LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s premium subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version of LinkedIn. Sales Navigator is LinkedIn’s premium subscription service specifically tailored for sales professionals. Sales Navigator is included with LinkedIn Premium, so activating LinkedIn Premium will automatically activate Sales Navigator.
What is LinkedIn Premium and what does it include?
LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that provides access to premium features not available with a free LinkedIn account. Here are some of the key benefits of LinkedIn Premium:
- See who’s viewed your profile
- Get insights on how your profile is being discovered
- Unlimited searches on LinkedIn when looking for people, jobs, companies, groups, etc.
- InMail messages to contact anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected
- Know when your emails have been opened with read receipts
- Take online courses and earn certificates through LinkedIn Learning
- Get access to LinkedIn news curated just for you with premium newsletters
In addition to the above features, LinkedIn Premium also includes access to Sales Navigator at no extra cost. Sales Navigator provides premium sales tools tailored specifically for sales professionals.
What is Sales Navigator?
Sales Navigator is LinkedIn’s sales-focused premium subscription. It includes the following key features:
- See limited profile views of people who viewed your profile
- Uncover lead recommendations based on your saved leads and accounts
- Get contact info for leads with direct email and phone number access
- Save an unlimited number of leads and accounts
- Get real-time notifications when your prospects view your profile or content
- Integrate LinkedIn data and insights directly into your CRM
- Messaging tools to engage prospects
- Advanced search filters and templates for sales prospecting
- Team plans allowing collaboration within your sales organization
Sales Navigator provides a powerful set of tools to identify new prospects, engage them, and convert more leads into sales.
How do I activate LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator?
Here are the steps to activate both LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and log into your account
- Click on the “Work” dropdown menu near the top left and select “Premium”
- On the Premium page, select the plan you want – individual or team. The individual “Premium” plan includes Sales Navigator.
- Select your payment frequency – monthly or annual billing
- Enter your payment information and follow the prompts to complete checkout
- Once purchased, LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator will activate automatically. You will see confirmation on the page.
- You can access premium features immediately, including Sales Navigator tools.
- If purchasing a team plan, you can now assign licenses to team members by going to the LinkedIn Admin dashboard.
It only takes a few minutes to purchase and activate LinkedIn Premium with Sales Navigator included. The premium features become available as soon as your purchase is complete.
How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
Here are the current monthly and annual pricing options for LinkedIn Premium subscriptions:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price (when paid monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Premium (individual) | $29.99/month | $359.88/year |
| Premium (team of 5 users) | $99.95/month | $1,199.40/year |
| Premium (team of 10 users) | $199.90/month | $2,398.80/year |
| Premium (team of 15 users) | $299.85/month | $3,598.20/year |
Annual pricing reflects total cost when paying monthly over an annual commitment. There are also discounts available for paying for the full year upfront. Volume discounts are also available for large teams.
What payment methods does LinkedIn support?
LinkedIn supports the following payment methods for Premium and Sales Navigator subscriptions:
- Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
- Debit card with a major card logo
- PayPal
- Wire transfer (for large annual team subscriptions)
Credit and debit cards can be used for monthly or annual subscriptions. PayPal can be used for monthly billing only. Wire transfers are limited to large annual team subscriptions usually exceeding $10,000 in annual billing.
Can I try Premium or Sales Navigator before committing?
Yes, LinkedIn offers free trials that allow you to preview Premium and Sales Navigator before committing to a paid subscription. Here are the trial options:
- 1 month free trial of Premium – Get full access to all Premium features free for 1 month. Includes Sales Navigator.
- 1 month free trial of Sales Navigator – Preview just the Sales Navigator features free for 1 month. No Premium access.
- 2 week Premium and Sales Navigator team trial – Get a 2 week free team trial to preview Premium and Sales Navigator for multiple users.
These free trials allow you to experience the value firsthand before you commit. You can cancel anytime during the trial period.
Can I use Premium or Sales Navigator on mobile?
Yes, LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator work across mobile devices in addition to desktop. You can access premium features and sales tools on iOS and Android devices using the LinkedIn mobile app. All functionality is available on mobile just as it is on desktop.
How do I manage my Premium and Sales Navigator subscription?
You can manage your LinkedIn Premium and Sales Navigator subscription settings directly from your LinkedIn account:
- Go to your LinkedIn Settings (click your profile photo > Settings & Privacy)
- Select the “Subscription” tab
- Here you can view your current subscription, upgrade or downgrade your plan, and manage billing details
- For Premium team accounts, the admin can assign, remove, and manage subscriptions for each seat
- You can also cancel or pause an auto-renewing subscription if needed
LinkedIn Customer Service can also help manage any changes needed to your subscription. You can reach them online or by phone at 1-866-539-3802.
Can I cancel my Premium or Sales Navigator subscription at any time?
Yes, you can cancel an auto-renewing Premium or Sales Navigator subscription at any time:
- Go to the “Subscription” tab in your account Settings
- Click “Cancel auto-renewal” by the current subscription listing
- Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation
This will cancel the auto-renewal at the end of the current billing period. You will continue to have access until the end of the period you originally paid for.
For example, if you have an annual subscription paid monthly, you can cancel future auto-renewal, but will retain access until the end of the 12 month commitment.
You can also pause an auto-renewing subscription for up to 12 weeks if you want to temporarily suspend billing due to vacation, leave of absence, etc.
Can I get a refund for Premium or Sales Navigator?
LinkedIn generally does not offer refunds for Premium or Sales Navigator subscriptions. However, you may be eligible for a refund or credit in certain limited circumstances:
- If you cancel very soon after purchasing, usually within 48 hours, you can request a refund by contacting Customer Service.
- If you were double charged by mistake, the duplicate transaction can be reversed.
- If you have issues using Premium or Sales Navigator due to technical bugs on LinkedIn’s end, you may be provided credits.
Aside from exceptional cases, LinkedIn does not offer refunds once you have accessed and used Premium or Sales Navigator. The free trials allow you to evaluate before committing to pay.
What are the advantages of the annual Premium subscription?
The annual Premium subscription has a few advantages compared to monthly billing:
- Lower per month cost – Annual billing comes out to around $29.99/month when paid monthly, compared to $59.99 on monthly billing.
- One bill for the full year – Only pay once per year instead of every month.
- Lock in lower price – Annual price won’t increase during your subscription term.
- Never miss a beat – Don’t have to worry about renewal or cancellations for a full year.
The annual subscription offers some convenience and cost savings compared to month-to-month. However, a monthly plan offers more flexibility if you may only need it short term.
What are the upsells offered with Premium and Sales Navigator?
LinkedIn may offer some upsell offers when you initially purchase Premium or Sales Navigator subscriptions. Here are some of the most common upsells:
- LinkedIn Learning – Add on full access to LinkedIn Learning for a discounted rate.
- Additional Premium or Sales Navigator seats – Get discounted pricing for adding on more user licenses.
- Lead acceleration tools – Products to help you generate more leads through ads and sponsored content.
These upsells are optional. Review carefully before adding on to your initial purchase. You can also add most of them on later from your account Settings.
Conclusion
Activating LinkedIn Premium with included Sales Navigator provides a powerful set of tools to get the most out of LinkedIn for sales and business use. The Premium subscription unlocks LinkedIn’s best features, while Sales Navigator takes it a step further with sales-focused functionality. Taking advantage of the free trials allows you to preview the value before committing to a paid subscription. Overall, Premium + Sales Navigator can significantly boost productivity and results for most professionals and organizations.
