LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 875 million members. As a social media platform designed specifically for career and business networking, LinkedIn offers various premium subscription plans that provide enhanced features and benefits beyond the capabilities of the basic free account.
LinkedIn Basic Account
LinkedIn’s basic free account allows you to create a profile, connect with professionals in your network, search and apply for jobs, follow companies, join industry-related groups, and receive daily digest emails. The basic account is completely free and gives you access to core LinkedIn functionalities.
Key Features of LinkedIn Basic Account
- Create a professional profile
- Connect with professionals in your network
- Search jobs and get alerted when a new job matches your criteria
- Follow companies to get updates on new job openings and stay current on industry news
- Join industry-related groups to connect with like-minded professionals
- See who’s viewed your profile and unlock additional insights with a LinkedIn Premium subscription
As the basic account is free, there are no associated yearly fees or costs.
LinkedIn Premium Subscriptions
For enhanced features and greater access to the LinkedIn platform, you can upgrade to one of the paid Premium subscription plans:
LinkedIn Premium Career
The LinkedIn Premium Career plan focuses on job seeking and career development. Key features include:
- See who’s viewed your profile and unlock additional insights
- Get support from LinkedIn’s career coaches
- Take skill assessment tests to showcase your abilities
- Get insights on how your profile ranks against other applicants
- Access to premium job postings and ability to contact recruiters directly
LinkedIn Premium Career costs $29.99 per month when paid monthly, or $239.88 per year when paid annually – which saves you $59.88 compared to monthly payments.
LinkedIn Premium Business
The LinkedIn Premium Business plan provides tools for marketing, recruiting, sales and business development. Key features include:
- See unlimited member profiles
- Use advanced search filters and messaging
- Post branded content to showcase your business
- Use analytics to gauge content performance
- Manage and contact recruits with bundled InMail credits
LinkedIn Premium Business costs $59.99 per month when paid monthly, or $479.88 per year when paid annually – which saves you $143.88 compared to monthly payments.
LinkedIn Premium Hiring
The LinkedIn Premium Hiring plan provides dedicated tools for recruiters and talent acquisition specialists. Key features include:
- Search LinkedIn database of over 690+ million members
- Use advanced boolean search operators
- Filter and prioritize candidates based on their skills, experience and other attributes
- Contact candidates through InMail and bundled credits
- Manage job posts and candidate pipeline
- Access to premium job postings and ability to contact recruiters directly
LinkedIn Premium Hiring costs $119.95 per month when paid monthly, or $959.88 per year when paid annually – which saves you $287.52 compared to monthly payments.
Summary of LinkedIn Premium Pricing
Here is a summary of the annual and monthly costs across LinkedIn’s Premium subscription plans:
| LinkedIn Premium Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Annual Saving vs. Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 | $239.88 | $59.88 |
| Premium Business | $59.99 | $479.88 | $143.88 |
| Premium Hiring | $119.95 | $959.88 | $287.52 |
Getting the Most Value from LinkedIn Premium
To maximize the value you get from a LinkedIn Premium subscription, here are some tips:
- Opt for the annual plan rather than paying month-to-month to benefit from the cost savings
- Pick the Premium plan that best matches your goals and needs
- Fully leverage the advanced features like InMail, profile views, advanced search and analytics
- Be an active participant by regularly posting content, connecting with others, searching for candidates etc.
- Use the premium insights to improve your profile and online presence
- Cancel the renewal if you feel you are no longer getting value after the subscription term ends
Who Should Consider LinkedIn Premium?
Here are the key types of professionals who can benefit from a LinkedIn Premium subscription:
- Job Seekers – Premium Career plan helps land your next opportunity with insights, coaching and exposure.
- Recruiters & HR – Premium Hiring plan provides the tools to find, connect with and manage qualified candidates.
- Sales Professionals – Premium Business plan helps identify, connect with and nurture leads and prospects.
- Marketers & Business Owners – Premium Business plan allows showcasing your brand through content and analytics.
- Entrepreneurs & Consultants – Premium Career plan helps establish thought leadership and gain visibility.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn’s basic account is free, Premium subscriptions unlock more advanced capabilities starting at $29.99 per month. Opting for the annual plan can save you between $59.88 to $287.52 compared to monthly payments. The Premium Career plan caters to job seekers, Premium Hiring helps recruiting while Premium Business aids sales and marketing professionals. By selecting the right plan and fully leveraging the features, LinkedIn Premium can provide robust tools to take your career or business to the next level.