Getting free lifetime premium access on LinkedIn may sound too good to be true, but there are some creative ways you can get an upgraded LinkedIn account without paying the monthly or annual premium fees. LinkedIn Premium provides users with additional features like InMail messages, profile highlights, expanded search results, learning courses and more. But not everyone wants or needs to pay to access these extras.
The key to getting free premium privileges lies in understanding LinkedIn’s business model and finding ways to get those perks without handing over your credit card. It does require some persistence and ingenuity, but many savvy LinkedIn users have found ways to get free trials, discounts, or even lifetime access to LinkedIn Premium by leveraging partnerships, promotions and helpful customer service reps.
Here are some of the top techniques and hacks for getting and maintaining a free premium LinkedIn membership indefinitely.
Sign Up for Extended Free Trials
One of the easiest ways to get free access to LinkedIn Premium is to keep signing up for their extended free trial offers. LinkedIn periodically runs special promotions where they offer free premium trials for 1, 3 or even 6 months as a way to entice new users to try it out.
The key is to create a fresh LinkedIn account each time to take advantage of “first time user” trial offers. Some users create multiple accounts under different email addresses and rotate them to have continual premium access. Just be sure to cancel before the trial ends so you don’t get automatically charged.
Also look for LinkedIn’s “come back” offers for previous members. If you canceled a paid subscription, LinkedIn may try to lure you back with a free 3 or 6 month trial. Keep an eye out for these special offers by checking the LinkedIn website and your inbox. Time it right, and you could string together free trials back-to-back for premium access all year long.
Partner With an Organization That Offers Free Premium
Certain organizations and institutions have partnership deals with LinkedIn that allow them to offer free Premium subscriptions to their members. For example, some university alumni associations offer graduates lifelong Premium access as an alumni benefit.
See if your school or any professional organization you belong to has a deal with LinkedIn for complimentary or discounted Premium. Take advantage of that institutional access for as long as you can. Switching jobs or moving? Update your profile to maintain eligibility through a spouse or parent’s affiliation.
Also look for scholarships or grant programs that sponsor LinkedIn Premium access for particular groups like students, veterans, non-profits, or academic researchers. Taking advantage of a third-party sponsorship can get you Premium for free as long as you remain eligible through that organization.
Get Premium Through Your Company
Does your employer offer LinkedIn Learning or other Premium features as a job perk? See if you can get a free upgrade through your company’s account. Many businesses and organizations pay for Premium seats or enterprise access packages as part of their recruiting, training or professional development programs.
Ask your manager, HR department, or tech support team if employee Premium access is available. Some companies may only cover it for certain roles like sales, recruiting or marketing. But it never hurts to ask! As long as you have an active corporate email, you may be able to enjoy Premium on LinkedIn at your employer’s expense.
Sign Up With a Discount Through Partners
While not free, you can sometimes get steep discounts on LinkedIn Premium through their partnership deals and affiliate programs. For example, discounts are often offered through group plans, student offers, and partnerships with companies like Microsoft and CarGurus.
Third-party deal sites like Groupon or training platforms like Udemy sometimes offer heavily discounted LinkedIn Premium subscriptions. Or you may find discounted annual plans through Costco, Sam’s Club, or other membership warehouse stores.
Student discounts offer up to 60% off. While not free, stacking multiple discounts and alerts from different partners can add up to major savings on Premium access.
Request a Free Subscription
This is probably the longest shot, but some people have luck asking LinkedIn customer service reps for free Premium subscriptions. If you have a sympathetic story, make a polite request explaining why you need Premium access but cannot afford it.
Emphasize that you are an active, contributing member who wants to fully utilize LinkedIn’s capabilities. If the rep won’t grant a free subscription, try asking for an extended free trial. The worst they can do is say no. But some reps do have the discretion to enable free Premium on accounts for certain users.
Being pushy or demanding won’t help your case, but a sincere explanation of how Premium would benefit your job search or business might trigger some goodwill from the right customer service agent.
