LinkedIn premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that provides users with additional features beyond the free basic account. One common question for LinkedIn premium subscribers is whether the subscription will automatically renew at the end of the billing cycle or if it needs to be manually canceled to avoid being charged again.
The Short Answer
Yes, LinkedIn premium will automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle unless the auto-renewal is canceled beforehand. This means that if you sign up for a monthly, annual, or other term-based premium subscription, you will be automatically charged again at the end of your current term. You need to actively cancel auto-renewal to prevent this.
How Does LinkedIn Premium Auto-Renewal Work?
When you first purchase a LinkedIn premium subscription, whether monthly, annually, or for another term, you agree to an initial commitment and continuous auto-renewal. This means LinkedIn will automatically renew your premium membership and bill you again at the end of each term.
For example, if you purchase an annual LinkedIn premium subscription, you pre-pay for the first year at the time of signup. When that year is almost up, LinkedIn will automatically charge your payment method on file for another year so your subscription continues uninterrupted.
This auto-renewal will happen continuously at the end of each term unless you actively cancel it beforehand. LinkedIn will typically send reminders ahead of your renewal date, but it’s ultimately up to you to manage cancellation if you don’t want to continue.
How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium Auto-Renewal
If you want to prevent LinkedIn premium from automatically renewing at the end of your current term, you need to manually turn off auto-renewal in your account settings. Here is how to do it:
- Log into your LinkedIn account on the website (not the mobile app)
- In the top right corner, click on the “Me” icon and select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown
- In the left sidebar, select “Account preferences”
- Under “Premium settings”, click “Purchase history & settings”
- Locate your LinkedIn premium subscription and click “Cancel renewal”
- Confirm the cancellation on the popup
Once you complete these steps, your LinkedIn premium subscription will no longer renew at the end of the current billing term and will simply expire once that term is over.
What Happens When You Cancel Renewal?
When you cancel auto-renewal for LinkedIn premium, your account will revert to a free member account after your current subscription term concludes. This means you’ll lose access to all premium features at that point.
Here is what to expect if you cancel renewal of your LinkedIn premium subscription:
- You will continue having premium access until the end of your current billing term
- You can continue using all premium features until the subscription expires
- Once the term ends, your account will revert to free membership
- You will lose access to all premium features like InMail, profile badges, etc.
- You will no longer be billed for LinkedIn premium moving forward
So in summary, cancellation simply ends your premium subscription at the conclusion of the current billing cycle. You retain premium benefits until then.
Downgrading to a Less Expensive Plan
In addition to fully canceling your LinkedIn premium renewal, you also have the option to downgrade or switch to a less expensive subscription plan at renewal time. This allows you to keep some premium features at a lower cost.
Here are the steps to downgrade your LinkedIn premium plan on renewal:
- Follow steps 1-4 above to access the premium settings
- Click “Change my plan”
- Select the plan you want to downgrade or switch to
- Confirm the new plan
Your account will shift to the new cheaper plan at the start of your next billing cycle. You can downgrade to LinkedIn premium Career, premium Business, or premium Hiring if you want to keep some premium features.
Getting a Refund for LinkedIn Premium
If you have prepaid for an annual or longer LinkedIn premium subscription, you may be able to get a prorated refund when you cancel the auto-renewal before your term finishes.
Here is the refund policy for canceling LinkedIn premium early:
- Monthly subscriptions are non-refundable
- Annual or longer subscriptions can be partially refunded
- The refund amount decreases the longer you’ve had the subscription
- Refunds are prorated based on the leftover unused term
To request a refund, contact LinkedIn customer support after canceling renewal. You’ll need to ask for a “prorated refund” on your canceled premium subscription.
Avoiding Accidental Renewal of Premium
To be absolutely sure you don’t get charged again after your term expires, the safest option is to cancel the auto-renewal at least 24-48 hours before your next billing date.
Here are some tips to avoid accidental LinkedIn premium renewal:
- Cancel auto-renewal as soon as you decide you don’t want to continue
- Don’t wait until the last minute in case there are processing delays
- Mark your renewal / billing date on your calendar so you remember to cancel in time
- Check your account settings to confirm cancellation went through
- Keep an eye out for any renewal confirmation emails from LinkedIn
As long as you cancel the automatic subscription renewal 48 hours ahead of your next billing date, you can rest assured your LinkedIn premium benefits will simply expire at the end of your term.
Can You Reactivate Premium After Cancellation?
If you change your mind after canceling LinkedIn premium renewal, you can easily reactive your subscription as long as your current term hasn’t expired yet.
To start premium back up, simply use the upgrade options in your account settings to purchase a new subscription. As long as you do this before your current term ends, you’ll retain continuous premium access.
However, once your current billing cycle actually ends and your premium access lapses, you will have to purchase a brand new subscription. You won’t be able to reactivate the old one.
Conclusion
LinkedIn premium subscriptions automatically renew by default to provide continuous access to premium features. To avoid being charged again, you need to actively cancel the auto-renewal in your account settings sometime before your next billing date.
Cancellation ends your access at the conclusion of your current term. You can also downgrade plans or request a prorated refund if eligible. Be sure to give yourself enough advance notice when canceling to avoid accidental renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LinkedIn premium auto-renew without notice?
No, LinkedIn will send you advance emails reminding you that your premium subscription is about to renew. However, it’s still your responsibility as the subscriber to cancel renewal if you don’t want to continue.
What happens if I do nothing when my premium expires?
If you allow your LinkedIn premium subscription to expire without canceling auto-renewal, you will be automatically charged for a new term at your current payment rate. Your subscription will renew at the regular price.
Can I pause my LinkedIn premium subscription?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not offer an option to temporarily pause or hold a premium subscription. Your choices are either to keep the auto-renewal active or to cancel it entirely for your account.
If I cancel, can I still use premium until it expires?
Yes, canceling the auto-renewal does not impact your current subscription term. You retain full premium access until the expiration date. Premium features will be discontinued after that term concludes.
How do I know if cancellation went through successfully?
You can confirm your LinkedIn premium cancellation went through by checking your account settings. You should see a notice that auto-renewal is now turned off for your premium subscription.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn premium subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing term.
- You must actively cancel auto-renewal to avoid being charged again.
- Cancellation ends your subscription at the conclusion of your current term.
- Cancel at least 48 hours before renewal to avoid accidental charges.
- You can also downgrade plans or request prorated refunds.