How much is LinkedIn Premium? And is it worth it?
We looked at the cost of LinkedIn Premium and compared features. There are many different plans and not all are created equal.
Andi Groke
16 Oct 2024
LinkedIn Answers
10 min.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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The short answer
LinkedIn Premium is not for everyone. It's designed to meet different needs. There are two main starter plans. Premium Career for $29.99 and Premium Business for $59.99 per month. There are also specialized plans for recruiters and sales pros.
The key question - "Is LinkedIn Premium worth it?" - depends on how you use the features. Looking at the normal Premium plans, it's a tough decision.
Expert tools like Sales Navigator and LinkedIn Recruiter you either need or you don't. Premium provides tools for increased visibility, networking, and learning. Some users think it's worth it, especially for job hunting or lead generation. Others feel the cost of LinkedIn Premium is hard to justify. It’s best to try the free trial and check based on your personal needs.
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How much does LinkedIn Premium cost?
The cost of LinkedIn Premium depends on the plan you pick. Prices range from $24.95 to $149.99 per month. Here’s a breakdown:
Premium Career: $29.99 per month
Premium Business: $59.99 per month
Sales Navigator: $99.99 per month
Recruiter Lite: $2,399 per year
All plans give you advanced tools for job hunting or business growth. But each plan is very different. If you’re in recruitment or sales, check LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator. Most professionals use it on a daily basis. Know your goals and use this guide to decide which plan is best for you. Learn how much LinkedIn Premium costs and every feature to make the right decision.
Is LinkedIn Premium worth it?
For many, LinkedIn Premium is a good investment. It gives you tools that help you grow your network and get hired faster. Premium Career users, for example, get hired twice as fast as free users! Or so they say.
Premium users using "Top Choice Jobs" are 43% more likely to get responses from recruiters.
But the real value depends on how you use it. If you're not putting in the work to maximize its features, the benefits won’t show. That's the thing with LinkedIn: You have to put in the work. You can always use the free trial to decide if LinkedIn Premium is worth it for you.
LinkedIn Premium has five main categories:
Premium Career, Premium Business, Sales Navigator, Recruiter Lite, and LinkedIn Learning.
Each plan fits very different use cases. Unless you are in recruiting or sales, use Premium Career or Premium Business. They provide specific features like advanced search filters and more InMail credits. These features are crucial for networking, job hunting, or growing a business.
Understand what each offers and choose what matches your professional needs. The LinkedIn pricing structure ensures that there is a suitable plan for everyone.
LinkedIn Premium Career: $29.99/month
LinkedIn Premium Career is best for job seekers. It costs $29.99 per month or $239 per year. It has features like advanced profile insights, networking tools, and LinkedIn Learning access. Considering the price tag for other plans, Premium Career is a great option for anyone looking for a new job.
LinkedIn Premium Business: $59.99/month
LinkedIn Premium Business costs $59.99 per month or $575.88 per year. It is best for business owners and managers. It gives you analytics, better networking tools, and expanded search capabilities.
With Premium Business, you can better expand brand presence and reach potential clients. Also, you get more personalized insights to grow ventures strategically. The LinkedIn Premium price for businesses is a lot higher, but worth it when it comes to the features.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Core: $99.99/month
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Core is for sales pros looking to generate leads. It costs $99.99 per month. It offers advanced search, lead recommendations, and CRM integration.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced: $149.99/month
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced costs $149.99 per month. It's for collaborating sales teams who want full access to LinkedIn's sales tools.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced Plus: Custom pricing
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Advanced Plus only makes sense for enterprise sales teams. It offers CRM integration with custom pricing based on business needs. I used it for some time at my last company, but it can get very expensive.
LinkedIn Recruiter Lite: $170/month
LinkedIn Recruiter Lite is for small recruitment teams. It costs $170 per month and provides advanced search and InMail messaging. This is actually more than enough for smaller companies to find great talent.
LinkedIn Recruiter: $835/month
LinkedIn Recruiter is best for staffing firms. It costs $835 per month. It offers advanced tools like candidate search alerts and recruitment insights. This is a pretty steep price tag, yet it is the industry standard you need when hiring new talent on a regular basis.
LinkedIn Learning: $19.99/month
LinkedIn Learning helps users build business, tech, and creative skills. It's included in Premium Career and Premium Business, or you can get it for $19.99 per month.
Since there is so much free learning content on the Internet, it is not worth the price. You can get better courses for free from the best universities in the world. You get some fancy LinkedIn Learning badges for your profile, but no one cares about them.
So LinkedIn Premium sets you back between $29.99 - $100 per month, depending on the plan. The cost of LinkedIn Premium depends on your needs, but it is usually in line with what you get.
Job seekers: LinkedIn Premium helps with tools like InMail credits and job insights. It actually helps you get hired faster.
Businesses: Unlimited browsing, business insights, and visibility can grow your network.
Sales professionals: Use Sales Navigator's lead recommendations, CRM integration, and advanced search.
Consider the LinkedIn pricing versus the potential benefits. Premium features like InMail messaging and job insights can enhance your networking. Besides many Premium users see higher chances of getting hired.
There are many ways to use LinkedIn Premium. Here are the top five:
Finding new jobs with Premium Career.
Growing your network with Premium Business.
Generating leads with Sales Navigator.
Hiring top talent with Recruiter.
Building new skills with LinkedIn Learning.