Use Someone Else’s Account
While we certainly can’t condone it, some LinkedIn users have figured out how to piggyback off someone else’s Premium account. For example, Premium subscribers can add up to 25 “Premium extras” to share some features. So a generous friend, relative, or coworker with Premium could add you.
Companies with Premium corporate accounts may not notice or care if extra employees are tacked on. And some people in relationships share a joint Premium login. While not exactly kosher in terms of LinkedIn’s terms, it is an option for accessing Premium by sharing someone else’s paid membership.
Choose a Premium Alternative
If all else fails, consider using a free premium LinkedIn alternative. Some browser extensions or third party apps try to replicate Premium features. For example, RocketReach helps find professionals’ email addresses, LinkedHelper searches profiles, and LinkedIn Relationship Assistant automates outreach.
These tools try to provide workarounds that offer certain insights and capabilities normally reserved for Premium subscribers. Their extended functionality is more limited than true Premium, but may be good enough for your needs. Review the options to see if any free tools can deliver the core Premium features you want.
Conclusion
Getting free lifetime access to LinkedIn Premium is challenging, but possible with persistence and creativity. Take advantage of extended free trials, institutional partnerships, employer perks, stacked discounts, customer service requests, account sharing, or third-party tools. Try combining several strategies to increase your chances of maintaining Premium privileges long-term without paying.
Embrace the hacker mindset, stay flexible, and keep looking for new opportunities as LinkedIn’s offerings evolve. With the right combination of promotion gaming, profile management, and social engineering, you may just be able to finagle and finesse your way into free lifetime Premium status.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Free trials | – Easy to obtain – Legitimate access |
– Time limited – Requires creating multiple accounts |
| Institutional access | – Full premium features – Ongoing as long as affiliated |
– Only eligible if partnered organization – Could lose access if change institutions |
| Company access | – Full premium features – Free while employed |
– Only if employer provides – Lose access if change jobs |
| Third-party discounts | – Cheaper than full price – Unlock some features |
– Not free – Limited discounts available |
| Ask customer service | – Chance of full free access | – Unlikely to be granted – One-time request |
| Account sharing | – Full premium access – Free for you |
– Unethical – Could lose access anytime |
| Premium alternatives | – Totally free access – Provide some features |
– Very limited capabilities – Inferior to true Premium |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to get LinkedIn Premium for free forever?
It is unlikely that most people can get unlimited free access to full LinkedIn Premium on an ongoing basis. But with persistence and creativity, some combinations of promotions, trials, account sharing or tools may allow certain users to maintain Premium privileges indefinitely without paying.
What are some legit ways to get free LinkedIn Premium trials?
Signing up as a new user, re-activating a lapsed account, and promotions offered to university students or affiliates can provide free Premium trials for 1-6 months at a time. Cancel before getting charged to avoid fees.
Can I get Premium free if my company pays for it?
If your employer has a corporate account or Premium licenses, ask your HR department or manager if you can be granted access through the company’s subscription. This normally only works while actively employed there.
Does LinkedIn offer discounts on Premium access?
Yes, LinkedIn provides discounted Premium rates for students, enterprise teams, and promotions through third-party partners. While not free, discounts can make Premium more affordable.
What are the risks of using someone else’s Premium login?
Sharing accounts is technically prohibited by LinkedIn’s terms, unethical, and Premium access could be revoked if discovered. But some users take this risk to avoid paying for their own subscription.
What are some good alternatives to LinkedIn Premium?
Some browser extensions like RocketReach and LinkedHelper provide limited workarounds for Premium search and messaging features. These tools have restricted capabilities but can offer some functionality for free.
Summary
Getting free lifetime access to LinkedIn Premium requires creativity and perseverance, but dedicated users have found ways to maintain ongoing privileges without paying by:
– Chaining together free trials
– Utilizing institutional memberships
– Accessing Premium through an employer
– Stacking multiple partner discounts
– Making customer service requests
– Sharing accounts
– Using limited third-party tools
True lifetime free full Premium access is extremely rare. But a resourceful user could potentially combine several ongoing tactics to enjoy most Premium features indefinitely. With the right maneuvers, you may just score that coveted free lifetime LinkedIn Premium membership.