LinkedIn may be a bit awkward at times, but it really can be a helpful tool for professionals in 2024. Whether you’re looking for a new job or just love a good networking opportunity, the business and employment-focused social media platform can help, even if you have to endure some cringeworthy stories to do so.
As is now the case with the majority of social media platforms in the modern era, LinkedIn also offers a paid-for option, appropriately dubbed LinkedIn Premium. This service offers more features, better visibility, and generative AI functionality to help with your networking and job searching adventures.
If you want access to these advanced features but don’t have the funds to do so, you’re in luck. There are a few ways in which you can get LinkedIn Premium for free, so you can save your money
What Is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn offers paid-for plans which add premium features for users that want to expand their LinkedIn experience beyond the limited free package.
Depending on your particular LinkedIn needs, you’ll get access to a wide range of additional features for job-searching, networking, recruiting, and sales, in exchange for a monthly fee.
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What can LinkedIn Premium do?
LinkedIn Premium comes in various forms. There’s the Career plan to improve your chances of finding a job, and the Business plan to grow your business online. Both options serves a different purpose, but there are some notable features in each that can help your LinkedIn profile stand out. Here are some of the key features from the Career and Business plans from LinkedIn Premium:
LinkedIn Career features
- Advanced search filters
- Mark jobs as “top choice”
- AI profile writing assistant
- AI-powered advice on job posts
- AI message and post drafts
- Interview prep tools
- See who’s viewed your profile
- InMail messaging service
LinkedIn Business features
- Featured profile content
- Custom CTA button on profile
- In-depth company insights
- Unlimited search
- AI profile writing assistant
- AI-powered coaching with LinkedIn Learning
- See who’s viewed your profile
- InMail messaging service
How to Get LinkedIn Premium for Free
Now that you know what LinkedIn Premium has to offer, it’s time to explore the possibility of getting access to it completely free of charge. Here are some of the best ways to get LinkedIn Premium for free.
Use the free trial
The easiest and most inclusive way to get access to LinkedIn Premium for free is to use the free trial. The service offers a 30-day free trial that will allow you to use all the features in either the Career or Business plan, depending on which one you choose.
There are no limitations on who can use the free trial, and you’ll get full access to the paid features during this time. LinkedIn will even give you a heads up the week before it ends, so you can cancel before you get charged.
Work for LinkedIn
If you want access to LinkedIn Premium and don’t want to pay the monthly subscription fee, there is one option you may not have considered: working for LinkedIn! That’s right, the company provides access to LinkedIn Premium for all its employees at no additional charge for six months.
Granted, if you already work for LinkedIn, you probably aren’t hard up for employment right now. Still, with all the additional features, networking with LinkedIn Premium will be even better if you don’t have to pay for it.
LinkedIn employees are also gifted free memberships that they can share with friends and family. Sometimes you may find employees willing to give these memberships away to those in need, so try searching LinkedIn for #linkedinpremium for posts willing to share this perk.
Have veteran status
If you have served in the military, you’re in luck. LinkedIn Premium is available for all military members and veterans. You’ll, of course, have to verify your military status on the LinkedIn website, but that’s just a simply form that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
It’s worth nothing, however, that this only gives you access to LinkedIn Premium for one year. After that, you’ll have to pay the standard rate for the service.
Pursue journalism
There are a lot of jobs available on LinkedIn, but if you’re already set up with a career in journalism, you could get access to the paid-for plans. LinkedIn Premium is available for journalists through the LinkedIn for Journalists Premium Program.
You will, of course, have to apply to see if you’re eligible, and the process can take as long as eight weeks. Still, once approved, you’ll be able to access your LinkedIn Premium Business account at no charge for a full year.
Subscribe to Microsoft Visual Studio
There’s nothing better than an unexpected perk, and Microsoft Visual Studio users are in for one now. Depending on what plan you have, you’ll get between three and six months of free access to LinkedIn Premium.
Admittedly, this route probably isn’t a viable option unless you already use Microsoft Visual Studio, as the service is quite expensive. Suffice to say, if you want LinkedIn Premium that bad and you don’t need Visual Studio, just pay the monthly fee.
Use a LinkedIn promotional/referral code
While not a regular occurrence, sometimes LinkedIn will offer promotional codes for users to try out the features of its premium offerings.
These are only available to free subscribers, and can’t be used to ‘stack’ more months on a paid subscription. To take advantage of them, you’ll need to cancel your existing subscription, wait for it to end, and then add the promotional code to receive your free period (usually two months).
Existing LinkedIn Premium subscribers may also be given referral codes to share with their contacts, giving users two months free access. If you aren’t lucky enough to know anyone giving away referral codes, sites like reddit are good places to find people willing to share their codes.
How Much Does LinkedIn Premium Cost?
There are two main LinkedIn Premium plans that people are interested in: Career and Business. The Career plan costs $39.99 per month, or $239.88 per year. This plan is designed for individuals, helping them to find a job and improve their professional standing.
The Business plan costs $69.99 per month, or $539.88 per year. This plan is designed for businesses to better establish their online presence, allowing them to create a digital hub for their professional information.
Check out our LinkedIn Premium pricing guide for more information
