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Launched in 1995, LinkedIn Learning is one of the biggest open online course providers to date. The platform boasts 27 million+ users and offers 16,000+ courses from industry experts to help you grow your professional skill set.
But just how good is LinkedIn Learning? What are the best courses on offer? Can I get it for free? And can I get a refund if LinkedIn Learning isn’t for me?
I tried out LinkedIn Learning for myself to answer these questions (and more) in this LinkedIn Learning review.
First of all, here’s a quick overview:
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Quick summary
Features
- 17,000+ courses taught by real-world experts
- Computer and mobile device options to suit your schedule
- 30+ course categories under Business, Creative, and Technology
- Certificates for your LinkedIn profile (and offline certification prep)
- 3 main subscription options plus single-course purchases
Pros
- Learn from highly rated instructors with real-world experience
- Chance to earn and display a LinkedIn Learning certificate
- Well-structured courses for online and offline viewing
- Broad scope of topics to choose from
- More affordable than college classes
- Suitable for all skill levels
Cons
- Pricing is quick to change
- Lacks 1-1 tutoring
Best for: Any professional/enthusiast looking to advance their career and/or grow their skills in different topics. LinkedIn Learning covers everything from Accounting to Photography, and it’s a great resource for unlocking your career potential.
Cost: Check latest pricing for LinkedIn Learning
Overall: LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of courses to help you accelerate your career growth and learn new skills. Compared to college courses, LinkedIn Learning is affordable and convenient – not to mention, students pay thousands of dollars to access learning material from the same people who instruct on LinkedIn Learning! If you’re ready to invest in your personal development, LinkedIn Learning is the way to go. Plus, with a one-month free trial, you really have nothing to lose.
So, in this thorough LinkedIn Learning review, I’ll cover:
- What is LinkedIn Learning and who are its instructors?
- How does LinkedIn Learning work and how much does it cost?
- LinkedIn Learning free trial
- What a LinkedIn Learning lesson is like
- Best LinkedIn Learning courses and offerings
- How I reviewed LinkedIn Learning
- What I liked and disliked
- Alternatives to LinkedIn Learning
- What others have said about LinkedIn Learning
- Is LinkedIn Learning worth it?
- FAQs
That being said, let’s get started:
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning was founded back in 1995 as Lynda.com (by business professional, Lynda Weinman).
Since being acquired by LinkedIn in 2015, it’s gone on to become one of the biggest online course providers with over 27 million users and 17,000+ courses to choose from.
In fact, within its first four years, it reached 17 million users, putting it in competition with sites like Coursera and Edcast.
And, with the chance to try the entire platform free for a month, it’s not surprising that so many users are flocking to LinkedIn Learning for an up-to-date and intuitive online learning experience.
Who are the instructors?
LinkedIn Learning’s goal to equip you with transferable skills is reflected in the calibre of their instructors.
These include:
- International speakers
- Best-selling authors
- Academics from prestigious universities
- CEOs from the world’s leading companies
- Practising experts in various fields
How does LinkedIn Learning work?
There are a few different ways to take courses on LinkedIn Learning. In short, you can:
- Buy individual courses that suit your interests
- Take some sample classes
- Purchase a monthly or annual subscription
- Buy LinkedIn Learning for your team
If you’re new to LinkedIn Learning, the first step is to sign up to a free trial. If you have a LinkedIn account, you can use these details to get onto LinkedIn Learning. Otherwise, you’ll be prompted to sign up with your name and email address.
After this, you can choose between a monthly or annual subscription. Although you do need to provide your card details (to make the transition from free trial to subscription seamless), you can cancel at any time.
In fact, LinkedIn will even tell you when you’re nearing the final week of your free trial, so you can avoid being charged.
Below, I’ve highlighted what you get with LinkedIn Learning. This includes what you get with the monthly/annual subscription and with individual course purchases/team plans:
| Option | Length | Billing | Includes |
| One-off course | 20 minutes – 20 hours | Per course | Certificate, offline viewing, course recommendations, 30-day refund guarantee, access to one course |
| Monthly subscription | Minimum 1 month | Per month | Certificate, offline viewing, course recommendations, access to unlimited courses and Premium |
| Annual subscription | Minimum 1 month | Per month/ year | Certificate, offline viewing, course recommendations, access to unlimited courses and Premium |
| Team plans | Varies | Varies | Certificate, offline viewing, course recommendations, access to unlimited courses |
Signing in to LinkedIn Learning gives you access to the platform’s top picks, newest releases, recommended viewing, and weekly progress charts.
Also, LinkedIn Learning offers hundreds of subjects under the main umbrella terms of Business, Creative, and Technology.
So, to give you an idea, subjects covered by LinkedIn Learning include:
- Data Analysis
- Computer Skills
- Job Searching
- CRM Software
- Finance
- HR Strategy
- Graphic Design
- Animation and Illustration
- Music
- Photography
- Software Development
- Security Management
With such a broad scope of topics available, you don’t even need to commit to a single topic. In fact, LinkedIn Learning will analyze your interests to determine a range of recommendations that can help develop your hard and soft skills in a range of areas.
So, unlike other platforms that give you a single learning direction, LinkedIn Learning offers a well-rounded learning experience to help you reach your full potential in the career world.
Because LinkedIn as a whole is a community platform, you can also check out course ratings and reviews to guide your learning choices. Each week, you’ll also receive a list of the week’s top courses, ranked by popularity and overall rating.
You can also check out our article, best LinkedIn Learning courses.
How much does LinkedIn Learning cost?
In a nutshell, LinkedIn Learning costs $39.99/month for a monthly subscription and $24.99/month annually. If you’re looking to buy a course individually, prices vary, but you’re usually looking at a $35-$40 price range.
You can read our full review on LinkedIn Learning costs. However, we go into detail below about the following pricing options:
- Monthly/annual subscriptions
- Individual course purchase
- Team plans
LinkedIn Learning subscription
A LinkedIn Learning subscription (either monthly or annually) gives you access to LinkedIn Premium and all 17,000+ courses. With this plan, you’re also entitled to any course certificates (to display on your LinkedIn profile) and offline viewing.
For a monthly subscription, you’re looking at $39.99 a month. Or, if you’re buying annually, this works out at $24.99 a month. As you might expect, the annual subscription works out a little cheaper, saving you 38% over the year.
Individual course purchase
Almost all of LinkedIn Learning’s courses offer a preview/sample viewing. This means you can view several minutes’/one lesson’s worth of content before deciding whether the course is right for you.
Also, from time to time, LinkedIn Learning opens some of its shorter courses for free as a goodwill gesture. This is usually a limited time offer to allow job seekers to improve their skills and employability.
To take a full-length course, prices vary. But, generally speaking, you’re looking at around $35-$45.
Team plans
With over 13,000 companies using LinkedIn Learning, it’s clear that the platform has its merits for both individuals and teams.
To access LinkedIn Learning’s team plans, you first need to submit a consultation request stating your organization’s name, size, and specialty. LinkedIn will then arrange a consultation to determine your budget and needs.
From here, you’ll get a free demo along with a personalized quote if you choose to commit to LinkedIn Learning’s team plans. This gives you the same benefits as a monthly/annual subscription, but also includes additional benefits in line with your key business areas.
