- How LinkedIn Learning access works
- The Premium free trial rules
- When you'll be charged
- The reminder email, and when you won't get one
- How to get the most from a LinkedIn Learning trial
- Is LinkedIn Learning worth paying for after the trial?
- What happens if your card fails
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
LinkedIn Learning doesn't have its own individual subscription, so there's no separate LinkedIn Learning trial. LinkedIn says the way in for individuals is LinkedIn Premium, which includes LinkedIn Learning, and Premium has a free trial for eligible members. You need a credit card to start it, and LinkedIn says you must cancel at least one day before the renewal date to avoid being charged.
I see this question a lot from people who want to take one course, earn a certificate for their profile, then stop. You can do exactly that on a free trial, as long as you know you're signing up for Premium and you plan the cancel date from day one.
How LinkedIn Learning access works
| Route | What LinkedIn says |
|---|---|
| Single course purchase | Not offered; LinkedIn Learning doesn't sell one-off, a la carte courses |
| Individual LinkedIn Learning subscription | Not offered on its own |
| LinkedIn Premium | The closest thing to an individual subscription; includes LinkedIn Learning |
| Through your employer or school | Enterprise access for organisations, higher education and government |
| Free trial | A LinkedIn Premium free trial, for eligible members only |
Before you start a trial, it's worth checking whether your employer, university or public library already gives you access. That route costs you nothing and has no cancel date to remember.
The Premium free trial rules
- Eligibility: not every member qualifies. LinkedIn says it depends on several factors, including whether you've used a Premium trial before.
- Length: LinkedIn says trial length may vary by region or promotional terms, so check the offer screen.
- Card: you must enter a valid credit card to start the trial.
- Plan changes: you can't switch between Premium plans for free during the trial.
- Renewal: at the end of the trial it converts to a paid plan unless you cancel first.
When you'll be charged
LinkedIn's help centre says the card you used for a Premium free trial will be charged automatically one month from the date you signed up. You must cancel at least one day before that auto-renewal billing date. You can see the date on your LinkedIn Admin Center page.
The timing detail matters if you're outside the US. LinkedIn says billing, cancellation and renewal dates are based on the time the subscription was activated, in local US time zones for US-based English-speaking members, and in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) everywhere else. If you're in the UK, Australia or Canada, work your cancel date out in UTC and give yourself a full day's margin.
The reminder email, and when you won't get one
If you sign up for Premium on LinkedIn's desktop site, LinkedIn says it emails your primary address before the trial ends and before your card is charged. If you started the trial on a mobile device, you won't get that reminder from LinkedIn. Apple and Google may send their own renewal notices instead. If you're on a phone, set your own reminder.
How to get the most from a LinkedIn Learning trial
- Start the Premium trial on desktop so you get LinkedIn's reminder email.
- On day one, pick the one or two courses you want to finish and save them.
- Block time in your calendar to complete them, rather than browsing.
- When you finish a course, add the certificate to your LinkedIn profile.
- Cancel at least one day before the renewal date shown in your Admin Center.
If you're also weighing up Premium for its other features, I've covered the LinkedIn profile checklist worth working through while you have it, and the full steps for how to cancel LinkedIn Premium on desktop, the app, Apple and Google Play.
Is LinkedIn Learning worth paying for after the trial?
It depends on whether you'll use the rest of Premium too. Because LinkedIn Learning only comes bundled with Premium for individuals, you're paying for a package: courses plus whatever Premium plan you choose. Ask yourself three questions before the renewal date:
- Did I finish at least one course during the trial, or did I mostly browse?
- Will I use the other Premium features, such as the job search or business tools on my plan?
- Could my employer, university or library give me LinkedIn Learning access instead?
If the honest answer to the first question is no, cancel. You can always come back when you have a specific skill to learn, as long as LinkedIn still counts you as eligible. And remember the plan rule: LinkedIn says you can't switch between Premium plans for free during the trial, so choose the Premium plan that suits you before you start, not halfway through.
What happens if your card fails
If your trial converts and the payment doesn't go through, LinkedIn says to update outdated billing information within five days after your renewal date, or you'll be downgraded to a Basic free account. That's useful to know if you meant to cancel and didn't: you'll lose the paid features, not your profile or connections.
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My verdict
The LinkedIn Learning free trial is really a LinkedIn Premium free trial, and it's a smart way to finish a course or two at no cost if you're organised. Start it on desktop for the reminder, use it with a clear goal, and cancel at least a day before the renewal date, counting in UTC if you're outside the US. If your employer or school already offers LinkedIn Learning, use that first.
If you want the full set, start at the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free trial for LinkedIn Learning?
Not on its own. LinkedIn says it doesn't offer individual LinkedIn Learning subscriptions; individuals get it through LinkedIn Premium, which has a free trial for eligible members.
Do I need a credit card for the LinkedIn Learning free trial?
Yes. LinkedIn says you must enter a valid credit card to start a Premium free trial.
When will I be charged after the LinkedIn Learning trial?
LinkedIn says the card is charged one month from the date you signed up, and you must cancel at least one day before that renewal date to avoid the charge.
Can I buy a single LinkedIn Learning course?
No. LinkedIn says it doesn't offer one-off, a la carte purchases of individual courses.
Will LinkedIn remind me before my trial ends?
If you signed up on LinkedIn's desktop site, yes. If you signed up on a mobile device, LinkedIn won't send a reminder, though Apple or Google may.
