Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to access LinkedIn Learning without a LinkedIn Premium subscription. LinkedIn Learning was previously known as Lynda.com before being acquired by LinkedIn in 2015. While a Premium subscription provides full access to LinkedIn Learning courses, there are still options for accessing LinkedIn Learning content without a paid subscription.
LinkedIn Learning Overview
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is an online learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry experts across a variety of topics like business, creative, and technology skills. LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com in 2015 and rebranded it as LinkedIn Learning in 2019.
Here are some key facts about LinkedIn Learning:
- Over 16,000 courses available covering business, creative, and technology topics
- Taught by industry experts
- Includes certificates of completion
- Accessible via desktop or mobile apps
- Currently over 15 million members
LinkedIn Learning is directly integrated into the LinkedIn platform itself. This allows LinkedIn members to showcase their course certificates and skills acquired through LinkedIn Learning on their LinkedIn profile.
Accessing LinkedIn Learning with LinkedIn Premium
The primary way to get full access to LinkedIn Learning is through a paid LinkedIn Premium subscription. Here’s an overview:
- Premium Career – Lowest tier at $29.99/month billed annually. Includes access to LinkedIn Learning with over 15,000 courses.
- Premium Business – Mid-tier at $47.99/month billed annually. Same Learning access as Premium Career.
- Premium Hiring – Top tier at $99.95/month billed annually. Same Learning access with additional hiring features.
With a Premium subscription, you can:
- Stream LinkedIn Learning courses on desktop, mobile, and TV apps
- Download courses for offline viewing
- Access all 16,000+ courses & new content as it’s added
- Earn certificates to showcase on your LinkedIn profile
Premium subscribers get unlimited access to the full LinkedIn Learning library. It’s the best option for regularly accessing Learning content.
Accessing LinkedIn Learning Content Without Premium
While Premium unlocks the complete experience, there are still ways to access LinkedIn Learning content without a paid Premium subscription:
1. Free LinkedIn Learning Week Long Trials
Periodically, LinkedIn offers free week-long trials of Premium subscriptions, which grant temporary access to LinkedIn Learning. This allows you to preview the Learning library and take courses during the trial.
However, only a limited number of multi-day trials are offered per year, so they can be difficult to obtain.
2. Free LinkedIn Learning Courses
LinkedIn Learning has made select courses completely free without needing a Premium subscription. As of October 2022, there are over 300 free courses available.
Topics range from leadership and project management skills to software tutorials covering Excel, PowerPoint, and more. While not the full library, these free courses allow you to sample Learning content.
3. Free LinkedIn Learning Videos
In addition to full free courses, some individual LinkedIn Learning videos are unlocked and available for free. These are bite-sized videos focused on specific skills or concepts.
For example, there are currently free videos teaching skills like time management, prioritization, business writing, and more. The free videos provide previews of full course content.
4. Library/University Access
Many libraries, schools, and universities provide access to LinkedIn Learning for their members or students. Public and university libraries often have subscriptions allowing community members to access Learning.
If you are a current student, your university may grant access to LinkedIn Learning’s full library of courses. Check with your library or university to see if they offer this benefit.
5. Team/Enterprise Access
If your company or organization has a LinkedIn Learning enterprise subscription, you may have access through your work. Enterprise plans allow organizations to purchase employee licenses granting full access to LinkedIn Learning.
Check with your manager or HR department to see if your company offers this benefit. If so, take advantage of accessing Learning courses for professional development.
LinkedIn Learning Content Samples Without Premium
Here are some examples of LinkedIn Learning content you can access without a paid Premium subscription:
Free Full Courses
- Body Language for Leaders
- Communicating with Confidence
- QuickBooks 2021 Essential Training
- PowerPoint 2021 Essential Training
- Outlook 2019 Essential Training
- Excel 2019 Essential Training
- Time Management Fundamentals
- Leading Change
Free Video Samples
- Giving Effective Feedback (2m 10s)
- Creating a Meaningful Vision Statement (2m 33s)
- Managing Time by Prioritizing (1m 37s)
- SMART Goals (2m 28s)
- Inclusive Language (1m 52s)
- Business Storytelling Fundamentals (1m 26s)
- Email Etiquette (1m 44s)
These free samples allow you to preview the quality of LinkedIn Learning’s content and instructors.
Should You Get LinkedIn Premium for Learning Access?
Here are some factors to consider if debating whether to purchase Premium for full LinkedIn Learning access:
- How many courses do you want to take? Premium grants unlimited Learning courses.
- How frequently will you take courses? Occasional or ongoing learning?
- Are you able to access Learning already through work or school? No need to duplicate access.
- Does your career path require skills training? Premium makes sense for focused skill development.
- Are you taking certification courses? Premium allows earning official certificates.
- Can you afford the Premium subscription cost long-term? Evaluate your budget.
For casual learning, free content may be sufficient. But frequent learners pursuing certificates will benefit more from unlimited Premium access.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn Premium subscriptions provide full unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning, there are still ways to sample Learning content for free. Options include:
- Free Premium trials (when available)
- Individual free courses
- Short free video previews
- Access through libraries, schools, or work
However, free content is very limited compared to paid Premium access. Evaluate whether you will pursue enough courses to justify the Premium subscription cost. For frequent professional training and certifications, Premium is likely worth the investment. But more casual learners can still benefit from free samples of LinkedIn Learning.