LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social media platforms, with over 800 million members worldwide. The LinkedIn mobile app allows users to access many of the same features available on the desktop site, such as managing your profile, connecting with other professionals, searching for jobs, and more.
The Basics of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is free to join and use. You can create a profile, connect with other members, join groups, follow companies, and search for jobs without paying anything. LinkedIn makes money through premium subscriptions, recruiting solutions for businesses, and advertising.
The core LinkedIn experience is free, but they offer premium subscriptions like LinkedIn Premium and LinkedIn Premium Business to access additional features. With a premium subscription, you can see more profile views, send unlimited InMessages, view full profiles of people who’ve viewed yours, and take online learning courses.
Using the LinkedIn Mobile App
The LinkedIn mobile app is available for free download on both iOS and Android devices. You can access it as long as you have an existing LinkedIn account.
With the LinkedIn app, you can:
- Manage your profile and connections
- Share updates, articles, photos
- Message contacts through InMail
- Receive notifications about new messages, connections, and more
- Search and apply for jobs
- Follow companies and news
The core functionalities of the LinkedIn app are free. You can view profiles, make connections, send messages, search jobs, and post updates without paying anything. The app essentially mirrors the desktop experience.
Premium Features in the App
While the LinkedIn app is free, some premium features will require a paid subscription:
- Send InMail messages: Sending messages to people you’re not connected to requires a Premium account.
- See profile views: You can only see who has viewed your profile with a Premium subscription.
- Take online courses: LinkedIn Learning courses require a paid membership.
- Advanced profile filters: Searching profiles by specific filters and criteria requires Premium.
So in summary, you can access and use the core functionalities of LinkedIn through the mobile app for free. But premium features like sending InMail, seeing full profiles, and taking online courses will require upgrading to a paid account.
LinkedIn Premium Options
Here are the premium subscription options LinkedIn offers:
| Plan | Cost (per month) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | $29.99 |
|
| Premium Business | $59.99 |
|
As you can see, Premium unlocks several advanced features, while Premium Business offers benefits tailored for business, recruiting, and sales professionals.
You can purchase Premium directly through the LinkedIn app. Just go to your Settings and under Account, you’ll see the option to Upgrade to Premium. You can choose between monthly or annual billing.
Are there free alternatives?
If you don’t want to pay for LinkedIn Premium but still want access to some advanced features, here are a few free alternatives:
Profile View Insights
There are some free Chrome extensions like Viewers for LinkedIn that show you basic profile view data like who viewed your profile and how often. The data won’t be as detailed as Premium, but it’s better than nothing.
Learning Courses
You can find free online courses on professional development topics through providers like Coursera, edX, Udemy, and Skillshare. The selection won’t be as robust as LinkedIn Learning, but you can still find quality material.
Resume Review
Rather than pay for LinkedIn’s resume review service, you can get free feedback on your resume from friends, professional contacts, and career advisors. There are also free AI-powered resume review tools you can use.
InMail Alternatives
Some alternatives for sending messages to people you’re not connected to include upgrading to a free LinkedIn Open Networkers membership, communicating through mutual connections, or finding their business email address and emailing them directly.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn app is free to download and use. You can access core features like managing your profile, searching jobs, connecting with others, and posting updates without paying. However, premium features like sending InMail, seeing full profiles, taking courses, and getting advanced insights require upgrading to a paid Premium subscription starting at $29.99 per month. If you don’t want to pay, there are some free workarounds, but they are more limited.
