LinkedIn Learning (previously known as Lynda) is LinkedIn’s online learning platform that offers a variety of courses related to business, creative and technology skills. Users can access courses on LinkedIn Learning via a free or paid premium account.
With a free LinkedIn account, you can only view certain sample courses. To unlock the full LinkedIn Learning library, you need to upgrade to a premium account.
So do you really need a premium LinkedIn Learning account? Here is a detailed look at what you can access with each type of account.
What does a free LinkedIn account offer?
With a free basic LinkedIn account, you can preview some of the courses on LinkedIn Learning. However, you are limited to only viewing the previews and sample videos for certain courses.
The free account allows you to:
- Browse the full LinkedIn Learning course library and view course overviews
- Watch preview videos for select courses
- See instructor details and user ratings for courses
- Get personalized course recommendations based on your profile and interests
However, you cannot take any full courses or access course materials like practice files without upgrading to a paid account.
What does a LinkedIn Learning premium account include?
With a LinkedIn Learning premium account, you get unlimited access to the full course library of 15,000+ online courses.
Benefits of a paid LinkedIn Learning subscription include:
- Unlimited access to all 15,000+ courses and growing library
- Watch entire courses and all course videos
- Download course slides, exercise files and code samples
- Access courses on desktop, mobile and TV apps
- Earn certificates of completion to showcase skills
- Get new courses added every week
- Learn business, creative and technology skills
- Advance your career through skills training
Premium accounts give you the full educational experience on LinkedIn Learning to learn in-demand skills. You can take courses at your own pace anywhere, anytime.
LinkedIn Learning premium account pricing
LinkedIn Learning offers premium accounts on a monthly or annual subscription basis. Here are the current pricing options:
Monthly Subscription
- Personal: $29.99/month
- Team: $24.99/month per user (requires minimum of 10 users)
Annual Subscription
- Personal: $19.99/month ($240 billed annually)
- Team: $14.99/month per user ($180 billed annually per user) (requires minimum of 10 users)
Volume and academic discounts are also available for organizations with 500+ users.
So on an annual basis, personal subscriptions cost $240 per year and team subscriptions cost $180 per user per year when billed annually.
Is LinkedIn Learning worth the money?
Whether the paid subscription is worth it depends on your learning goals and how much you plan to use it.
Here are some key benefits that make LinkedIn Learning a worthwhile investment for many professionals:
- Get certified – Earn certificates to advance your skills and career
- Save money – More cost effective than formal education/tuition
- Learn marketable skills – Gain skills to make you more employable
- Career advancement – Grow your skills for promotions and raises
- Subject matter experts – Learn from industry experts
- Convenience – Learn anytime, anywhere, any device
- Personalized – Recommendations based on interests and goals
- Unlimited access – All-you-can-learn buffet of courses
For professionals looking to expand their knowledge, get certified, or learn specialized skills like software, design, marketing and more, a paid LinkedIn Learning subscription can provide huge value.
The unlimited access to over 15,000 courses makes it very cost-effective compared to formal education or tuition. And you can learn on your own schedule, going at your own pace.
LinkedIn Learning free trial
If you want to evaluate LinkedIn Learning for yourself, you can sign up for a one month free trial.
Both personal and team subscriptions offer a 30 day free trial when you sign up for a paid account. This allows you to preview all features at no cost for one month.
During the trial you can:
- Take as many courses as you want
- Download course materials like exercise files
- Earn completion certificates
At the end of the trial period, you would simply need to cancel your subscription if you decide LinkedIn Learning is not for you. Otherwise, it will automatically renew at the paid monthly rate.
The free trial lets you fully test drive LinkedIn Learning to determine if the premium subscription is worth the investment.
Who can benefit most from LinkedIn Learning?
While anyone can benefit from lifelong learning, certain professionals may find LinkedIn Learning most valuable:
- Employed professionals – Grow your skills for career advancement and raises
- Career changers – Gain new skills to pivot into a new field or role
- Software developers – Master in-demand coding languages and development tools
- Designers – Expand your skills in UI/UX, web design, graphic design, and more
- Marketers – Get training in digital marketing, social media marketing, SEO, analytics and more
- Entrepreneurs and small business owners – Learn skills to start and grow your business
The platform is especially valuable for advancing specialized skills needed in today’s job market. You can gain certifications that make you more employable and valuable.
