LinkedIn Premium is a paid subscription that adds features to your free LinkedIn account
LinkedIn Premium gives you access to tools that free LinkedIn does not: the ability to see who has viewed your profile, send messages to people outside your network, use advanced search filters, and get insights into how your posts perform. The subscription costs money each month, and the price varies depending on which tier you choose and whether you pay monthly or annually. You can cancel at any time.
LinkedIn offers four tiers: Career, Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter. Most people choose between Career (the entry-level paid tier) and the free version. Business and Sales Navigator are designed for specific work purposes. Recruiter is for hiring teams and costs significantly more.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn Premium has four subscription tiers, each with different features and price points; Career is the most common choice for individual users.
- Monthly pricing is higher than annual pricing, so paying for a full year upfront saves money if you plan to keep the subscription.
- You can message people who are not in your network only if you have a paid subscription; free users cannot do this.
- LinkedIn offers a free trial period for new subscribers, though the length and terms vary by region and tier.
- Cancelling your subscription returns you to a free account; your profile and connections remain, but you lose access to paid features.
The four subscription tiers and what each one costs
LinkedIn Premium Career is the tier most individual job seekers and professionals choose. It includes profile views, InMail (the ability to message people outside your network), advanced search filters, and salary insights. The monthly price varies by country and current promotions, but typically ranges from $40 to $50 USD per month when paid month-to-month. Annual plans cost less per month if you pay the full year upfront.
LinkedIn Premium Business is designed for people who want to build their professional brand or grow a business on the platform. It includes everything in Career, plus additional analytics about who is viewing your posts and how your content performs. The price is higher than Career.
Sales Navigator is built for sales professionals and includes lead recommendations, advanced search, and CRM integration. It costs more than Career or Business because it is aimed at people using LinkedIn as a primary sales tool.
Recruiter is for hiring teams and companies, not individual job seekers. It is the most expensive tier and includes tools for searching candidates, managing pipelines, and tracking hiring workflows. Pricing is custom and depends on team size and contract terms.
What you can do with Premium that you cannot do for free
The most commonly used Premium feature is InMail, which lets you send messages to people who are not in your network. Free users can only message people they are already connected to. With Premium, you can reach recruiters, hiring managers, or anyone else on LinkedIn directly.
Premium also shows you who has viewed your profile in the last 90 days. Free users see only a count of views, not names. This is useful if you are job searching and want to know which companies or recruiters have looked at your profile.
Advanced search filters let you narrow results by company, job title, location, years of experience, and other criteria. Free search is more limited. This matters if you are recruiting, researching an industry, or trying to find specific people to connect with.
Premium also includes salary insights for roles and companies, learning resources through LinkedIn Learning (included with some tiers), and post analytics that show how many people saw your content and how they engaged with it.
How to start a Premium subscription
To start a subscription, go to your LinkedIn profile and look for the "Upgrade" or "Try Premium" button, usually near the top of your profile. Click it and you will be taken to a page showing the available tiers and prices. Select the tier you want and the payment frequency (monthly or annual).
LinkedIn will ask for a payment method. You can use a credit card, debit card, or PayPal, depending on your country. After you enter your payment information, your subscription begins immediately.
Most new subscribers get a free trial period before they are charged. The length of the trial varies by region and tier — it may be 7 days, 14 days, or longer. LinkedIn will tell you when the trial ends and when your first charge will occur. You can cancel during the trial period without being charged.
How to cancel your subscription
To cancel, go to your account settings and find the "Subscriptions" or "Billing" section. You will see your active subscription listed. Click "Cancel subscription" or a similar option. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay; you can ignore this and proceed with cancellation.
Your subscription ends at the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid monthly and cancel on the 15th of the month, your subscription runs until the end of that month. If you paid annually, it runs until the end of the year. You are not charged again after cancellation.
After your subscription ends, your account reverts to free. Your profile, connections, and posts remain. You simply lose access to Premium features like InMail and profile views.
Monthly versus annual payment and when to choose each
LinkedIn offers both monthly and annual payment options. Monthly payments are higher per month but require less upfront money. Annual payments cost less per month overall but require you to pay for the entire year at once.
Choose monthly if you are unsure whether you will use Premium long-term, if you want to try it for a few months, or if you do not have the cash to pay for a year upfront. Choose annual if you know you will use it for at least a year and want to save money.
Some people also use the free trial to test Premium features before committing to any payment plan. This can help you decide whether the features are worth the cost for your situation.
What happens if you do not use your Premium features
If you subscribe but do not use InMail, profile views, or other Premium features, you still pay the full subscription price. LinkedIn does not refund unused features or offer pro-rated refunds if you cancel mid-month or mid-year.
Before you subscribe, think about whether you will actually use the features. If you are not job searching, recruiting, or selling, Premium may not be worth the cost. If you are, the features often pay for themselves in time saved or opportunities gained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I change my mind after subscribing?
LinkedIn does not offer refunds for subscriptions. However, you can cancel during the free trial period without being charged. If you are charged and want to dispute it, you can contact LinkedIn support, but refunds are not may provide. Always cancel before your trial ends if you do not want to be charged.
Does LinkedIn Premium help you get hired?
Premium does not improve your chances of being hired directly. It gives you tools to reach more people and see who is looking at your profile, which can help you network better. The value depends on how you use the features, not on the subscription itself.
Can I share a Premium subscription with someone else?
No. Each subscription is tied to one LinkedIn account. You cannot share login credentials or transfer a subscription to another person. Each person who wants Premium must have their own subscription.
What is the difference between LinkedIn Premium and LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is a separate service that offers online courses. Some Premium tiers include a LinkedIn Learning subscription, but they are not the same thing. LinkedIn Premium is about messaging, search, and profile features. LinkedIn Learning is about courses and skill development.
Will LinkedIn Premium help me if I am not actively job searching?
It depends on your goal. If you are recruiting, selling, or building your professional brand, Premium features like InMail and post analytics can be useful. If you are just maintaining a profile and not actively using LinkedIn, Premium is probably not worth the cost.