LinkedIn Learning, previously known as Lynda.com, is a massive online learning platform that offers thousands of video courses taught by industry experts. It covers a wide range of topics including business, creative, and technology skills. Many professionals use LinkedIn Learning to gain new skills, advance their careers, or keep up with the latest trends in their industry.
With so much useful content, it’s no wonder that professionals often ask: “Can I just buy LinkedIn Learning?” Here’s what you need to know about purchasing access to LinkedIn Learning and its available options.
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is an e-learning platform that offers over 16,000 video courses in 7 languages across business, technology, and creative topics. Courses are taught by industry experts and range from beginner to advanced levels. A few examples of course topics include:
- Leadership and management
- Graphic design and illustration
- Web development and programming
- Data analysis and Excel
- Marketing and communications
In addition to on-demand courses, LinkedIn Learning offers multi-week learning paths that group relevant courses together. It also produces over 300 new courses each month to keep content updated and relevant.
LinkedIn Learning aims to provide high-quality instruction in an engaging video format. Courses consist of bite-sized video lectures combined with practice files and assessments. Learners can take courses on their own schedule and refer back to materials as needed.
Benefits of LinkedIn Learning
There are several key benefits that make LinkedIn Learning an appealing professional development and e-learning platform:
- Expert instructors – Courses are taught by credible instructors with real-world experience in their field.
- Applicable skills – The platform focuses on practical, relevant skills that can be applied in business and professional settings.
- Convenient access – Courses can be accessed anytime, anywhere via desktop or mobile apps.
- Course variety – With over 16,000 courses, there are learning options for nearly any skill one wants to develop.
- Personalized recommendations – LinkedIn Learning’s algorithm provides suggested courses based on interests and goals.
- Certificates of completion – Learners can showcase their new skills by sharing certificates and course records.
For professionals looking to develop their skills, LinkedIn Learning is a flexible and convenient solution with proven results. Over 17 million professionals use the platform each year.
LinkedIn Learning Pricing Options
There are a few different ways learners can gain access to LinkedIn Learning.
Individual Subscriptions
LinkedIn Learning offers individual monthly and annual subscriptions. Current pricing options include:
- Monthly subscription: $29.99 per month
- Annual subscription: $299.88 per year (or $24.99 per month)
Individual subscriptions provide full access to the entire course library and new content as it is released. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.
Corporate and Group Plans
Many companies offer employees free access to LinkedIn Learning as part of corporate learning and development programs. Check with your employer to see if a group plan is available.
Enterprise pricing is also available for larger organizations. Annual contract options include:
- Team Plan: $490 per year per seat (for 100-200 seats)
- Business Plan: $396 per year per seat (for 201-500 seats)
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing (for 500+ seats)
Corporate plans come with administrative tools, group reporting, and content customization options.
LinkedIn Premium Subscriptions
LinkedIn Learning is included in some premium LinkedIn subscription packages. For example, LinkedIn Premium Career subscriptions provide full access to LinkedIn Learning. Current Premium Career pricing includes:
- Monthly subscription: $29.99 per month
- Annual subscription: $299.88 per year (or $24.99 per month)
Premium Career is LinkedIn’s mid-tier paid offering, including features like InMail messaging and profile branding in addition to LinkedIn Learning. Check LinkedIn for the latest subscription bundle options.
University Students and Faculty
If you are a student or faculty member at a degree-granting college or university, you may have free access to LinkedIn Learning. Check with your university library or technology department to get access.
Public Libraries
Many public libraries provide their members with access to LinkedIn Learning for free. Local library cards can often be used to access LinkedIn Learning’s library of courses. Contact your local library to see if they offer this.
Can You Buy Just LinkedIn Learning?
Based on the pricing options above, there are a couple ways to purchase access to just LinkedIn Learning without other services:
- Individual monthly or annual subscriptions
- Corporate/group plans (if available through an employer)
The individual subscription is the most direct way to purchase LinkedIn Learning access on its own. It provides full access to all courses and features for $29.99/month or $299.88/year when paid up front annually.
What Payment Options Are Available?
For individual subscriptions, LinkedIn Learning accepts major credit and debit cards as payment, including:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
Payment is processed through secure online checkout. Monthly subscriptions are automatically renewed each month using the payment method on file. Annual subscriptions renew once per year.
