How to Lower Your LinkedIn Learning Costs
2026 Cost Reduction Guide
Current Pricing
LinkedIn Learning costs $39.99 per month as of February 2026.
LinkedIn Learning does not offer retention discounts. Downgrade from your account settings.
You can downgrade plans or cancel entirely through your account settings. No negotiation available.
Before you pay — do you already have LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is included free (or heavily discounted) with these plans. Check if you're double-paying:
LinkedIn Premium Career — includes Full LinkedIn Learning access
All LinkedIn Premium subscriptions ($39.99/mo) include complete LinkedIn Learning access. Don't pay for both — if you have Premium, you already have Learning.
Public Libraries (2,700+ locations) — includes Full LinkedIn Learning access
Free with a library card at 2,700+ public libraries across North America. 16,000+ courses in 7 languages. Check your local library website.
Microsoft 365 Education (Students) — includes 12 months free LinkedIn Premium Career (includes Learning)
Higher-education students with a valid .edu email get 12 months free LinkedIn Premium Career through Microsoft 365 Student editions.
Employer Benefits Programs — includes Full LinkedIn Learning access
Many mid-to-large companies include LinkedIn Learning as an employee benefit. Check with your HR department or internal learning portal before paying retail.
What Happens When You Cancel LinkedIn Learning
How to cancel
Profile → Settings → Manage → Cancel subscription
Steps (3 screens)
- 1Click your profile photo (upper right) on LinkedIn Learning homepage
- 2Click 'Settings'
- 3Under 'Account type: Learning', click 'Manage'
- 4You'll be redirected to LinkedIn My Premium page
- 5Click 'Manage Premium account' (right side)
- 6Click 'Cancel subscription'
- 7Confirm cancellation in the pop-up window
What they'll try to keep you
In-flow discount offer?
❌ No
Win-back email after?
❌ No
Access after cancel
Access continues until end of current billing period. Course progress and certificates are preserved.
Your data
All course completions, certificates, and learning history are preserved permanently on your LinkedIn profile.
IMPORTANT: Cancel at least one day before your next billing date to avoid charges. Before canceling, check three free alternatives: (1) your employer may include LinkedIn Learning free, (2) 2,700+ public libraries offer free access with a library card, (3) LinkedIn Premium ($39.99/mo) includes Learning — don't pay for both.
Most people paying $39.99/month for LinkedIn Learning are overpaying — because it's available free through three common channels. First, check your employer: many companies include it as a standard employee benefit. Second, 2,700+ public libraries across North America offer full access with just a library card (same 16,000+ courses). Third, students with .edu emails get 12 months free through Microsoft 365 Education. If none of these apply and you must pay, annual billing ($19.99/mo) cuts your cost in half. Also check: if you already have LinkedIn Premium for networking, Learning is included — don't pay for both.
Quick Wins
LinkedIn Learning Subscription
Professional online courses in business, tech, and creative skills.
LinkedIn Learning Price History
Tracking: LinkedIn Learning (monthly)
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 2019-01 | $29.99 |
| 2021-01 | $29.99 |
| 2023-01 | $39.99 |
| 2026-01 | $39.99 |
This service has increased its price significantly. Consider locking in an annual plan or negotiating a retention discount to hedge against future increases.
Price forecast
LinkedIn Learning pricing has been stable since the 2023 increase. Microsoft (LinkedIn's parent) is focused on AI integration rather than price hikes. The annual plan at $19.99/mo is the realistic price — almost no one should pay $39.99/mo.
Best time to subscribe
Check three free options first: (1) employer benefits, (2) public library access (2,700+ libraries), (3) student access via Microsoft 365 Education. If none apply, the annual plan ($19.99/mo) saves 50% vs monthly.
How to Pay Less for LinkedIn Learning
Save up to $39.99/month with these proven strategies
Hidden Discounts (4)
All LinkedIn Premium subscriptions ($39.99/mo) include full LinkedIn Learning access. If you already have LinkedIn Premium for networking, you already have Learning — don't pay for both.
LinkedIn Premium Career, Business, or Sales Navigator subscribers
Apply nowAnnual billing at $239.88/year ($19.99/mo) saves 50% compared to monthly billing at $39.99/mo ($479.88/yr).
All subscribers
Apply now2,700+ public libraries across North America offer full LinkedIn Learning access for free with a library card. 16,000+ courses in 7 languages — the exact same content as the paid subscription.
Library card holders at participating libraries
Apply nowHigher-education students with a valid .edu email can get 12 months of free LinkedIn Premium Career (which includes full LinkedIn Learning access) through Microsoft 365 Student editions.
