LinkedIn Learning (previously known as Lynda) is LinkedIn’s e-learning platform that offers thousands of online courses taught by industry experts. Courses cover a wide range of topics including business, technology, creative skills and more. LinkedIn Learning is a premium service that requires a paid subscription to access the full course catalog. However, there are still some ways to use LinkedIn Learning for free even without a premium membership.
Overview of LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is the online learning platform owned by LinkedIn. It was previously known as Lynda.com before being acquired by LinkedIn in 2015. Here is an overview of key things to know about LinkedIn Learning:
- Over 16,000 courses across a wide range of topics like business, technology, creative skills, and more
- Courses are taught by industry experts
- Available in 5 languages – English, Spanish, German, Japanese, and French
- Access to courses on desktop, mobile devices, and apps
- Interactive transcripts, exercise files, quizzes, and coding windows
- Course recommendations based on skills and interests
- Shareable course certificates upon completion
- Premium subscription required with monthly and annual plans
- 30 day free trial available for premium access
So in summary, LinkedIn Learning provides expert-led courses on in-demand skills but requires a paid premium account to fully access the content catalog.
What is included with a LinkedIn Learning premium subscription?
Here are the key benefits that come with a LinkedIn Learning premium membership:
- Unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses – You can take any course in the full course library with a premium account.
- Offline viewing – Download courses to watch offline when you don’t have an internet connection.
- Course certificates – Earn certificates to showcase your learning.
- Customizable course recommendations – Get suggested courses based on your skills, interests, and goals.
- New courses added regularly – New courses are added weekly so there is fresh content.
- Watch on any device – Access courses on desktop, mobile, tablet, Apple TV, Android TV.
- Learning paths – Follow structured learning paths to master a subject.
- Quizzes and exercises – Reinforce learning with quizzes and coding exercises.
- Discussion forums – Engage with other learners in course discussion forums.
- Options for monthly or annual subscriptions – Pay month-to-month or save with an annual plan.
In summary, a premium account unlocks the full LinkedIn Learning experience with unlimited access, personalized recommendations, certificates, downloadable content, and other beneficial features.
Free LinkedIn Learning options without premium
While LinkedIn Learning is a paid service, there are still some free options available to use without a premium subscription:
1. Free courses
LinkedIn Learning makes select courses available for free for anyone to take. As of this writing, there are over 180 free courses available. Topics range from project management essentials to graphic design to business strategy skills. While the selection is limited compared to the full library, there are still quality courses available to take for free.
2. Free week-long learning paths
LinkedIn Learning sometimes makes certain learning paths available for free for one week. Learning paths are multi-course sequences focused on teaching a specific skill. Previous free learning paths have covered topics like time management fundamentals, digital marketing, data analysis, and more. Check back periodically for new free learning paths.
3. Free 1-month premium trial
LinkedIn Learning offers new users a 1-month free trial of their premium subscription. This gives you full access to take as many courses as you want for a month. It’s a good opportunity to experience the premium features before deciding if you want to pay.
4. Sample lessons
Many courses on LinkedIn Learning offer a free sample lesson that anyone can watch without a subscription. Use these samples to preview a course and get a sense of the instructor’s teaching style.
5. Add courses to your LinkedIn profile
Any courses you have completed on LinkedIn Learning, whether paid or for free, can be added to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills. Add courses to the Accomplishments section.
6. Corporate or university access
Some companies and universities provide employees or students access to LinkedIn Learning as a benefit. Check with your employer or school to see if they offer this.