For larger corporate and group contracts, additional payment methods may be supported like invoices, purchase orders, wire transfers, and PayPal. Contact the LinkedIn Learning sales team for details.
Can I Get LinkedIn Learning for Free?
While LinkedIn Learning does not offer an unlimited free access option, there are some ways to access courses for free in a limited capacity:
- Free trial – LinkedIn Learning offers a 1-month free trial for individual subscriptions. This provides full access for 30 days.
- Sample courses – Some courses have a free sample video lesson to preview the course.
- Public library access – Many libraries provide members with free access to the full LinkedIn Learning library.
- University access – Students at degree-granting colleges/universities may have free access through their school.
While the above options allow for limited free access, an individual or group subscription is required for unlimited access to all LinkedIn Learning courses long-term.
Pros and Cons of Purchasing Access
Before purchasing, consider the key pros and cons of buying access to LinkedIn Learning:
Pros
- Unlimited access to over 16,000 courses
- Expert instruction on in-demand business, tech, and creative skills
- Flexible online learning that fits any schedule
- Mobile access makes learning on-the-go easy
- Certificate upon course completion to share skills
- Monthly and annual plans allow budgeting options
- Frequently updated library with new courses added weekly
Cons
- No offline access to courses
- No instructor interaction or course assignments
- Limited hands-on learning elements
- Additional software or tools needed for some tech courses
- Recurring subscription fees
- Cancellation restrictions apply to annual plan
Conclusion
In summary, individual and group subscriptions are available for purchase to gain unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning’s extensive on-demand course library. For individuals, the main option is a monthly or annual subscription starting at $29.99/month when paid monthly.
Before purchasing, consider whether your employer offers free access or if a local university or library option is available. While LinkedIn Learning requires a paid subscription for full access, the platform can provide exceptional value for professionals looking to build in-demand job skills and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technology.
With expert-led courses, mobile accessibility, and frequently refreshed content, LinkedIn Learning offers a flexible and cost-effective way to continue skill development and reach career goals.
Subscription Type | Details | Price |
---|---|---|
Individual monthly | Unlimited access for 1 month | $29.99/month |
Individual annual | Unlimited access for 1 year | $299.88/year ($24.99/month) |
Premium Career monthly | LinkedIn Learning + Premium features for 1 month | $29.99/month |
Premium Career annual | LinkedIn Learning + Premium features for 1 year | $299.88/year ($24.99/month) |
Team (100-200 users) | Enterprise plan for mid-sized businesses | $490/year per seat |
Business (201-500 users) | Enterprise plan for large businesses | $396/year per seat |
Enterprise (500+ users) | Custom enterprise pricing | Contact for quote |
This table summarizes the key LinkedIn Learning subscription options and their pricing:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LinkedIn Learning worth the cost?
For most professionals, especially those needing to learn business, creative, and tech skills, LinkedIn Learning provides exceptional value. The extensive expert-led course library, convenient online access, curated learning paths, and mobile apps make it a top-tier professional development platform.
What payment methods does LinkedIn Learning accept?
Individual subscriptions accept major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Other methods like PayPal are available for larger enterprise contracts.
Can I download LinkedIn Learning videos to watch offline?
Downloading videos for offline viewing is not currently supported. An internet connection is required to stream courses on LinkedIn Learning. However, it offers mobile apps so learning can continue on smartphones and tablets when offline at home.
How do I cancel a LinkedIn Learning subscription?
You can cancel monthly subscriptions anytime online through account settings. Annual subscriptions require contacting customer support for cancellation. Refunds are not provided for unused months if cancelling an annual plan early.
Can I share my LinkedIn Learning access with others?
Individual subscriptions are for a single user only. Sharing login access with others is not permitted per LinkedIn Learning’s Terms of Service.
How long do I have access to courses after cancelling?
Access terminates immediately when your subscription ends, whether monthly or annual. You will no longer be able to login and view courses you were taking.
Is technical support included?
LinkedIn Learning provides 24/7 technical support via online tickets. This can help resolve issues like login problems or glitches playing video courses.
The Bottom Line
LinkedIn Learning offers professionals an engaging platform to learn in-demand skills on their schedule. While free trials and limited access options exist, individual and group subscriptions must be purchased for unlimited continued access.
By investing in a subscription, either monthly or annually, professionals can get access to regularly updated, expert-led instruction across thousands of courses. This can provide high value by accelerating career growth through new skill development achieved conveniently online.