LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version of LinkedIn, such as expanded search capabilities, unlimited messaging, and profiles analytics. One of the most appealing aspects of LinkedIn Premium is the ability to try it for free for 1 month before needing to pay. This allows you to experience the benefits of Premium without commitment. However, many wonder if they can sign up for the free trial and then cancel before the 1 month ends to avoid being charged. Let’s take a closer look at how the LinkedIn Premium free trial works and whether you can use the 1 month free trial and cancel before being charged.
How Does the LinkedIn Premium Free Trial Work?
When you sign up for the LinkedIn Premium free trial through LinkedIn’s website, you will need to provide payment information even though you are not charged immediately. This is because LinkedIn will automatically start billing you for a paid subscription as soon as the 1 month trial period ends, unless you cancel your subscription first. So while the first month is free, LinkedIn will charge you as soon as that month is over.
Here are some key points about how the free trial works:
– You can start a 1 month free trial of any LinkedIn Premium package (Premium Career, Premium Business, or Premium Hiring).
– No payment is due when you sign up. You will not be billed until after the 1 month trial ends.
– You do need to provide LinkedIn valid payment information when signing up, such as a credit card number. This allows them to automatically start billing you when the trial ends.
– If you take no action at the end of the 1 month trial, your Premium subscription will begin on an auto-renew basis at the regular monthly price for the plan you selected.
– You can cancel at any time during the 1 month trial to avoid being charged.
So in summary, the 1 month free trial allows you to use Premium for free for 1 month as long as you provide a payment method, and you will be automatically charged after 1 month if you do not actively cancel first.
Can You Cancel Before Being Charged?
Yes, you can cancel your LinkedIn Premium subscription at any time during the 1 month free trial period to avoid being charged. Here is how it works:
– Cancellation during the trial: If you cancel during the 1 month trial period, your Premium access will immediately end but you will not be charged anything at all.
– Cancellation after the trial: If you forget to cancel and get charged for the first month after the free trial ends, you can still cancel but will need to pay for that first month. At that point you can get a refund for any unused time beyond the first month.
So the key is that as long as you remember to cancel before the 1 month trial period ends, you can take advantage of the Premium free trial without incurring any charges. LinkedIn will not ask you for any payment during the trial itself – the billing only starts after the 1 month trial if you have not cancelled.
This makes the Premium free trial a risk-free way to experience all of the Premium features for 1 month. As long as you cancel at least 1 day before the month is up, you can avoid being charged while still taking full advantage of the free trial.
How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium
Cancelling your LinkedIn Premium subscription is easy and can be done right from your account settings. Here are the steps:
1. Click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
2. On the Settings & Privacy page, click on the tab for “Account preferences.”
3. Under the Premium section, click on “Premium settings.”
4. On the Premium settings page, click the blue “Cancel premium” button.
5. On the cancellation confirmation page, select your reason for cancelling and confirm that you want to cancel.
Your Premium access will then be immediately disabled. As long as you cancel before the 1 month free trial ends, you will not be charged any subscription fees.
You can also cancel by contacting LinkedIn customer support directly and requesting they cancel your Premium subscription.
Key takeaway: Make sure to cancel at least 1 day before your 1 month free trial is set to end in order to avoid unwanted charges. LinkedIn does not send any warning before charging your card at the end of the trial period.
What Happens When You Cancel LinkedIn Premium?
When you cancel your LinkedIn Premium subscription during or after the free trial, here is what will happen:
– You will immediately lose access to all Premium features. Your account will revert to the basic free version of LinkedIn.
– You will no longer be able to message Premium members who you are not connected with.
– Search filters and advanced profile filters will be removed, reverting to basic search.
– You will lose access to any Premium elearning courses you were taking.
– Your profile badges for being a Premium member will be removed.
– You will no longer see insights about who has viewed your profile.
– If you cancel during the trial, you will not be billed or owe anything. If you already paid for 1 month after the trial ended, you will not receive a refund for that month.
So in summary, Premium features will be disabled right away, but any billing already processed for the current period after the free trial will not be refunded. The easiest way to avoid charges is to cancel during the 1 month trial.
Can You Sign Up for the Free Trial Again?
LinkedIn does limit you to a single 1 month Premium free trial per account. This means that after using the free trial once on a given LinkedIn account, you will not be eligible for another free month if you decide to subscribe to Premium again later on that same account.
However, it is possible to get another free trial if you use a different LinkedIn account. For example, if you already used the free trial on your personal LinkedIn, you could sign up for Premium again on a separate business LinkedIn account and qualify for 1 month free for that account’s first subscription.
