Changing your LinkedIn subscription from an annual plan to a monthly plan is a straightforward process that can be done directly within your account settings. Here are the steps to switch your LinkedIn premium subscription from annual billing to monthly billing:
Check Your Current LinkedIn Subscription Status
Before making any changes, first confirm your current LinkedIn subscription status:
- Log into your LinkedIn account on the website (not the mobile app)
- Click on your profile image in the top right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu
- Click on “Account” in the left sidebar
- Under “Premium Career” you will see your current subscription plan and billing details
This will show you whether you currently have a Free, Premium, or Sales account with LinkedIn. It will also indicate if your plan is billed annually or monthly. Take note of your current subscription tier and billing cycle.
Switch Billing Cycle to Monthly
If you are currently on an annual plan, follow these steps to change to monthly billing:
- From the “Account” page, click on “Purchase or Change Plan” (on desktop) or “Upgrade Account” (on mobile)
- Select your current premium plan, such as Premium Career or Sales Navigator Pro
- Toggle the “Renew Automatically” switch to off
- Click “Change Plan” or “Downgrade”
- On the next page, select “Switch to monthly billing”
- Select “Agree & Continue” to confirm the changes
Your subscription plan itself will not change, only the billing cycle will now be monthly instead of yearly. Going forward, you will be charged each month instead of once a year.
What Happens When You Switch from Annual to Monthly Billing?
Here is what to expect when you switch from annual to monthly billing for LinkedIn premium subscriptions:
- You keep the same features and access with your current premium plan.
- Your new monthly billing cycle starts right away – you will be charged monthly going forward.
- You forfeit any remaining time on your current annual cycle – no pro-rated refunds.
- You can switch back to annual billing at any time in account settings.
So you keep full use of your current Premium or Sales Navigator account, the only change is how often you are billed. There is no refund for the unused portion of an annual subscription.
How Much Do LinkedIn Monthly Subscriptions Cost?
Here is a breakdown of the monthly costs for LinkedIn’s paid subscription plans as of October 2022:
LinkedIn Plan | Monthly Cost |
---|---|
Premium Career | $29.99/month |
Premium Business | $64.99/month |
Sales Navigator Pro | $64.99/month |
Sales Navigator Team | $259.99/month |
Switching from annual to monthly billing will result in paying these monthly plan rates going forward. Annual plans offer a discounted rate when paying for the full year up front.
Should I Choose Annual or Monthly Billing for LinkedIn?
The choice between annual vs monthly billing for LinkedIn comes down to your personal preference as a user:
- Annual plans – best if you know you will use LinkedIn premium long-term. Annual billing offers a discounted rate over monthly plans.
- Monthly plans – best if you want to test out a premium plan first. Monthly billing offers more flexibility to cancel anytime.
Here are some factors to help decide which billing cycle is right for you:
Consider Annual Billing If:
- You use LinkedIn premium features regularly for sales or recruiting.
- You want to lock in a discounted annual rate and budget up front.
- You foresee using LinkedIn premium for the next year or more.
- You don’t want to worry about renewing monthly billing cycles.
Consider Monthly Billing If:
- You are new to LinkedIn premium and want to test it out.
- You only need access to premium features sporadically.
- You may cancel after a few months.
- You want the flexibility to change plans month to month.
Monthly plans offer more convenience for short term or intermittent use of premium features, while annual plans offer savings for long term users who regularly leverage LinkedIn for sales or recruiting.
Can I Switch Back to Annual Billing?
Yes, you can switch back and forth between annual and monthly billing as needed:
- To go back to annual billing, visit account settings and select “Upgrade to annual billing”.
- Confirm your upgraded annual plan and payment details.
- You will be charged the new annual subscription rate immediately.
- Your new annual billing cycle will start right away.
You can alternate between annual and monthly billing as often as you want. Both options are flexible and easy to manage directly through your LinkedIn account settings.
Does Changing Billing Impact LinkedIn Ads?
Changing between annual and monthly billing only affects your premium account subscription. Billing for LinkedIn ad spend is separate and will not be impacted.
LinkedIn ads are paid for separately based on your actual ad costs and campaign spending. This billing is not tied to your personal account subscription.
So you can safely switch from annual to monthly premium billing without impacting your LinkedIn advertising charges in any way.
Can I Get a Refund for My Unused Annual Plan?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not offer prorated refunds when switching an annual subscription to monthly billing before the annual term ends.
By downgrading from annual to monthly billing, you forfeit the remaining prepaid time left on your current annual cycle. No partial refunds are provided.
This is because you retain full access to the premium features after downgrading – the only change is the billing frequency. There is no option to get a refund for unused annual subscription time.
Can I Pause My Monthly Subscription?
LinkedIn does not have an option to temporarily pause monthly premium subscriptions. However, you can easily cancel your monthly plan at any time:
- From account settings, click “Downgrade Account”
- Select the reason you are downgrading and confirm
- Your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing cycle
- You can restart your subscription anytime with monthly billing
So while you can’t pause a monthly plan, downgrading is simple across all plans. Your account reverts to Free membership until you opt to reactivate premium features.
What Features Do You Get With LinkedIn Premium?
Here is an overview of some of the top features included with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions:
- Unlimited profile views each month
- See full profiles of everyone who viewed you
- Advanced profile filtering and search
- InMail messages to contact anyone (depending on plan)
- Premium message read receipts
- Expanded network reach
- Skill assessments to showcase expertise
- Premium articles and courses
Premium accounts unlock LinkedIn’s most powerful tools for networking, prospecting, recruiting, and thought leadership. The monthly and annual plans provide the same features.
Conclusion
Switching a LinkedIn premium subscription from annual to monthly billing is simple and can be done directly through your account settings. While annual billing offers discounted rates, monthly plans provide more flexibility.
Consider your expected usage and budget to decide which cycle meets your needs. You can alternate between annual and monthly at any time. Just be aware that partial refunds are not provided when downgrading plans.
With both premium annual and monthly options, LinkedIn provides robust tools to maximize your professional networking, recruiting, and branding. The choice of billing cycle comes down to your budget and needs as a LinkedIn user.