LinkedIn offers free trials of Sales Navigator Core and Advanced, but only to members who aren't on any paid LinkedIn subscription, including Premium, and who haven't used a LinkedIn free trial in the past 365 days. You need a card to start, and LinkedIn emails a reminder 7 days before the trial expires so you can cancel and avoid being charged.
Sales Navigator is one of the most useful tools on LinkedIn for anyone who sells B2B, and one of the pricier ones, so the trial is your chance to test it on real prospects. The eligibility rule is the part that trips people up, especially if you've tried Premium recently.
Sales Navigator free trial: the rules
| Question | LinkedIn's answer |
|---|---|
| Which plans have a trial? | Core and Advanced |
| Advanced Plus? | No self-serve trial; pricing is customised based on team size, CRM integration and onboarding needs |
| Who qualifies? | Members not on any paid LinkedIn subscription who haven't used a LinkedIn free trial in the past 365 days |
| Card needed? | Yes; LinkedIn asks for payment information at sign-up |
| Reminder | An email 7 days before the free trial expires |
| Varies by country? | LinkedIn says trial availability and features may vary by plan and region |
The 365-day rule, explained
The rule covers any LinkedIn free trial, not just Sales Navigator. So if you took a Premium Career or Premium Business trial in the last year, you won't qualify for a Sales Navigator trial yet, even though it's a different product. And if you're currently paying for Premium, you'll need to stop that subscription first. If the Try for free button doesn't appear for you, this is usually why.
Core or Advanced: which trial to start
LinkedIn describes the plans like this:
- Core is best for individual sellers who want to find high-quality leads and build client relationships.
- Advanced is best for sales teams that need AI-powered lead and account research, actionable insights and collaboration tools, with team seat management and centralised billing.
- Advanced Plus is for sales teams using a supported CRM who need deeper sales-tool and CRM integrations.
If you're a consultant, coach or founder doing your own selling, start with Core. You can always move up, and the 365-day rule means you only get one shot at a trial for a while.
What Sales Navigator costs after the trial
These are the starting prices per license on LinkedIn's compare-plans page as of October 2026. LinkedIn says to click Try or Start your free trial to see actual prices in your currency.
| Plan | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core, monthly | US$119.99/month | £94.99/month | A$154.99/month | C$144.99/month |
| Core, annual | US$1,079.88/year | £959.88/year | A$1,499.88/year | C$1,199.88/year |
| Advanced, monthly | US$159.99/month | £130.00/month | A$189.99/month | C$179.99/month |
| Advanced, annual | US$1,799.88/year | £1,499.88/year | A$2,159.88/year | C$2,039.88/year |
Notice that the annual saving is much bigger on Core than on Advanced. If you decide to keep Core after the trial, the annual plan is worth a serious look.
How to start and use the trial well
- Check you're not on a paid LinkedIn plan and haven't had a LinkedIn trial in the past 365 days.
- Go to LinkedIn's Sales Navigator page and choose Try Core for free or Try Advanced for free.
- Add your card. LinkedIn says it asks for payment details so the subscription runs smoothly if you keep it.
- On day one, build a lead list with the advanced search filters for your ideal client and save it.
- Spend the trial reaching out to real prospects from that list, so you're judging results, not features.
- When the reminder lands 7 days before the end, decide whether to keep it.
A simple trial plan for consultants and small teams
The biggest waste of a Sales Navigator trial is spending it learning the menus. Set yourself one measurable goal before you start, such as booking five discovery calls from Sales Navigator leads, and work backwards from it:
- Week one: define your ideal client by industry, company size, job title and location, then save that search so new matches come to you.
- Week two: save the best 50 leads and accounts, and read their recent activity before contacting anyone.
- Week three: send personal messages to your saved leads and track replies in a simple spreadsheet.
- Final days: compare the calls booked against the monthly price for your currency, and decide.
If you're on a team, run the trial on one seat first. You can always add seats when you're ready, and one person's results are enough to judge whether the rest of the team should have it.
How cancelling works
LinkedIn says you can cancel for any reason before your Sales Navigator trial ends to avoid being charged. Once you're on a paid plan, cancellation takes effect at the end of the current period: the end of the paid year on annual plans, or the end of the current month on monthly plans. So there's no instant refund for stopping mid-month, but you keep access until the period ends.
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My verdict
The Sales Navigator free trial is worth taking if you sell to businesses and have a clear ideal client. Check the 365-day rule before you plan around it, start with Core unless you manage a team, and use the trial on real outreach. When LinkedIn's reminder email arrives 7 days before the end, you'll have enough evidence to decide.
Related guides live in the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free trial for LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
Yes. LinkedIn offers free trials of Sales Navigator Core and Advanced. Advanced Plus has custom pricing and no self-serve trial.
Why can't I get a Sales Navigator free trial?
LinkedIn says trials are only for members who aren't on any paid LinkedIn subscription, including Premium, and who haven't used a LinkedIn free trial in the past 365 days.
Do I need a credit card for the Sales Navigator trial?
Yes. LinkedIn asks for payment information at sign-up, and you can cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged.
Does LinkedIn remind me before my Sales Navigator trial ends?
Yes. LinkedIn says it sends an email reminder seven days before your free trial expires.
How much is Sales Navigator after the free trial?
As of October 2026, LinkedIn lists Core from US$119.99 a month or US$1,079.88 a year per license, and Advanced from US$159.99 a month or US$1,799.88 a year.