Higher-education students with .edu email
Apply nowPlan Downgrade Opportunity
Before paying anything, check three free access paths: (1) your employer may include it free, (2) 2,700+ public libraries offer full access with a library card, (3) students get 12 months free via Microsoft 365 Education. If you must pay, annual billing ($19.99/mo) saves 50% vs monthly ($39.99/mo).
- 16,000+ courses in 7 languages
- LinkedIn profile certificates and badges
- Personalized recommendations
- Same 16,000+ course library
- 50% savings vs monthly ($239.88/yr vs $479.88/yr)
- LinkedIn profile certificates and badges
Free Alternatives (3)
Coursera (Free Audit Mode)
Audit most Coursera courses for free — you get full video lectures and readings, just no certificate. University-backed content from Stanford, Google, IBM, and more. Better academic credentials than LinkedIn Learning.
YouTube (Professional Development)
Free professional development content from industry experts. Channels like freeCodeCamp (8M+ subscribers), Google Career Certificates, and Microsoft Learn cover most LinkedIn Learning topics at zero cost.
Khan Academy
Completely free, nonprofit-backed educational platform covering computing, economics, math, and sciences. High-quality structured courses with exercises and progress tracking.
Best Strategy:
Most people paying for LinkedIn Learning are overpaying. Check three free paths first: (1) your employer may already provide access, (2) your public library likely offers it free with a library card (2,700+ libraries do), (3) students get it free via Microsoft 365 Education. If none apply and you must pay, annual billing ($19.99/mo) saves 50% vs monthly.
Do I actually need this learning subscription?
Use this framework to evaluate whether LinkedIn Learning is worth keeping.
Completing 1+ course or lesson per week
Keep it — active learners get strong value. Set a goal: finish your current course before the next billing cycle.
Haven't completed a lesson in 2+ weeks
Be honest: are you learning or just collecting courses? Pause if available, or cancel and resubscribe when you have a specific learning goal.
Only need one specific course or skill
Check if the course is available for free on YouTube, Coursera (audit mode), or your local library's LinkedIn Learning access. Buy individual courses on Udemy during sales ($10-15).
Your employer offers a learning stipend
Many employers provide access to LinkedIn Learning, Coursera for Business, or Pluralsight. Check with HR before paying personally.
LinkedIn Learning vs Alternatives — Feature Comparison
Online Learning Platforms
| Feature | linkedin_learning | coursera | udemy | skillshare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $39.99/mo ($19.99 annual) | $49-79/mo for Plus | $10-20 per course (lifetime) | $19/mo ($8.25 annual) |
| Course Library | 16,000+ courses | 7,000+ courses | 200,000+ courses | 30,000+ classes |
| Certificates | LinkedIn profile badges | University-backed credentials | Completion certificates | No certificates |
| Free Access Options | Library card, employer, student (.edu) | Audit most courses free | No subscription needed | 7-day free trial |
| Best Strength | Business & professional skills | Academic credentials & degrees | Widest variety, pay per course | Creative & design skills |
| Best For | Career-focused professionals | University-level credentials | Specific skill on a budget | Creative projects & hobbies |
Verdict: LinkedIn Learning at $39.99/mo is overpriced unless free through your employer or library. The annual plan ($19.99/mo) is more reasonable. For specific skills, Udemy's pay-per-course model ($10-20 during sales) is cheaper. For academic credentials, Coursera's free audit mode can't be beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LinkedIn Learning worth the subscription cost?
At $39.99/month, LinkedIn Learning is worth it if you're actively completing courses or using it for career development. If you complete even one course per month, the per-course cost is much lower than buying individual courses. If you're not actively learning, pause or cancel until you're ready.
How can I get LinkedIn Learning for free or cheaper?
Check if your employer offers LinkedIn Learning as a learning benefit, see if your local library provides free access, look for free trial periods (often 7-30 days), and check for student discounts. Many education platforms also offer financial aid or scholarships for paid content.
What free alternatives exist to LinkedIn Learning?
Free education alternatives include Khan Academy (comprehensive free courses), YouTube educational channels, MIT OpenCourseWare, Coursera audit mode (free without certificates), edX free courses, and freeCodeCamp for programming. Library cards also unlock premium platforms for free.
How do I cancel LinkedIn Learning?
Cancel through your account settings on the LinkedIn Learning website. Before canceling, download any certificates or course materials you've earned. Check if a pause option is available — many education platforms let you freeze your subscription and resume later without losing progress.
Related Guides
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About LinkedIn Learning: Professional online courses in business, tech, and creative skills.