Key features of LinkedIn Learning
Let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the key features that make LinkedIn Learning a top elearning platform:
Expert instructors
Courses are taught by real-world business, tech and creative professionals. Instructors include experts from leading companies like Google, Facebook, Pixar and more.
Skill assessments
Many courses include skill assessments you can take before starting to measure your existing knowledge.
Exercise files
Apply what you learn with downloadable exercise files, code samples, design assets and more.
Mobile learning
The LinkedIn Learning mobile apps allow learning on the go from any device.
Learning paths
Structured collections of courses teach in-demand skills from beginner to advanced.
Certificates of completion
Earn certificates for each course you complete to showcase on your resume.
Course discussions
Engage with other learners through course QA and discussions.
Offline viewing
Download courses to watch offline when you don’t have an internet connection.
Curated recommendations
LinkedIn uses data about your job, interests and goals to recommend relevant courses.
LinkedIn Learning course topics
With over 15,000 courses, LinkedIn Learning offers a diverse curriculum. Subjects cover business, creative, and technology topics including:
- Business skills – Leadership, management, marketing, sales, HR, finance
- Creative skills – Graphic design, web design, video, animation, photography
- Software & app skills – Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, QuickBooks, Webflow
- Web development – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, PHP
- Data skills – Excel, data analysis, SQL, Tableau, Power BI
- IT & security – Networking, cybersecurity, AWS, ethical hacking
Whether you want to gain leadership skills, learn Photoshop, or master web development, they offer a vast online curriculum.
Pros of LinkedIn Learning
Let’s look at some of the key advantages and positives of using LinkedIn Learning for online education:
- Trusted brand – LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform
- Expert instructors – Courses taught by industry specialists
- Valuable skills – Learn in-demand skills to advance your career
- Interactive courses – Coding exercises, quizzes, discussions
- Sharable certificates – Showcase your skills and accomplishments
- Mobile access – Learn on any device, anywhere
- Affordable – Cost-effective compared to tuition and bootcamps
- Flexible learning – Self-paced courses on your schedule
- Personalized recommendations – Courses based on your goals and interests
- Official accreditation – Better credentials than unofficial online courses
For professionals seeking a credible and affordable online learning platform, LinkedIn Learning checks all the boxes.
Cons of LinkedIn Learning
While LinkedIn Learning has many strengths, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well:
- Paid subscription required – Free account has limited access
- No instructor interactions – All courses are pre-recorded videos
- Less structure – Self-paced learning requires more discipline
- Limited peer interactions – Discussions are optional and not extensive
- Passive learning – Videos can lead to less engagement versus hands-on projects
- No completion credentials – Nanodegrees and accredited programs offer more recognized certifications
For some learners, the lack of direct instructor access, peer collaboration, and hands-on projects can be disadvantages compared to bootcamps or live online programs. But for self-motivated learners, the affordability and flexibility of LinkedIn Learning makes it a top choice.
Alternatives to LinkedIn Learning
If LinkedIn Learning doesn’t meet your needs, here are some alternative online learning platforms to consider:
- Udemy – Affordable on-demand courses. Often has sales that lower prices.
- edX – Free courses from top universities like MIT and Harvard.
- Skillshare – Offers more creative-focused courses in design, photography, writing.
- Treehouse – Specializes in technology and coding courses.
- Coursera – Partners with top universities and companies. Offers degrees and accredited certifications.
- Pluralsight – Technical courses focused on software development and IT ops skills.
- Udacity – Nanodegree programs co-created with industry leaders provide more hands-on learning.
Each platform has unique benefits, so assess your specific learning needs and preferred learning style. Combining a platform like LinkedIn Learning with hands-on project work can provide a well-rounded education.
Conclusion
To recap the key points:
- A free LinkedIn account only provides sample course previews
- A premium account unlocks unlimited access to 15K+ courses
- Premium plans start at $29.99/month for personal and $24.99/month for teams
- An annual subscription lowers the monthly cost to $19.99/month personal or $14.99/month per user on a team plan
- A 30-day free trial is available
- Certificates, mobile access, and expert instructors make premium access worthwhile for serious learners
- Self-motivated professionals can learn valuable career skills at an affordable price
While LinkedIn Learning requires a paid subscription, the comprehensive course library and career-focused skills training provide robust value. For professionals seeking to expand their knowledge, earn certifications, or boost their resume, a premium LinkedIn Learning account can provide a significant return on investment.
