LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that unlocks additional features beyond the free version, such as expanded search filters, unlimited InMail messages, professional learning courses, and more profile views. While LinkedIn Premium does require payment, some users have discovered promo codes and other methods to access Premium features for free or at a discounted rate for a trial period.
LinkedIn Premium Free Trial
The most common way to access LinkedIn Premium for free is through LinkedIn’s own free trial offer. New users can sign up for a 1-month free trial of Premium just by entering their credit card information when prompted after clicking the “Try Premium Free” button on LinkedIn’s pricing page. No promo code is needed for this method.
Here are some key things to know about LinkedIn’s free Premium trial:
- The free trial lasts for 1 month (30 days) before auto-renewing as a paid Premium subscription.
- You can cancel anytime during the trial to avoid being charged.
- Each LinkedIn user is only eligible for 1 free Premium trial.
- The free trial includes access to all Premium features.
- After the trial ends, Premium costs $29.99 per month for the Essential plan or $59.99 per month for the Premium Career plan (billed annually).
Signing up for the free Premium trial is the easiest way to access Premium temporarily at no cost. Just be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to continue the paid subscription.
LinkedIn Premium Promo Codes
In addition to the free trial offer, some users have had success finding LinkedIn Premium promo codes that provide discounts or extended free access. However, official promo codes are rare and typically have limitations.
Here are some places where users have reported finding LinkedIn Premium promo codes:
- LinkedIn marketing emails – Occasionally LinkedIn sends out emails with limited-time codes for 1-3 months free Premium to select users.
- Sponsored social media posts – LinkedIn may partner with influencers or brands to provide codes through social media giveaways.
- University student discounts – Some colleges and universities partner with LinkedIn to provide students with discount codes.
- Corporate employee discounts – Some companies offer employees discount codes for Premium as a work benefit.
- Conference or event swag – LinkedIn may include Premium promo codes as part of swag bags at certain professional conferences or company events.
The validity and longevity of these promotional codes can vary. Some may only work for new users, while others are tied to specific email accounts. The discount amount and duration can range from 25-100% off and 1-12 months of access. If you find a LinkedIn Premium promo code, be sure to read all fine print and limitations before using it.
Can You Get LinkedIn Premium for Free?
While the options are limited, it is possible to get LinkedIn Premium for free in a few different ways:
- LinkedIn 1 month free trial – As mentioned, all new users can sign up for a 1 month free Premium trial.
- Promo codes – Valid free Premium codes do occasionally become available, but can be hard to find.
- Microsoft 365 subscription – Some Microsoft 365 plans include LinkedIn Premium as a bundle perk.
- Company-sponsored Premium – Some companies pay for Premium access for their employees.
- Microsoft employee perk – Microsoft employees get free Premium access as a work benefit.
Aside from those options, there is no legit way to get free full access to LinkedIn Premium on an ongoing basis. Some users try to game the system by signing up for multiple trials with different accounts, but LinkedIn may ban accounts caught violating its terms of service.
How to Save Money on LinkedIn Premium
If you want to access Premium but don’t qualify for any free offers, there are some ways to pay less for a Premium subscription:
- Annual billing – Pay for 1 year upfront to save vs. monthly billing.
- Take the Premium Career trial – Try the higher tier free for 1 month first, then downgrade to Essential.
- Wait for a sale – LinkedIn occasionally offers 15-30% off annual plans.
- Use a discounted gift card – Stock up when gift cards are on sale at 10-25% off face value.
- Split costs – Share an account with someone else and split the annual cost.
What Payment Methods Does LinkedIn Accept?
LinkedIn accepts the following payment methods for Premium subscriptions:
- Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
- Debit card with a major credit card logo
- PayPal
- Google Pay
- Microsoft account balance (for Microsoft 365 bundles)
- LinkedIn balance gift cards
LinkedIn does not accept other forms of payment such as bank transfers, checks, or Bitcoin. Users must have an accepted payment method on file to start a paid Premium subscription after any free trial.
What are the Pros and Cons of LinkedIn Premium?
Here is a quick overview of some of the key pros and cons of upgrading to LinkedIn Premium:
Pros:
- Unlimited profile views of other users
- Ability to message anyone with LinkedIn InMail
- See full list of who viewed your profile
- Ad-free browsing experience
- Access to LinkedIn Learning premium courses
- Expanded search filters and preferences
- Salary data with job listings
- Career coaching and resume review services
Cons:
- Monthly or annual cost after free trial ends
- Can’t message InMail recipients unless they are also Premium
- Features may not be worth the price for some users
- Need to remember to cancel trial before getting billed
Conclusion
While LinkedIn Premium requires a paid subscription, new users can access a 1 month free trial upon sign up to sample the benefits. Occasionally, promotional codes may also become available for extended free access. For ongoing use, Premium must be paid for either monthly or annually using a credit card or other accepted payment method. But some techniques like annual billing, splitting costs, and prepaid gift cards can help save money on the Premium subscription cost. Ultimately, LinkedIn Premium is worth the investment for active LinkedIn users who want to maximize the platform for networking, job searching, and professional branding.