LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that provides users with additional features beyond the free basic account. One question that often comes up is whether LinkedIn Premium includes access to LinkedIn Learning courses. The short answer is no, LinkedIn Premium does not include unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning courses.
What does LinkedIn Premium include?
LinkedIn Premium is designed to help users get more out of their professional network on LinkedIn. Here are some of the key features that are included with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions:
- See who’s viewed your profile
- Get insights about how your profile performs
- Expand your reach with InMail messages
- Take online courses with LinkedIn Learning (limited access)
- Get full profiles when you’re searched on LinkedIn
- Remove LinkedIn ads
As you can see, LinkedIn Premium does provide some access to LinkedIn Learning courses, but this is limited. Typically, Premium subscribers get access to a subset of courses for a limited time period, not unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses.
What is LinkedIn Learning and how much does it cost?
LinkedIn Learning (previously known as Lynda) is LinkedIn’s massive online learning platform. It provides in-depth courses and videos on a huge range of professional topics taught by industry experts. Here are some key things to know about LinkedIn Learning:
- Over 16,000 courses in 7 languages across business, technology, and creative topics
- New courses added daily
- Can learn on desktop, mobile, offline with apps
- Certificate of completion for each course
- Skills assessments and exercise files to practice
- Annual subscription costs $29.99/month
As you can see, LinkedIn Learning provides extensive access to high quality courses. But it does require a paid subscription separate from LinkedIn Premium.
Should you get LinkedIn Premium or LinkedIn Learning?
So which subscription makes more sense for you, LinkedIn Premium or LinkedIn Learning? Here are a few things to consider:
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As you can see, Premium is geared more towards networking and profile building, while Learning provides extensive access to courses. Here are some scenarios when each might be useful:
- If you want to grow your network and enhance your profile, Premium would be very valuable.
- If you are looking to develop new skills or earn certifications in your field, Learning would be the better choice.
- For some professionals like recruiters or salespeople, the networking perks of Premium would be very beneficial.
- For those looking to change careers or learn new software/tools, access to Learning courses would be extremely helpful.
Can you access Learning courses with a Premium free trial?
LinkedIn does offer one month free trials for both Premium and Learning. So you can potentially test out courses with a Premium trial, but access will still be limited. Typically only a sample of courses are available to Premium members. To get unlimited access, you would need to sign up for a Learning free trial.
Here are a few things to keep in mind about accessing Learning courses with a Premium trial:
- Only a subset of courses are available, around 100-200 options.
- Course options reset each month, not all courses will be consistently available.
- You can only watch 5 videos per month within each course.
- Premium trials auto-renew to a paid subscription after one month.
The free trial for Learning provides full access to all courses for one month. This can be a great way to experience Learning more comprehensively before committing to the paid subscription.
Can you purchase individual Learning courses without a subscription?
LinkedIn Learning does not currently offer the ability to purchase individual courses outside of a subscription. The only way to get unlimited access is through a paid monthly or annual subscription. Here are a few options:
- Monthly subscription – $29.99/month
- Annual subscription – $239.88/year ( savings of $60)
- If paying annually, it breaks down to around $20/month
The monthly plan does offer more flexibility if you only need access for a short time. But the annual plan can save you money if you expect to use Learning for the whole year. Some companies also offer employee access to Learning, so check with your employer if that is a potential option as well.
What’s the best way to access Learning courses?
If you decide LinkedIn Learning is worthwhile for your professional development goals, what’s the best way to gain access? Here are some options:
- Free trial – Take advantage of the one month trial to experience all features.
- Annual plan – Pay annually if you expect to need access long-term.
- Company access – See if your company offers employees Learning access.
- Monthly plan – Start monthly if you only need courses short-term.
- Premium trial – Use a Premium trial to sample some courses.
The free Learning trial is likely the best way to get a comprehensive look at everything the platform offers. If you find it provides value after the trial, consider the annual plan for the savings. But the monthly plan also offers flexibility if you only need access for a specific goal or limited time period.
Conclusion
To summarize, LinkedIn Premium does not provide unlimited access to all LinkedIn Learning courses. It only includes a sample of courses meant to supplement the Premium features geared towards networking and profile building. To get full access, you would need a separate Learning subscription. If professional development and new skills are your priority, it likely makes more sense to invest in Learning over Premium.