LinkedIn Premium is LinkedIn’s paid subscription service that provides users with additional features and benefits beyond the free LinkedIn account. One of the most common questions around LinkedIn Premium is whether it can be paid for annually rather than on a monthly basis. The short answer is yes, LinkedIn does provide the option to pay for Premium annually at a discounted rate compared to paying month-to-month.
Overview of LinkedIn Premium Plans
LinkedIn currently offers three paid Premium subscription plans: Premium Career, Premium Business, and Sales Navigator. Each plan provides users with additional tools and services such as:
- Seeing who viewed your profile
- Unlocking additional profile filters when searching
- Receiving messages from recruiters at no additional cost
- Business insights about companies and contacts
- Expanded search filters and saved searches
The Premium Career plan is geared towards individual professionals and job seekers looking to advance their careers. Premium Business targets business owners, executives, and professionals focused on business development. Sales Navigator provides specialized tools for sales professionals. All plans unlock LinkedIn’s full suite of premium features, with Sales Navigator adding sales-specific functionality.
Benefits of Paying Annually
Paying for LinkedIn Premium annually instead of monthly provides several advantages:
- Cost savings – LinkedIn offers an annual pricing discount compared to paying month-to-month. You save up to 33% off the monthly price by paying annually.
- Convenience – Making a single annual payment is more convenient than remembering to pay monthly renewals.
- Account protection – Paying annually provides uninterrupted access to your Premium account for the whole year. You don’t have to worry about losing access if you forget a monthly payment.
The annual pricing discount is the biggest incentive for most users to pay annually. You can realize substantial savings, especially for the higher-tier Premium Business and Sales Navigator plans. The convenience and account protection factors provide additional benefits.
Annual Pricing Options
LinkedIn currently offers the following annual pricing options for Premium subscriptions:
Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Annual Savings |
---|---|---|---|
Premium Career | $29.99 | $239.88 | 20% |
Premium Business | $59.99 | $479.88 | 20% |
Sales Navigator | $79.99 | $599.88 | 33% |
As you can see from the table, the annual pricing represents significant savings compared to paying month-to-month. The percentage discount gets larger for the more expensive plans.
Premium Career and Premium Business Plans
For the Premium Career and Premium Business plans, the annual price is equal to 10 months of the monthly fee. So you basically get two free months by paying annually instead of monthly. This equates to a 20% savings overall.
For example, Premium Career costs $29.99 per month. Paying monthly would cost $359.88 over 12 months. But the annual price is $239.88 – a $120 savings or 20% off. Premium Business provides 20% savings in the same way.
Sales Navigator Plan
The Sales Navigator plan pricing is a bit different. Here the annual price equates to 9 months of the monthly fee. So you get 3 free months by paying annually, amounting to savings of 33%.
Sales Navigator costs $79.99 on a monthly basis. Over 12 months the monthly cost would be $959.88. However, the annual price is just $599.88 – $360 in savings or 33% off the monthly pricing.
How to Pay Annually
Signing up for an annual Premium subscription is straightforward. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the Premium signup page on LinkedIn.com. Click the plan you want to purchase.
- On the checkout page, toggle the payment frequency switch from monthly to annually.
- The page will update to now show the annual pricing discount.
- Select your preferred payment method and complete the checkout process.
The process is simple and only takes a few extra clicks to switch to annual payments. LinkedIn will charge you the full annual fee upfront. You can pay with credit/debit card or PayPal account. Payment is processed securely through LinkedIn’s trusted provider.
Changing or Cancelling Your Premium Plan
A few things to note if you want to change or cancel an annual Premium subscription:
- Downgrading or cancelling – You can downgrade to a lower-tier plan or cancel anytime. LinkedIn will refund the unused portion based on the months remaining.
- Upgrading – To upgrade to a higher-tier plan, you’ll have to pay the new plan’s annual price. Your original plan’s remaining value gets credited proportionally.
- Switching to monthly – You can switch an annual plan to renew monthly at any time. The monthly rate kicks in after your prepaid annual term completes.
LinkedIn aims to maintain flexibility for Premium subscribers. You can adjust your plan as needed, while still getting the savings benefit of annual payments. Contact LinkedIn customer support if you need help with plan changes or cancellations.
FAQs
Does annual pricing save me money?
Yes, paying annually provides a discount of 20-33% compared to paying month-to-month for Premium access. You can realize significant savings per year by paying annually.
Can I try a monthly plan first?
Yes, LinkedIn allows you to first purchase any Premium plan on a monthly basis to try it out. You can then switch to annual pricing later from your account settings. Your remaining monthly term will be credited proportionally.
Is the annual fee refundable?
LinkedIn will refund the unused portion of an annual fee if you decide to downgrade or cancel Premium before the year is up. So you only pay for the time you used the service.
Can I pay the annual fee in installments?
No, LinkedIn does not currently offer installment plans for Premium annual fees. The full annual price must be paid upfront at the time of initial purchase.
Conclusion
Paying annually for LinkedIn’s Premium subscription can generate significant cost savings compared to going month-to-month. You can save up to 33% off the monthly pricing. It also provides convenience and uninterrupted account access for the full year.
To get the annual pricing, simply toggle the payment frequency to annually during Premium signup or renewal. LinkedIn makes it easy to pay annually after starting with a monthly plan as well. Take advantage of these Premium discounts to get the most out of your LinkedIn investment.