LinkedIn Learning, previously known as Lynda.com, has been a popular online learning platform for many years. It offers a vast library of video courses in business, technology, creative skills and more. One of the main appeals of LinkedIn Learning has been that it provides free access to a selection of courses for all LinkedIn members. However, some users have recently reported that LinkedIn Learning is no longer offering free courses. So what’s going on – is LinkedIn Learning really not free anymore? Let’s take a closer look.
What courses were previously available for free?
Previously, LinkedIn Learning offered all LinkedIn members free unlimited access to a subset of courses in its full course library. This included popular courses in in-demand skills like leadership, communication, project management, and more. As long as you had a LinkedIn account, you could sign in to LinkedIn Learning and take any of these courses for free. This offered a valuable opportunity to build skills and expand your knowledge without having to pay.
When did LinkedIn Learning stop offering free courses?
In October 2022, LinkedIn Learning ended its free offering for LinkedIn members. Now, to take any courses on LinkedIn Learning, even those previously available for free, users must purchase a paid subscription.
This change happened without much advance notice from LinkedIn. One day, LinkedIn members who clicked on a LinkedIn Learning course were greeted with a message that they must “Upgrade to view this content.” Understandably, many learners felt confused and disappointed that courses they had been taking for free were now locked behind a paywall.
What is LinkedIn Learning’s pricing now?
With the discontinuation of the free plan, LinkedIn Learning now offers these paid subscription options:
| Plan | Price (per month) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 | Unlimited access to full course library and skill assessments |
| Premium Business | $34.99 | Everything in Premium Career, plus options for team management and reporting |
As you can see, access to LinkedIn Learning now starts at $29.99/month for individuals. This is a significant change compared to the free access previously available. For organizations, pricing starts at $360/year per seat under the Premium Business plan.
Some key things to note about the paid plans:
– There are no longer any free courses or “freemium” options. All courses require a paid subscription.
– The Premium Career plan is an individual subscription, while the Premium Business plan adds features for managing teams of learners within organizations.
– Compared to some competing platforms like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning’s subscription cost is relatively high.
– There are occasional discounts available if you pay for a year upfront, but the monthly cost is $29.99+ otherwise.
Why did LinkedIn Learning remove free access?
LinkedIn has not provided much official rationale for why they removed the free tier of LinkedIn Learning. However, the reason is likely simple – to drive more paid subscriptions and revenue.
As a freemium model, LinkedIn Learning was surely hoping that offering free courses would hook users in and eventually convert a percentage of them to paying subscribers. However, it seems the free user base was not converting at the rates LinkedIn wanted. Eliminating the free option entirely will surely boost conversions and paying memberships.
This move fits within a broader shift at LinkedIn to monetize more of their offerings. LinkedIn Learning is not the first product to be taken away from free users – back in 2018, LinkedIn removed access to the LinkedIn Influencer program for unpaid members.
As a public company, LinkedIn/Microsoft undoubtedly wants to maximize revenue opportunities. While unfortunate for those who enjoyed the free courses, from a business perspective this shift makes sense to capture more dollars from LinkedIn Learning.
What do users have to say about this change?
As you would expect, many learners who previously enjoyed free access to LinkedIn Learning courses are disappointed with the changes. Here is a sample of feedback from unhappy users:
| “This is so disappointing. The free courses were a great way to keep my skills updated.” |
| “I’m a student with not a lot of disposable income. Taking high-quality courses for free was amazing, but I just can’t afford a paid subscription.” |
| “This seems like a greedy move. I’m less likely to tell people about LinkedIn Learning now.” |
| “They should at least still offer free access to a smaller sampling of courses. Removing it entirely feels like a slap in the face.” |
| “No way am I paying $30 a month for this. I’ll look elsewhere for affordable learning options.” |
As you can see, formerly happy learners are upset about suddenly losing access and being asked to pay much more. Some feel betrayed that a previously free resource is now behind a paywall. Others are turned off by what they see as a revenue-hungry approach from LinkedIn.
While these users make fair points, LinkedIn seems willing to sacrifice some goodwill in exchange for increased paid conversions. Only time will tell if this gambit pays off through stronger LinkedIn Learning revenues.
Are there any remaining free alternatives?
While LinkedIn Learning itself no longer offers any free access, learners do still have some options to access free learning content elsewhere:
– LinkedIn Learning practice quizzes – LinkedIn offers free access to quizzes to test your knowledge on various skills and topics. However, you cannot access the full video courses for free anymore.
– LinkedIn Learning podcasts – The LinkedIn Learning podcast channel provides some audio content for free.
– Lynda.com free courses – Lynda.com still offers some free courses, though selection is limited compared to the past.
– YouTube education channels – YouTube has millions of free educational videos, though production quality varies.
– MOOCs from providers like Coursera, edX, etc. – Massive open online courses (MOOCs) from various providers offer free and paid access to courses.
– Public libraries – Many libraries provide their members with access to online learning platforms like Lynda.com, Gale Courses, etc. for free.
While not as robust as LinkedIn Learning’s previously free offering, these alternatives do provide options for learners on a budget. Combining multiple free resources can help offset the loss of LinkedIn Learning’s free tier.
What are the best paid alternatives to LinkedIn Learning?
If you are ready to pay for premium online courses, but don’t want to pay LinkedIn Learning’s high subscription cost, what are the best alternatives? Here are some top paid online learning platforms to consider:
| Udemy | Udemy offers courses a la carte, often priced $10-$20 each on sale. Their catalog is massive with over 213,000 courses. |
| Skillshare | Skillshare offers unlimited access to courses for an affordable $14/month. Topics span from design and photography to business skills. |
| Coursera Plus | Coursera Plus provides unlimited access to 3,500+ courses and Specializations for $399/year. |
| edX | edX provides access to courses from top institutions like MIT and Harvard. Price per course ranges from free to $199. |
| Pluralsight | Pluralsight has in-depth tech courses from top instructors. Plans start at $29/month. |
The best platform for you depends on your budget, interests, and preferred pricing model. But overall, learners have plenty of quality alternatives to choose from.
Should you still use LinkedIn Learning?
Despite the significant pricing change, LinkedIn Learning still offers a strong library of courses for professional skills development. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if it’s still worth using:
**Pros**
– Huge course library with over 16,000 courses across business, creative, and tech skills
– Instruction from credible experts and thought leaders
– Certificates of completion to share on LinkedIn profile
– Integration with LinkedIn network is powerful from a career perspective
**Cons**
– Much more expensive compared to previous free access
– $29.99/month is higher cost than many competing platforms
– Some users feel betrayed or turned off by the bait-and-switch
Overall, LinkedIn Learning remains a solid offering, especially for business professionals who want to highlight completed courses on their LinkedIn profile. But the high monthly price may be hard to swallow. Learners with limited budgets will likely prefer cheaper or free alternatives instead.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn Learning has fundamentally changed its free offering by removing free courses entirely and requiring all users to pay for a premium subscription. This has justifiably angered many learners who enjoyed the previous freemium model. However, from LinkedIn’s perspective, it makes sense to maximize revenue opportunities on the platform.
While unfortunate for those who benefited from the free access, this situation highlights why diversifying your learning resources is so valuable. Relying too heavily on any single free platform like LinkedIn Learning leaves you vulnerable when they change their model. By assembling free content from multiple sources, supplemented with judiciously chosen paid courses where needed, learners can build skills cost-effectively and resiliently.
