Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? A Complete Guide to Decide

For many professionals, LinkedIn has become a go-to platform for networking, job searching, and expanding visibility. But when it comes to LinkedIn Premium, the question comes up: are the extra features really worth the cost? After all, the basic version already offers plenty of opportunities to connect and explore.

With benefits like InMail messaging, advanced search filters, and access to LinkedIn Learning, Premium promises to give you an edge, whether you're job hunting, building your business, or expanding your professional network.

The real question is: do these perks align with your goals and justify the investment? Let’s break it down so you can decide if LinkedIn Premium is the right move for you.

What Is LinkedIn Premium?

LinkedIn Premium is a paid subscription that unlocks additional features not available in the free version of LinkedIn. It’s designed to help professionals, job seekers, and businesses get more out of the platform through tools that boost visibility, improve networking, and offer deeper insights.

There are different Premium plans tailored to specific needs:

• Premium Career – Ideal for job seekers looking to connect with recruiters and stand out in applications

• Premium Business – Great for entrepreneurs and professionals building brand visibility and expanding their network

• Sales Navigator – LinkedIn Sales Navigator is designed for sales professionals to find leads, build relationships, and track prospects

• Recruiter Lite – Made for hiring managers and recruiters to find and reach top candidates more efficiently

Common features across plans include InMail messaging, profile views insights, access to LinkedIn Learning, and detailed applicant comparisons.

What you get with LinkedIn Premium

LinkedIn Premium offers tools designed to enhance your professional growth, networking, and job search efforts. From messaging capabilities to advanced insights, it provides substantial value to users seeking career advancement.

InMail Messaging

With InMail, you can send direct messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if they're not part of your network. Premium Career users receive 5 credits per month, while Premium Business offers 15.

These credits let you reach out to recruiters, decision-makers, or potential collaborators. InMail messages are 46 times more effective than regular emails, making them ideal for personalized communication that captures attention.

Profile View Insights

Gain a deeper understanding of your profile viewers with the "Who's Viewed Your Profile" feature. Standard accounts only reveal a limited snapshot, but Premium unlocks the ability to see every profile that has visited you in the last 90 days.

These insights enable you to identify recruiters or professionals interested in your expertise, helping you strategize your outreach efforts effectively.

Access to Learning Resources

LinkedIn Learning, included with Premium, grants access to thousands of courses across various topics. Whether you're sharpening leadership skills or learning technical tools, the platform offers content to suit your needs. Take advantage of these resources to stay competitive, expand your expertise, and stand out in your field.

Advanced Search Options

Premium's advanced filters refine your search for professionals and companies. Narrow down results by experience level, job function, seniority, company size, or specific skills. Unlimited searches also ensure you can explore opportunities without restrictions, facilitating more targeted networking and hiring efforts.

Networking and Outreach Tools

Tools like Open Profile and extended profile views simplify expanding your network. Open Profile allows anyone to message you, fostering wider connections. Extended views ensure you access critical information about professionals outside your immediate network. These features amplify your ability to connect with the right people and grow your professional circle effectively.

Costs And Pricing Options

LinkedIn Premium offers several plans tailored to distinct professional needs. Prices vary based on the plan and billing cycle chosen, with annual subscriptions providing savings of up to 33%.

• Premium Career costs $29.99/month or $239.88 annually (approx. $19.99/month). It suits job seekers aiming for better visibility and access to recruiter insights.

• Premium Business is priced at $59.99/month or $575/year. Ideal for professionals focusing on networking and business growth.

• Sales Navigator Core is available for $99.99/month, offering advanced prospecting tools for sales professionals.

• Sales Navigator Advanced costs $149.99/month, granting enhanced sales features for higher-level needs.

• Recruiter Lite is $139.99/month or $1,399.88/year, providing recruiters with candidate search filters, increased InMail credits, and other tools.

Additional plans, like Recruiter Corporate and LinkedIn Learning, cater to corporate and educational goals at higher price points. Discounts on annual subscriptions make long-term investments more affordable. The free 30-day trial enables you to explore Premium features before committing. Note that pricing varies slightly based on location or currency.

Pros And Cons Of LinkedIn Premium

Pros of LinkedIn Premium

• InMail Messaging Capabilities

Access tools that help you connect beyond your immediate network. Monthly InMail credits range from 5 under the Career plan to 150 with Recruiter plans, enabling outreach to recruiters, clients, or business partners.

• Profile Insights

View who's interacted with your profile over the past 90 days. Use this data to strategize outreach, although visibility excludes users browsing in private mode.

