LinkedIn Learning provides a vast library of on-demand online courses covering a wide range of topics, from business and creative skills to personal development. It aims to help professionals gain new skills and advance their careers. But is access to LinkedIn Learning content included with a paid LinkedIn Premium subscription? Let’s take a closer look at how LinkedIn Learning and LinkedIn Premium work.
LinkedIn Learning Overview
LinkedIn Learning (previously known as Lynda.com) offers thousands of video courses taught by industry experts. Course topics include leadership, software, creative skills like design and photography, personal productivity, and much more. LinkedIn Learning is a paid subscription service that gives you unlimited access to the full course library. There are two subscription options:
- Individual – $29.99 per month or $240 per year
- Business – pricing varies based on number of licenses purchased; enterprise options also available
Subscribing to LinkedIn Learning gives you access on desktop, mobile, and TV apps. It includes features like offline viewing, practice files to work with, certificates of completion, and personalized course recommendations. Many companies provide employees with LinkedIn Learning access to support skill development.
LinkedIn Premium Overview
LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service for individual professionals. It provides additional features and benefits beyond the free basic LinkedIn account. There are three LinkedIn Premium tiers:
- Premium Career – $29.99/month
- Premium Business – $44.99/month
- Premium Sales – $64.99/month
Here’s an overview of some of the key features included with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions:
| Feature | Premium Career | Premium Business | Premium Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profile badge indicating premium membership | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited profile views | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| InMail messages | 5 per month | 15 per month | 25 per month |
| Search filters | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, LinkedIn Premium provides additional capabilities for finding connections, communicating, and standing out on the platform. But does it include access to LinkedIn Learning? Let’s dig into that question next.
Is LinkedIn Learning Included with Premium?
Unfortunately, a LinkedIn Premium subscription does not provide access to LinkedIn Learning courses. They are completely separate paid services. When you subscribe to LinkedIn Premium, you are not automatically enrolled in LinkedIn Learning.
LinkedIn does offer Premium members the chance to try LinkedIn Learning for one month for free. After the 1-month trial ends, however, you would need to subscribe separately to continue accessing courses. So while you can test it out, LinkedIn Learning is not an ongoing benefit included with Premium.
Why Aren’t They Included?
There are a few reasons why LinkedIn Learning access isn’t bundled with Premium subscriptions:
- LinkedIn Learning has a huge library of content, which is costly to produce and host. The monthly fees fund continual course development and the platform itself.
- Offering both services together in one package would significantly raise the Premium subscription cost.
- Users may only want access to Premium or Learning individually based on their needs.
- Unbundling allows users to pay for only the services they want.
For LinkedIn, keeping Learning as a standalone paid offering allows them to focus investment on expanding their expert-led course library. And it provides flexibility for users to choose the tools that best fit their budget and needs.
LinkedIn Learning Cost with Premium Discount
While LinkedIn Learning access isn’t included with LinkedIn Premium, Premium members can get a discount on LinkedIn Learning subscriptions.
With an active Premium account, you are eligible for up to 30% off the regular price of an individual LinkedIn Learning subscription. This brings the monthly price down to around $20/month and the annual price to about $165.
Here is a table summarizing the regular and discounted LinkedIn Learning subscription costs for Premium members:
| Subscription | Regular Price | Premium Discount Price |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $29.99 | $20.99 (30% off) |
| Annual | $240 (paid monthly: $29.99 x 12 months) | $165 (paid upfront) |
So while not free, the Premium discount makes adding LinkedIn Learning to your membership more affordable. For frequent learners, the annual subscription can be a particularly good value.
What’s the Best Option?
Should you get LinkedIn Premium, LinkedIn Learning, or both? Here are a few tips to help decide which option(s) make the most sense for you:
- Need networking & profile help? Go with Premium.
- Want access to expert courses? Go with Learning.
- Need both sets of benefits? Get both at a discount.
- Unsure where to start? Try Premium with the 1-month free Learning trial.
- On a budget? Go annual for the lowest monthly cost.
Most professionals can benefit from the career and networking enhancements provided by Premium. If you’re also looking to actively develop new skills and acquire expertise, adding Learning can be extremely valuable.
Keep in mind that many companies offer employees either Premium or Learning access. Check if you already have free access before paying for your own subscription.
Can I Get LinkedIn Learning for Free?
While LinkedIn Learning is not free with a regular LinkedIn account or even Premium membership, there are a few options to access Learning for free or at low cost:
- Employer subscription: Many companies pay for employees to access Learning.
- University student access: Some schools provide Learning to enrolled students.
- Try Free for 7 Days: You can test drive the full Learning library free for one week.
- Sample courses: LinkedIn offers over 15,000 free Learning courses to give you a preview.
- LinkedIn Free Trial: Get one free month of Learning when you sign up for Premium.
- Group access: Paid by some LinkedIn Groups for members.
- Scholarships: LinkedIn occasionally offers scholarships for free Learning access.
So while ongoing access usually requires a paid subscription, there are opportunities to experience LinkedIn Learning for free to determine if it’s worthwhile for you.
Conclusion
To summarize, LinkedIn Learning and Premium are separate paid services with different functions on LinkedIn. LinkedIn Learning provides access to expert-led online courses to help you gain new skills. LinkedIn Premium unlocks additional capabilities on the LinkedIn platform to boost your profile and networking. While LinkedIn Learning access is not included with Premium, Premium members do qualify for a discount on Learning subscriptions.
For many professionals, the most value comes from using both Premium and Learning in tandem. Premium helps you stand out while Learning helps you develop the skills to advance your career. But you can also choose just one or the other based on your specific needs and budget. Take advantage of free trials and discounts to get started and make the most of LinkedIn’s learning and networking tools.