Is Linkedin Premium Worth It? 8 Reasons Why You Should Subscribe

LinkedIn Premium enhances the free LinkedIn experience and offers extra benefits for professionals and businesses seeking to expand their network, discover new opportunities, and gain insights into their industry. But is it worth the price of its subscription?

What Is LinkedIn Premium?

LinkedIn Premium is a paid subscription service with advanced features unavailable in the free version. These features include InMail messaging tokens to reach out to people not in your network, detailed profile views, company insights, access to LinkedIn Learning, personalized AI suggestions, private browsing, and more. Premium is offered in different tiers such as Premium Career, Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite, each tailored to different professional needs.

The cost of a LinkedIn Premium annual subscription depends on the account tier you choose. The lowest-priced tier is the LinkedIn Premium Career subscription, which costs $29.99 per month or $239 annually. LinkedIn Premium Career suits most career seekers looking to get hired and professionally network in their industry.

Why You Should Subscribe to LinkedIn Premium

The decision to subscribe to LinkedIn Premium depends on your professional goals. Here are key reasons to consider it.

InMail

LinkedIn's messaging feature is invaluable for networking. The monthly allotment of credits helps connect with potential employers, mentors, colleagues, etc., even if you aren't directly connected. 

Job Search

Premium Career (the first paid tier) offers better profile visibility. See who’s viewed your profile and connect with them. Features like comparing yourself to other applicants can give you a competitive edge. The Top Applicant Jobs feature automatically shows you job postings where you’ll be a top applicant. 

Resumes and Interviews

A feature like Resume Insights can assist in a successful job hunt by customizing your resume with the right keywords. The Interview Prep page takes you through hundreds of behavioral questions recruiters ask across roles and industries. 

Continuous Learning

Access to LinkedIn Learning courses is an excellent resource for continuous personal and professional development. Finish courses and add the certificates of completion to your LinkedIn profile.

Company Research

LinkedIn provides deeper insights into 350,000+ companies with data like headcount growth, hiring trends, total job openings by functions, and more. This information can be critical for more strategic decisions.

AI Writing Assistant

A Write with AI button generates suggestions to improve the wording and headlines in your profile. 

Unlimited Searches

With a LinkedIn Premium, you can carry our unlimited searches up to 3rd-degree connections. A commercial use limit restricts these searches in a LinkedIn Free account.

Browsing Privacy

With a Premium account, you can browse in private mode and still see a list of people who dropped into your profile in the last 90 days.

Why You Don't Need a LinkedIn Premium Subscription

Casual users can still maintain a professional profile on LinkedIn Basic and apply for jobs. You may not need LinkedIn Premium for several other reasons.

Proactive Networking

LinkedIn Premium isn't necessary if you are not interested in deep networking for business or recruitment.

Cost

The cost can be prohibitive, especially for those who are starting their careers. The Basic (free) plan allows you to connect with others and build your network while giving and receiving recommendations.

Job Insights

You don't need a LinkedIn Premium subscription if you don't need access to competitive intelligence about a job or a company. You can still search for jobs and use alternative search tools to gather market intelligence.

InMail Messages

You may not need to message people outside your immediate network as there are other ways to contact them.

Recruitment

You don't need a subscription if your company is using another recruitment tool.

Professional Development

LinkedIn Learning courses are helpful, but many other online learning courses can be accessed for free or at a lower cost.

Are LinkedIn Premium Benefits Worth It?

LinkedIn Premium is a worthy investment for your career or business if you have the budget.

But remember, the decision to pay for a LinkedIn Premium subscription or go with the free LinkedIn Basic lies in the level of access you want to your professional network. 

LinkedIn Premium isn't cheap, and you must balance your needs with the features you want to take advantage of. For instance, a subscription can be a good investment for recruiters and entrepreneurs. It may not be one for someone on the cusp of a career. Before you decide, score the features with an estimate of how and how much you will put them to use for specific scenarios.