Pros and cons of free vs. paid LinkedIn Learning
Here is a comparison of the pros and cons of using the free vs paid version of LinkedIn Learning:
Free LinkedIn Learning
Pros:
- Take some courses for free
- Preview sample lessons
- Access select free learning paths
- Try 1-month premium trial
- Add courses to LinkedIn profile
- No cost
Cons:
- Very limited course selection
- No certificates upon course completion
- No offline viewing or downloads
- No exercise files or coding windows
- No quizzes or assessments
- No customized course recommendations
- No way to track learning progress
Paid LinkedIn Learning
Pros:
- Unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses
- Earn certificates to showcase learning
- Watch courses offline
- Get tailored course recommendations
- Access exercise files, coding windows, quizzes
- Engage in discussion forums
- Track learning progress and achievement
Cons:
- Monthly or yearly cost
- No ownership of content
As the pros and cons demonstrate, the paid version unlocks the full value of LinkedIn Learning with personalized, unlimited access to high-quality courses taught by industry experts. The free options are very limited in comparison. So getting a premium subscription is recommended for anyone who wants to take their learning to the next level. But the free trial and sample courses can help in initially evaluating the platform.
LinkedIn Learning cost and pricing
Here are the current LinkedIn Learning subscription plans and pricing (in USD):
Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
---|---|---|
Premium individual | $29.99/month | $239.88/year (saves $59.88) |
Premium corporate | $24.99/month per user | Custom annual contract |
Key things to note:
– Annual contract offers lower monthly rate and saves money
– Corporate plans require a custom quote and annual contract
– Often discounted for the first year for individual plans
– Special discounted student pricing available
– Team/group plans also available for small businesses
So in summary, a personal LinkedIn Learning subscription starts at $29.99/month on monthly basis or $239.88/year paid annually. Corporate plans require contact for quote. Overall, LinkedIn Learning provides good value given the breadth and quality of courses available.
How to get LinkedIn Learning for free
While a paid subscription unlocks the most value from LinkedIn Learning, here are some tips to access it for free:
Use the 1 month free trial
All new users can sign up for a 1 month free trial of LinkedIn Learning. This gives you access to the entire course catalog for a month. Make the most of this trial by taking multiple courses, downloading content to view offline, and exploring features. See if the value is worth paying for at the end of the trial before the subscription begins.
Check if your employer provides access
Many companies offer LinkedIn Learning access to employees as a professional development benefit. Check with your company’s HR department or learning team to see if they already provide this. If you have a corporate email, try signing up with that and you may get free access through work.
See if your school has student access
Some high schools, colleges, and universities partner with LinkedIn Learning to offer free or discounted access to students. Talk to academic advisors, professors, or technology departments to check on potential student access.
Use select free courses and learning paths
As mentioned previously, LinkedIn Learning rotates some courses and learning paths to be free for a limited time, even for non-subscribers. Take advantage of these free offers when available.
Preview sample lessons
Explore free sample lessons from courses to start learning from top instructors without paying. While limited to one video, samples give a sense of the course style and content.
Tips for learning for free on LinkedIn Learning
Here are some top tips for maximizing the free learning opportunities on LinkedIn Learning:
- Take notes – Take detailed notes for the free courses you take to retain the knowledge.
- Apply the skills – Immediately apply the skills you learn in free courses to make them stick.
- Share your learning – Discuss free courses with coworkers and peers to expand your learning.
- Give feedback – Provide feedback on free courses to help improve content.
- Preview paid courses – Use free samples of paid courses to assess their quality and value.
- Follow instructors – Follow your favorite LinkedIn Learning instructors for course updates.
- Share certificates – Post certificates from free courses on LinkedIn to showcase skills.
- Give back – Contribute insights from courses to others online or at work.
The key is to make the most out of the limited free LinkedIn Learning content. Take thorough notes, apply the knowledge, have discussions, provide feedback, and share certificates. This will maximize your learning and helps evaluate the fuller experience of a paid subscription.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn Learning is a paid platform that requires a premium subscription to get full access, there are still limited options available for free users. This includes select free courses, 1 month premium trials, student offers, and preview lessons. These can provide a sampling of the quality content. Ultimately though, the paid version unlocks much more value with unlimited access, certificates, special features, learning paths, and more. So after using the free trial period, consider if the benefits are worth the monthly/annual cost for your professional goals. With over 16,000 courses taught by industry experts, a premium subscription can greatly accelerate your learning and skills in many in-demand areas.