LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version of LinkedIn. With LinkedIn Premium, members gain access to services like InMail messaging, profile highlighting, expanded search filters, and more insights into profile viewers and post analytics. However, given that Premium provides exclusive benefits, a common question is whether other LinkedIn members can tell if you have a Premium subscription.
The Short Answer
No, other LinkedIn members cannot see or detect that you have a Premium subscription. LinkedIn does not show any public indicator on your profile or activity to reveal you have Premium. The additional features unlocked with Premium provide private insights and messaging abilities that are not openly apparent to your network.
Examining the Key LinkedIn Premium Features
To understand why Premium status remains private, it is helpful to examine some of the key features unlocked with a Premium subscription:
InMail Messaging
InMail is LinkedIn’s internal direct messaging system that allows you to contact any member via email, even if you are not connected. With Premium, you get a monthly allowance of InMails to initiate new conversations. However, recipients cannot tell you contacted them via your Premium InMail allotment versus a free InMail you may have received with your account. The message arrives in the inbox like any other.
Profile Highlighting
Premium allows you to showcase your profile at the top of search results. However, other members will not see any badge or indicator that you pay for premium highlighting. They simply see you at the top of their search.
Expanded Search Filters
Premium unlocks more advanced filters for searching profiles and content. But other members will not see what filters you used in your searches. The search process and results appear the same publicly.
Who Viewed Your Profile
One popular Premium feature is the ability to see expanded insights into who has viewed your profile. However, the list of viewers is private to your account. Others will not see which profiles you have looked up.
Post Analytics
Premium provides more data on content performance, such as number of post readers and viewer demographics. But these metrics are not visible to anyone else. Your posts will not indicate Premium access.
LinkedIn’s Premium Privacy
LinkedIn intentionally keeps Premium features private and does not indicate Premium status on member profiles or activity. Here are some reasons why:
Avoid Social Stigma
LinkedIn likely does not show Premium status to avoid any social stigmas or perceptions associated with paying for services versus using the free version. This approach helps create an even playing field.
Encourage Paid Conversion
Keeping Premium perks private also encourages conversion from free to paid memberships. If non-Premium members could easily tell what they were missing, they may be less compelled to upgrade.
Focus on Value, Not Status
LinkedIn wants to emphasize the value of Premium’s features over any kind of elite social status. Showing off Premium publicly shifts the focus onto premium as a status symbol rather than a useful service.
How Others May Detect You Have Premium
While LinkedIn does not reveal Premium status outright, there are some ways savvy members may be able to detect you likely have a Premium subscription:
You Have a Premium Badge
LinkedIn Premium members can display a Premium badge on their own profiles. This voluntary badge privately indicates to you that your account has Premium. However, it also publicly signals to others that you likely have the paid subscription.
You Message First
If you send an InMail to initiate contact with someone you are not connected to, that person may guess you have Premium. But they won’t know for certain, since free accounts get some InMails too.
You Appear at Top of Search
Frequently appearing at the top of search results could suggest you pay for premium highlighting. But there are also other factors that determine search ranking.
You View Lots of Profiles
Viewing hundreds or thousands of profiles beyond your connections may hint that you pay for Premium. But again, it is not a sure giveaway.
Proof You Have LinkedIn Premium
If you want definitive proof that someone has a Premium account, here are two ways to confirm:
Ask to See Their Profile
The clearest indication is if you ask someone to view their LinkedIn profile and look for the Premium badge next to their name and photo. This verifies they have the paid membership.
Message Them
If someone sends you an InMail introduction without being connected, they definitively have Premium access in order to message you. Receiving an InMail from an unfamiliar contact is proof.
Visibility of Other LinkedIn Paid Services
In addition to Premium for individual subscribers, LinkedIn also offers other paid products and services. Here is the visibility of some other paid offerings:
LinkedIn Learning
Paid access to LinkedIn Learning courses is private and does not appear on your profile. Completed courses can optionally be showcased.
Recruiter Accounts
Paid recruiter and hiring accounts do not show indicators to candidates that a company uses a premium recruiting service.
Job Postings
Sponsored job ads are visible as “Promoted” listings versus organic postings in search. But profile visitors cannot see if a company pays for a premium job posting subscription.
Company Pages
Businesses can pay for verified LinkedIn Company Pages with more analytics. But visitors do not see verification badges or premium indicators.
Advertisements Reveal Some Context
The one area where LinkedIn does reveal some usage of paid services is advertisements. Here is what ads show:
Sponsored Content
When members or companies pay to boost content as ads, these posts are labeled as “Sponsored” and appear in feeds accordingly.
Follower Ads
If you pay to promote your profile and gain followers, ads may appear showcasing that you paid for more followers.
Job Ads
Paid job postings appear under sponsored listings, which visitors can identify as paid promotions.
So in the realm of advertising, LinkedIn does transparently indicate paid services. But core premium account features remain private.
Conclusion
Overall, the ability to see that someone has a Premium account is limited, as LinkedIn does not reveal premium status through indicators on member profiles or activities. Some signals like profile badge selection and messaging habits may suggest Premium access. But definitive proof depends on seeing exclusive Premium features firsthand by either asking to view someone’s profile with them or being messaged directly. For the most part, Premium remains a private, exclusive membership level not apparent to others. So rest assured that upgrading to unlock LinkedIn’s full features happens discreetly without overtly broadcasting your premium status.