• Unlimited Search Access

Explore profiles, jobs, and companies without restrictions, unlike the free account, which maintains a limit on search results.

• Exclusive LinkedIn Learning Courses

Expand your expertise using thousands of professional courses covering topics from technical skills to career development.

• Enhanced Networking Tools

Use advanced search filters, insights about job competition, and personalized recommendations to improve visibility and connection quality.

• Profile Optimization and Visibility

Gain more profile views with features like AI tips for improvements, pinning posts, and a rotating banner.

Cons of LinkedIn Premium

• Subscription Cost

Monthly plans begin at $29.99 for Career, increasing to $139.99 for Recruiter Lite, which could strain budgets if usage doesn't match subscription value.

• Feature Relevance

Some tools, such as LinkedIn Learning or extensive analytics, may seem redundant for casual users or inactive job seekers.

• Limited Visibility Insights

The "Who's Viewed Your Profile" feature provides limited data if users engage in private browsing.

Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It For Different Users?

LinkedIn Premium offers a variety of plans tailored to specific professional goals. The value depends on factors like your career stage and platform usage.

Job Seekers

Premium Career provides tools to enhance your job search efforts. Features like "Featured Applicant" help highlight your applications, giving you an edge over others. Competition Insights and Salary Insights provide critical data for comparing your skills and filtering opportunities by compensation.

You can also message recruiters directly using five monthly InMail credits. Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning adds value by offering courses in areas such as leadership and technology, helping you strengthen skills relevant to your goals.

Professionals And Businesses

Premium Business suits users focusing on networking and brand growth. You gain unlimited searches, 15 monthly InMail credits for broader outreach, and deeper profile insights.

Features like enhanced visibility and open profile options help foster targeted connections. This plan also provides extensive LinkedIn Learning access, essential for keeping your professional knowledge up-to-date, and comprehensive company insights, useful for strategic decision-making in partnerships or lead generation.

Recruiters

Recruiter Lite is specifically designed for hiring managers and HR professionals. It simplifies talent acquisition with advanced filters for sourcing candidates efficiently. You also benefit from tools to organize pipelines and engage potential hires.

Unlimited platform searches and access to robust messaging tools enable you to connect with prospects directly. By leveraging profile trends and activity insights, you can streamline the recruitment process while focusing on the best-fit candidates for your roles.

How To Assess If LinkedIn Premium Is Right For You

Before upgrading, it’s important to consider whether LinkedIn Premium matches your professional goals and how you actually use the platform. Here are a few key factors to help you decide if the added features are worth the investment:

1. Clarify Your Professional Goals
   Think about what you're aiming to achieve on LinkedIn. If you're focused on landing a job, growing your network, or reaching more leads, Premium features like advanced search and InMail can offer targeted support to help you get there faster.

2. Review Your Job Search Activity
   Active job seekers can benefit from tools like "Featured Applicant" status, which increases your visibility in search results, and InMail, which allows you to message recruiters directly, even if you're not connected.

3. Evaluate Your Networking Needs
   If you're looking to expand beyond your current circle, Premium offers unlimited profile searches and access to more detailed user insights. This helps identify strategic connections and opens the door to more meaningful conversations.

4. Consider Skill Development Goals
   Premium includes full access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers thousands of online courses. It’s a valuable resource if you're trying to upskill, explore a new field, or stay current in your industry.

5. Weigh Cost Against Usage
   Plans range from around $29.99 to $149.99 per month depending on features. If you only use LinkedIn occasionally, the free version may be enough. But if you use it daily for outreach, hiring, or career development, Premium can bring a strong return on investment.

6. Look at Profile Performance Insights
   Premium gives you access to insights like who’s viewed your profile and how you compare to others. This is helpful for evaluating how your presence performs and making adjustments that increase visibility and engagement.

Choosing LinkedIn Premium comes down to whether its tools support your specific goals and activity level. If you’re serious about using LinkedIn to grow your career or business, the added features could offer the boost you need.

Conclusion

Deciding if LinkedIn Premium is worth it depends on your goals and how you use the platform. Features like InMail, advanced search tools, and LinkedIn Learning can add real value if they support your career or business objectives. Still, it's important to consider whether those tools directly contribute to the results you're aiming for.

Trying the free trial is a smart way to test the features and see how well they fit into your workflow. And if you're focused on growing your presence through content, give Typoro a try and make it easier to plan, write, and publish posts that connect with your audience on LinkedIn.