The main options are:
– Create a new LinkedIn account to get a new free trial
– Use another existing LinkedIn account that has not had a free trial before
– Pay full price for Premium on an account that already used the free trial previously
So while you only get one single use of the free trial per LinkedIn account, it is possible to take advantage of multiple trials if you have multiple accounts.
What Payment Methods Can Be Used?
LinkedIn allows you to use any major credit card when signing up for the Premium free trial, including:
– Visa
– Mastercard
– American Express
– Discover
You can also pay with a debit card backed by one of those major providers.
LinkedIn does not appear to accept alternative payment methods such as:
– PayPal
– LinkedIn account credits
– Wire transfer
– Checks
So a credit card or eligible debit card is required to start the free trial. Make sure you enter valid payment information when signing up, even though you will not actually be charged until after the 1 month trial period ends.
Can You Get LinkedIn Premium for Free Without the Trial?
Aside from the 1 month free trial offer for new Premium subscribers, there are a few other ways to potentially use Premium for free, including:
– Credit card rewards programs – Some credit cards offer statement credits or points you can redeem for free LinkedIn Premium months. You often have to activate these rewards manually after subscribing to Premium.
– Employee benefit programs – Some companies pay for Premium access for employees. Check with your HR department to see if this is offered.
– Giveaways – Occasionally LinkedIn or other companies run contests where Premium is a prize. You may be able to find giveaways for free Premium.
– LinkedIn affiliate programs – If you have a blog or website, you can enroll in affiliate programs to earn commissions referring readers to paid LinkedIn products like Premium. The commissions you earn can offset the cost of Premium.
– Educational institutions – Students at some schools can access Premium through their college or university. Check with your school to see if they offer this benefit.
Aside from these options, the 1 month free trial upon signup is typically the best way to access free Premium. Taking advantage of the trial allows you to use all Premium features rather than partial or limited access.
What Are Some Key Benefits of LinkedIn Premium?
Here are some of the key benefits unlocked with a Premium subscription:
– **Unlimited messaging** – Send unlimited messages to any LinkedIn member without needing to connect first. This makes networking and prospecting much easier.
– **Profile visibility** – See every profile that views yours over the last 90 days so you know who’s looking at your profile.
– **Advanced profile filters** – Filter and prioritize your feed, search results, and profiles using multiple professional criteria to find your target audience faster.
– **Premium content access** – Read exclusive Premium articles full of professional advice to help advance your career and grow your network.
– **Learning courses** – Take LinkedIn Learning courses for professional development skills without limit. Courses are included with Premium.
– **Salary Insights** – Research estimated salary ranges for any job to understand what you should be earning based on your skills and experience.
– **Interview preparation** – Get expert tips on how to master the interview process, evaluate job offers, negotiate salary and more.
Trying Premium through the 1 month trial gives you a chance to take advantage of these benefits completely risk-free.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn Premium 1 month free trial offer allows you to fully experience Premium features before deciding if the paid subscription is worth the investment for you. As long as you remember to cancel within the 1 month trial period, you can avoid being charged while still benefiting from Premium access. Given that there are no strings attached, it’s worth claiming the free trial to determine if Premium’s expanded networking and profile capabilities provide enough extra value to merit the monthly fee.
Summary
– LinkedIn Premium offers a 1 month free trial when you first subscribe
– No payment is due during the trial month
– You must enter valid payment information when signing up
– LinkedIn will automatically start billing after 1 month if you don’t cancel
– You can cancel anytime during the 1 month trial to avoid charges
– Premium features get disabled immediately after cancellation
– You can only use the free trial once per LinkedIn account
– Credit card or eligible debit card required to start free trial
– Other free Premium options exist through rewards programs, employers, etc.
– Key Premium features include unlimited messaging, profile analytics, and learning courses
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get LinkedIn Premium for multiple months free? | No, LinkedIn only offers a single 1 month free trial for new Premium subscribers. There is no free multi-month trial option. |
What happens if I cancel Premium after 1 month? | If you cancel after the 1 month free trial, you will immediately lose access to all Premium features. You will also be billed for the 1 month subscription fee as cancellation does not refund charges already processed. |
Can I use a virtual credit card for the Premium trial? | Yes, you can use virtual or temporary “burner” credit cards that allow you to set a low balance or short expiration date. This provides an extra layer of protection against unwanted charges after your trial. |
Do I get a refund if I cancel Premium mid-month? | No, LinkedIn will not provide prorated refunds if you cancel Premium mid-month. You will forfeit the remainder of any month you already paid for. |
Can I gift a Premium subscription to someone else? | Yes, you can purchase Premium gift subscriptions for other LinkedIn members. However, gifted Premium does not come with a 1 month free trial. The recipient gets Premium immediately without a trial period. |