LinkedIn premium subscriptions provide access to additional features and insights on the platform that can be useful for networking and recruiting. However, there may come a time when you wish to cancel your subscription, particularly if you are no longer receiving enough value to justify the cost.
The good news is that canceling your LinkedIn premium subscription and getting a refund for the unused portion is relatively straightforward. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cancel LinkedIn premium and request a refund.
Can I get a refund if I cancel LinkedIn Premium?
Yes, LinkedIn’s refund policy allows you to request a prorated refund when you cancel your paid subscription before it renews. This applies to all of LinkedIn’s premium offerings, including Premium Career, Premium Business, Sales Navigator Professional, Sales Navigator Team, Recruiter Lite, and Recruiter.
The amount of refund you receive will depend on when you cancel during your current billing cycle:
- Cancel within the first 7 days – Receive a full refund
- Cancel after 7 days – Receive a prorated refund for any unused time remaining
So for example, if you cancel Premium Career 15 days before renewal, you will get refunded for those 15 days. LinkedIn does not offer refunds if you cancel after your subscription renews.
Step 1: Cancel your LinkedIn premium subscription
The first step is to cancel your LinkedIn premium subscription. This can be done on both desktop and mobile.
On Desktop:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile and click on the “Premium” tab shown on the top toolbar
- On the Premium page, click on “Settings” next to your current subscription
- Under “Your Plan”, click on “Cancel subscription”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the cancellation
On Mobile App:
- Open the LinkedIn app and tap on the “My Network” icon in the bottom toolbar
- Tap on the “Premium” icon displayed at the top of the screen
- Tap on the “Settings” icon in the top-right corner
- Under “Your plan”, tap on “Cancel subscription”
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm cancellation
Once you complete the cancellation process, your subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing period, at which point it will expire unless you renew.
Step 2: Request a refund
After canceling your premium subscription, you can request a refund for the remaining unused time:
On Desktop:
- Go to your LinkedIn account settings by clicking on “Me” > “Settings & Privacy”
- Under the “Account” section, click on “Purchase history”
- Find the canceled premium subscription and click “Request refund”
- Select a reason for refund from the drop down menu
- Enter any additional details in the text box and click “Submit”
On Mobile:
- Open the LinkedIn app and tap on your profile picture at the top
- Tap on the “Settings & Privacy” option
- Tap on “Account preferences” > “Purchase history”
- Find the canceled premium subscription and tap “Request refund”
- Choose a refund reason and submit any details
- Tap “Submit” to complete the request
LinkedIn states that most refunds are processed within 30 days. You will receive a confirmation email once your refund has been issued.
What payment methods does LinkedIn refund to?
LinkedIn can process refunds to the original payment method used at the time of purchase. This includes:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- PayPal account
The refund will go back to the same card or PayPal account. LinkedIn will not issue refunds to a different payment method or bank account.
Does canceling LinkedIn premium affect my network connections?
No, canceling your LinkedIn premium subscription does not affect your connections or any other aspect of your account besides losing premium features. You get to keep your profile, connections, groups, company page if you created one, and all other data.
The only change is that you will no longer have access to premium features like InMail messages, profile badges, expanded search filters, advanced analytics, etc. But your network and profile remain intact.
Can I reactivate my LinkedIn premium later?
Yes, you can resume a paid LinkedIn subscription at any time after cancellation. Simply follow these steps:
- Go to the LinkedIn Premium page
- Click on the “Subscribe now” button for the plan you want
- Select whether you want a monthly or annual plan
- Enter your payment information and click “Buy now”
Your premium access will be immediately restored. You can switch between free and paid plans without restriction.
What are some alternatives to LinkedIn Premium?
If you find premium features valuable but want to reduce costs, here are a few alternatives worth considering:
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator – More affordable plans only focused on salesProspecting and recruiting
- Downgrade to LinkedIn Premium Career or Business tier
- Try premium for 1 month only when needed – cancel and request refund after
- Use free LinkedIn features more strategically
- Explore other professional networks like Xing that offer free plans
Key Takeaways
- It is possible to cancel LinkedIn Premium and get a prorated refund before renewal
- Cancel via the LinkedIn website or mobile app under account settings
- Refunds can be requested on desktop or mobile and take up to 30 days
- Cancellation does not affect profile, connections or account status
- Premium can be renewed at any time if desired in the future
Conclusion
Canceling and getting a refund for unused LinkedIn Premium time is a straightforward process if done before the subscription renews. Simply cancel the auto-renewal first, then submit a refund request for the remaining duration. This allows you to avoid getting billed for time you won’t use. Just ensure you cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date. With a few clicks, you can downgrade your account while recovering costs in line with LinkedIn’s fair refund policy.