection. This lets you learn on the go and when internet availability is limited.
Here’s an overview of how to download courses:
– Mobile app only – downloads only available on iOS and Android apps, not the website.
– Download button is shown below each course on the app. Tap it to save the content offline.
– There may be a download limit depending on your subscription plan.
– Downloads expire after 30 days and must be renewed.
– Videos must be played within the app once downloaded.
– Most supplemental resources like code files, slides, audio, etc. can also be downloaded.
– Saves progress in the course even when offline. Syncs back when you reconnect.
– Only works for individual video courses, not curriculum learning paths.
Downloading for offline access is a handy way to continue learning everywhere, from flights and commutes to areas with spotty service. Note you’ll need to be connected to the internet initially to download courses, but can then access without a connection.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Learning offers an extensive library of courses and a free trial that lets you explore the platform. If you determine the service isn’t providing value and want to avoid subscription charges, canceling the trial early on is simple and secure. You won’t be entitled to any refund, but you can keep all your progress and achievements. Before the 30 days are up, assess your needs and research alternative learning options to find the right fit. With the ability to cancel in minutes, there’s no risk in testing out LinkedIn Learning for yourself.