Finding new jobs with LinkedIn Premium Career
Premium Career helps you stand out to employers. It offers features like the premium badge and being a Featured Applicant. With InMail, you can contact potential employers without being connected. Job and applicant insights are great for preparing for interviews. But the most convincing data point is that Premium users get hired twice as fast.
To get the most out of LinkedIn Premium, you need to use it. Simple as that. InMail lets you reach out without prior connections, but you need to do it regularly. You can also use profile view insights to fine-tune your profile and make it more appealing.
Business growth and networking with LinkedIn Premium Business
With Premium Business, you have 15 InMail credits per month. You also get unlimited searches and access to LinkedIn Learning. It provides some business analytics to use as business insights. It’s perfect for owners and managers that want to grow their networks and get more visibility. Lastly, you can use advanced search features to find potential clients or partners.
More sales with LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Sales Navigator is the tool for sales pros. It has 50 InMail credits per month, advanced lead recommendations, and CRM integration. Also, real-time lead alerts help you keep track of leads.
Sales pros use it to build lead pipelines with targeted searches on autopilot. Integration with CRM systems also helps manage sales pipelines a lot more easily.
Finding talent with LinkedIn Recruiter
Recruiter and Recruiter Lite are for hiring managers. They come with advanced search filters and what's called candidate recommendations. 30 InMails per month let you reach out to potential hires.
LinkedIn Recruiter allows companies to identify their top candidates quickly. It helps refine searches using over 20 filters, making the hiring process stronger.
Learning new skills with LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning provides 16,000+ expert-led courses. It covers business, tech, and creative fields. You know by now that I am not a fan. There are some good gems in there, but I still think you can get more for your money. I recommend trying it for a month, but also checking free online courses or YouTube for that matter.
LinkedIn says Premium users get more visibility. But that’s not guaranteed. The LinkedIn algorithm prioritizes relevance and engagement, not premium users. Also, recruiters are LinkedIn's main revenue source, not Premium users. Premium doesn't give you an advantage in search results. I compared posting with and without LinkedIn Premium for one month each. There was no difference in post impressions or reach.
Opinions on LinkedIn Premium are mixed. Some users find it valuable - others do not. Many believe building a strong profile matters more than having Premium. That is true, but LinkedIn Premium is not about getting more reach. You use the premium plans to get extra features for networking, business growth, or hiring.
I searched online for some opinions on LinkedIn Premium for you, and this is what I got:
"It's expensive because you're not their target market. It's for businesses."
"I'm a business owner. Features are useful. For job seekers, not so much."
"Only good for LinkedIn Learning. Otherwise, not worth it."
"Optimized job search could set up your career well."
"You can access VPs, executives, and HR directly. That’s worth it."
Some users find it helpful for job hunting:
"I used InMail to message recruiters and hiring managers."
"You see the number of applicants and their demographics."
"I used it to compare my profile to other applicants. Fixed my keywords."
"After the trial, I paid $40 a month until I got hired."
Others are hesitant about the cost:
"Worth it? No. But I still pay."
So you see, there is no way around testing this out for yourself. Don't get LinkedIn Premium for the badge. It doesn't magically improve your networking.
Deciding on LinkedIn Premium depends on your goals. It's good for job seekers, businesses looking to grow, and sales pros for lead generation. The free trial is the best way to test the benefits.
Many users mention a positive impact of LinkedIn Premium. I use Premium Business because I try to connect with a lot of people I don't know yet. When you work in Sales or HR, one of these premium plans is a must.
Can I get LinkedIn Premium free?
Yes, LinkedIn offers a one-month free trial. Amazon Prime Student members get six months free.
What is the advantage of using LinkedIn Premium?
Increased visibility for recruiters.
Full profile access.
Insights on profile views.
Access to premium content.
Direct communication through InMail.
Advanced search filters and LinkedIn Learning.
Does LinkedIn Premium help get a job faster?
LinkedIn claims Premium users get hired twice as fast. Some Reddit users disagree. It may depend on how actively you use it.
Can people tell if you use LinkedIn Premium?
Yes, premium users have a gold badge on their profile picture.
What is the difference between LinkedIn and LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium offers features not available with free accounts. For instance, InMail messaging and LinkedIn Learning.
Can you buy LinkedIn Premium for a year?
Yes, LinkedIn offers annual billing options with discounts compared to monthly payments.
How much is LinkedIn Premium for students?
There are no specific student discounts for Premium. LinkedIn Basic works well for students starting out and that is free.
Does LinkedIn Premium include LinkedIn Learning?
Yes, LinkedIn Learning is included with Premium Career and Premium Business.
What is the difference between Sales Navigator and LinkedIn Premium?
Sales Navigator is a plan for sales professionals. It offers advanced tools for lead generation, sales outreach, and CRM integration. You don't need it if you are not doing sales on a daily basis.
How many InMails do you get with LinkedIn Premium?
Premium Career: 5 per month
Premium Business: 15 per month
Sales Navigator Core: 50 per month
Sales Navigator Advanced: 50 per month
Recruiter Lite: 30 per month
Recruiter: 150 per month
Author
Andi Groke
Andi is the CEO of Mind Nexus and Co-Founder of postline.ai. He is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker and former Dentsu executive. Andi worked in marketing for more than 15 years, serving clients such as Disney and Mastercard. Today he is developing AI marketing software for agencies and brands and is involved in several SaaS projects.