LinkedIn Premium is a paid upgrade on LinkedIn that gives extra tools beyond the free account. These tools aim to help job seekers, business people, sales pros, and small companies get more value from LinkedIn — for example, better job visibility, deeper company insights, direct messages to people you don’t yet know, and access to online learning. The official LinkedIn Premium pages describe different plans made for career growth and business use. (LinkedIn Premium)
Quick summary (one-paragraph)
If you want faster job opportunities, clearer insight into who views your profile, direct contact with people outside your network, or extra business analytics, LinkedIn Premium can help. It’s not essential for everyone: many people do well with the free account. But for focused job hunting, sales outreach, or growing a small business presence, Premium can speed things up — sometimes enough to pay for itself. (LinkedIn Premium)
What do you get with LinkedIn Premium? (main features)
Here are the most useful features people talk about:
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Who viewed your profile — Premium shows a fuller list of people who visited your profile and gives more detail on trends. This helps you spot potential employers or leads. (LinkedIn Premium)
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InMail credits — You get a monthly allowance of InMail messages. InMail lets you message LinkedIn members you aren’t connected to. This is handy for networking and outreach when you can’t get an introduction. (LinkedIn Premium)
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Advanced search and filters — Premium Business and Sales plans unlock deeper search filters so you can find the exact people or companies you want to reach. This saves time for recruiters and sales professionals. (LinkedIn Premium)
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LinkedIn Learning — Access to expert video courses on skills like interview prep, Excel, leadership, and marketing. Good for learning new skills quickly. (LinkedIn Premium)
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Job insights & applicant comparisons — When applying for jobs, Premium can show how you compare to other applicants and which skills to highlight. This is useful when job listings are competitive. (LinkedIn Premium)
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Company Page perks — For businesses, Premium Company Page upgrades give extra visibility and analytics to help attract customers and talent. (LinkedIn)
Which Premium plan is right for you?
LinkedIn offers several plans aimed at different needs:
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Premium Career — Best for job seekers who want better visibility, applicant insights, and LinkedIn Learning. (LinkedIn Premium)
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Premium Business — Good for professionals who want business insights, expanded search, and more profile views. (LinkedIn Premium)
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Sales Navigator & Recruiter tools — These are advanced paid tools focused on sales prospecting and recruiting. They are more expensive but include powerful lead and talent features. (LinkedIn)
Pricing — what you can expect to pay
Prices change by country and promotions, so check your local LinkedIn Premium pages before subscribing. As a ballpark (global guidance):
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Premium Career is typically in the lower monthly tier, while Premium Business and Sales Navigator sit at higher monthly rates. Many guides in 2025 list Career around $29.99/month and Business or Sales plans significantly higher — but exact local pricing (for example in India) is different and often shown in rupees on LinkedIn’s site. Always compare monthly vs annual billing for discounts. (LinkedIn)
LinkedIn usually offers a free trial so you can test features before paying. Trial length and eligibility vary by region and promotion; at the end of the trial, the subscription auto-renews unless you cancel. Read the trial terms carefully. (LinkedIn)
Real-world value — when Premium helps most
Here are common situations where Premium tends to pay off:
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You’re actively job hunting. Premium Career’s applicant insights and messaging can make you stand out and reach recruiters faster. (LinkedIn Premium)
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You do outbound B2B sales. Advanced search and InMail can speed up prospecting and make cold outreach easier (when used well). For many salespeople, the time saved and leads gained can justify the subscription. (LinkedIn Premium)
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You recruit talent or hire often. Recruiter tools and Sales Navigator can shorten the time to hire by finding the right candidates faster. (LinkedIn)
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You’re building a small business presence. Premium Company Page features and analytics help attract clients and show results from posts and campaigns. (LinkedIn)
If your use is casual — checking news, keeping an occasional network touchpoint, or posting once in a while — the free plan is usually enough.
Downsides and things to watch out for
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It’s not magic. Premium adds tools, but you still need a good profile and smart outreach. Poor messages and a weak profile won’t get results just because you have InMail.
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Cost vs ROI. If you rarely use the premium features, the subscription can become a wasted monthly cost. Track whether messages or job leads come from Premium features during the trial. (SalesRobot)
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Regional pricing and promotions. Pricing and trials differ by country. Promotional bundles (e.g., limited offers like VPN trials or extra months) can change the value proposition. For example, LinkedIn has offered ExpressVPN perks to Premium subscribers during certain promotions. Check LinkedIn’s perks page for current deals. (TechRadar)
Practical steps: how to test Premium without risk
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Start with the free trial. Use it actively for 2–3 weeks: message recruiters, try InMail, take a course on LinkedIn Learning, and test advanced search. (LinkedIn)
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Measure concrete outcomes. Count interviews, replies, or qualified leads that came from Premium tools. If results are measurable and valuable, the cost is easier to justify.
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Cancel before auto-renew if it doesn’t help. Many people forget to cancel free trials and get charged. Set a calendar reminder a few days before the trial ends. (LinkedIn)
Final verdict — should you buy LinkedIn Premium?
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Yes, consider it if you are on an active job hunt, doing targeted sales outreach, recruiting often, or managing a company page and you will use the premium features regularly. Premium can speed up outcomes and provide clarity (who saw your profile, how you compare to applicants, etc.). (LinkedIn Premium)
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No, skip it if you use LinkedIn casually or are not willing to do the outreach and follow-up that makes Premium work. The free plan remains powerful for networking, posting content, and basic job searches.
Want a short checklist?
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Are you actively looking for a job or hiring? → Try Premium Career.
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Do you need leads or outreach tools for sales? → Try Business or Sales Navigator.
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Unsure? → Use the free trial, measure results, then decide.