Cancel LinkedIn Learning: Full Guide to Saving $240/Year
Step-by-step guide to canceling LinkedIn Learning and finding free alternatives. Check if your employer or library offers free access first.
LinkedIn Learning costs $29.99-39.99/month or $239.88-479.88/year, but you may get it free through your employer or public library. If you do pay, cancellation is straightforward through your account settings, and free alternatives like Coursera, Khan Academy, and YouTube tutorials offer comparable content for zero cost.
Quick Wins: LinkedIn Learning Savings Strategies
| Action | Estimated Savings | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check if employer offers free access | $239-480/year | 5 minutes | Easy |
| Check if public library provides free access | $239-480/year | 10 minutes | Easy |
| Cancel and switch to free Coursera | $239-480/year | 15 minutes | Easy |
| Cancel and use YouTube + freeCodeCamp | $239-480/year | 15 minutes | Easy |
| Download certificates before canceling | $0 | 20 minutes | Medium |
| Downgrade from annual to monthly, then cancel | $0-100 | 10 minutes | Easy |
Current LinkedIn Learning Pricing (March 2026)
LinkedIn Learning pricing varies depending on your location and subscription type. Most users see one of these options:
| Subscription Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Savings vs. Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription (US) | $39.99 | $479.88 | None |
| Annual subscription (US) | N/A | $239.88 | $240/year (50% off) |
| Through LinkedIn Premium | Included | ~$240 | Bundled |
| Student/Educator pricing | $14.99-24.99 | $180-300 | 40-50% off |
| LinkedIn Premium bundle | $39.99 | $479.88 | Includes Premium features |
Important Context: LinkedIn Learning is often bundled with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions. Many LinkedIn Premium members don't realize Learning is included in their tier. If you have LinkedIn Premium Career ($239.88/year) or LinkedIn Premium Business ($479.88/year), you already have LinkedIn Learning access included.
Before You Cancel: Free Access Might Be Available
Before paying to cancel and finding alternatives, check if you already have free access:
Employer Access (Most Common)
Many companies provide LinkedIn Learning as part of their professional development or L&D benefits. This is becoming increasingly standard:
- Tech companies (Microsoft subsidiaries, Google, Amazon): Almost always included
- Large enterprises (Fortune 500): Approximately 60% offer LinkedIn Learning
- Mid-size companies: About 30-40% offer it
- Small businesses: Less common (10-20%)
How to check:
- Log into your company's HR portal or learning management system (LMS)
- Search for "LinkedIn Learning" or "professional development"
- Look for a link or SSO (single sign-on) option
- Ask your HR or L&D manager directly
If available, your employer likely pays $15-30 per employee annually, not per course or hour viewed.
Public Library Access (Completely Free)
Over 2,700 public libraries across North America (and many internationally) offer free LinkedIn Learning access to cardholders. This is legitimate, free, and often unknown to the general public.
How to access:
- Get a library card from your local public library (usually free)
- Visit your library's website and search for "LinkedIn Learning"
- Find the Learning login page they provide
- Log in with your library card number and PIN
- You have full access to LinkedIn Learning at no cost
Libraries offering LinkedIn Learning:
- Los Angeles Public Library
- Cleveland Public Library
- Washington State Library
- Lewisville Public Library
- And thousands of others
Check your local library's website for availability. Not all libraries participate, but most major metro areas do.
Retention Behavior: Does LinkedIn Offer Discounts to Stay?
Classification: LinkedIn Learning is a "Pause Deflector with Limited Win-Back"—they won't pause your subscription, and retention offers are minimal.
| Retention Tactic | Does LinkedIn Use This? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Discount on cancellation | RARELY | Occasionally 10-20% off, but not standard |
| Email win-back offers | YES | After cancellation, expect promotional emails offering discounts |
| Pause subscription option | NO | No pause option. You must cancel or stay subscribed. |
| Free month extensions | NO | Not offered |
| Loyalty bonuses | NO | No points, rewards, or loyalty program |
| "We'll miss you" discounts | NO | LinkedIn is less aggressive about retention than other services |
| Conditional discounts | RARE | Very occasionally through support if you ask, but not standard |
Why LinkedIn doesn't offer much: LinkedIn Learning is a secondary product for LinkedIn. Their main revenue comes from job postings, recruiter subscriptions, and LinkedIn Premium. Learning is an add-on to keep members engaged, not a profit center.
LinkedIn Premium Confusion: Check Your Existing Subscriptions
Many people unknowingly pay for LinkedIn Learning when they only wanted LinkedIn Premium. Here's what you need to know:
LinkedIn Premium Tiers & What's Included
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Includes Learning? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Premium Career | $39.99 | $239.88 | YES (included) |
| LinkedIn Premium Professional | $59.99 | $479.88 | YES (included) |
| LinkedIn Premium Business | $79.99 | $959.88 | YES (included) |
| LinkedIn Learning Only | $29.99-39.99 | $239.88-479.88 | YES (just Learning) |
| LinkedIn Sales Navigator | $75.00 | $900.00 | NO |
If you pay for LinkedIn Premium, you're already paying for LinkedIn Learning. You don't need a separate Learning subscription.
Check Your Current Subscription
- Go to linkedin.com and log in
- Click your profile picture (top-right)
- Select "Premium"
- Check what tier you're on
- If you see "Learning included," you're already paying for it as part of Premium
Your options:
- Keep the LinkedIn Premium subscription (Learning is included)
- Downgrade to free LinkedIn (lose Learning access)
- Cancel LinkedIn Premium entirely
- Check if your employer provides it for free
How to Cancel LinkedIn Learning Subscription
LinkedIn makes cancellation relatively straightforward, though they add friction with confirmation screens. Here's the exact process:
Step 1: Navigate to Subscription Settings
- Go to linkedin.com and log in
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner
- Select "Premium" (or look for "Settings & Privacy")
- Under Premium Subscriptions, find "Manage your subscriptions"
- Look for "LinkedIn Learning" in your active subscriptions
Alternatively, go directly to: linkedin.com/billing/subscriptions
Step 2: Initiate Cancellation
- Find "LinkedIn Learning" in your subscriptions list
- Click the three dots (⋯) next to it, or look for a "Manage" button
- Select "Cancel subscription" or "Turn off auto-renewal"
- LinkedIn will ask why you're canceling (optional to answer)
- LinkedIn may show you a discounted rate to stay—consider it or decline
Step 3: Confirm Cancellation
- You'll see confirmation screens asking you to reconsider
- Keep clicking "Cancel" or "Confirm cancellation"
- You may see one last retention offer (usually 10-20% off)
- Click through all confirmations until you see: "Your subscription has been canceled"
- Screenshot this confirmation page
Step 4: Verify Cancellation
- Wait 24 hours
- Go back to your billing page
- Confirm "LinkedIn Learning" is no longer in your active subscriptions
- Check your email for a cancellation confirmation
- Mark your calendar for your billing date to ensure you're not charged again
Important: If you subscribed through an app store (iOS/Android) rather than directly through LinkedIn, you may need to cancel through that platform instead:
- iOS: Settings → Subscriptions → Find LinkedIn Learning → Cancel
- Android: Google Play → Account → Subscriptions → Find LinkedIn Learning → Cancel
When LinkedIn Learning IS Actually Worth Keeping
Honestly, most people can cancel and use free alternatives. But LinkedIn Learning is worth keeping if:
- Your employer pays for it (it's free to you)
- You have library access and want the convenience of not logging out/in
- You're a professional needing current industry-specific certifications in a rapidly changing field (some tech roles, project management)
- You're actively taking 3+ courses/month and structured learning helps you complete them
- Your industry specifically values LinkedIn Learning certificates (rare, but it happens)
- You've already completed 5+ courses and are on pace to complete 10+ this year (justifies the cost)
For most people: No, it's not worth the $240-480/year.
Total Savings Breakdown: Canceling LinkedIn Learning
| Scenario | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | 5-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep monthly subscription | $39.99 | $479.88 | $2,399.40 |
| Switch to annual plan | N/A | $239.88 | $1,199.40 |
| Cancel + use free Coursera | $0 | $0 | $2,399.40 |
| Cancel + use library access | $0 | $0 | $2,399.40 |
| Cancel + YouTube + Khan Academy | $0 | $0 | $2,399.40 |
| Employer provides (free) | $0 | $0 | $2,399.40 |
If you have 20 employees and your company provides LinkedIn Learning: Cost is typically $15-30/employee/year ($300-600), or free if bundled with another Microsoft service.
Bottom Line: 5 Action Steps
- First priority: Check if your employer provides LinkedIn Learning for free. Ask your HR or L&D department. If yes, request access and skip paying individually.
- Second priority: Check if your public library offers free LinkedIn Learning. Search your library's website for "LinkedIn Learning" or call and ask. If yes, get a library card and access for free.
- If neither option works: Evaluate the free alternatives. YouTube for specific skills, Coursera for structured learning, Khan Academy for business fundamentals. Most people need only these.
- Ready to cancel? Go to your LinkedIn billing page, navigate to your Learning subscription, and click cancel. Expect 2-3 confirmation screens and a retention offer. Click through them all.
- Before you lose access: Download any certificates you earned. They won't disappear from your LinkedIn profile, but you won't be able to access the course content after cancellation.
FAQs: LinkedIn Learning Subscription Questions
Q: Can I cancel LinkedIn Learning without canceling LinkedIn Premium?
A: If you have LinkedIn Premium, Learning is included—you can't cancel Learning separately. If you want to cancel Learning, you'd need to downgrade from Premium entirely. If you have a standalone Learning subscription (not Premium), you can cancel it independently.
Q: Does LinkedIn Learning offer a free trial?
A: Yes, LinkedIn Learning typically offers a 1-month free trial with full course access. You can download certificates during the trial. Cancel before day 1 of billing to avoid charges.
Q: Can I get LinkedIn Learning free through my library?
A: Yes, over 2,700 public libraries offer free LinkedIn Learning access to cardholders in North America and internationally. Contact your local library to check availability. If available, log in with your library card number and PIN.
Q: What happens to my certificates after I cancel?
A: Downloaded certificates remain in your possession permanently. LinkedIn Learning certificates on your profile stay there after cancellation, but you lose access to the course content itself. Download all certificates before your access ends.
Q: Is LinkedIn Learning worth the cost in 2026?
A: For most people, no. Free alternatives like Coursera (audit), YouTube, and freeCodeCamp provide comparable content. LinkedIn Learning is worth paying for only if your employer provides it free, your library offers it free, or you're taking 3+ courses/month consistently.
Q: Can I pause my LinkedIn Learning subscription instead of canceling?
A: No, LinkedIn doesn't offer pause options. You can only cancel or stay subscribed. If you might want to return later, note that cancellation discounts (sent via email) last 30-60 days before premium pricing resumes.