A free LinkedIn account covers the basics: a profile, connections, messaging with connections, posting and job search. Premium is the umbrella name for paid plans that add more on top. LinkedIn offers different plans for different goals, for example one aimed at job seekers and one at business users, with separate products for sales (Sales Navigator) and recruiting.
What the plans tend to add
Features vary by plan and change over time, but they usually fall into a few groups:
- InMail credits, for messaging people outside your network. See InMail for how they work.
- More detail on who viewed your profile, and on job posts, how you compare with other applicants. The guide on how to see who viewed your LinkedIn profile explains what the free account shows and what Premium adds.
- Extra search filters or fewer limits when browsing profiles.
- Access to LinkedIn Learning courses on many plans.
- A Premium badge and some extra profile options.
Prices, trials and plan names change, so treat LinkedIn’s own plan page as the source of truth.
Four common misunderstandings
“Premium will get recruiters to notice me.” It can show you more about who is looking, and it may help you stand out in some job applications. It does not fix a vague headline, an empty About section or a profile that does not match the jobs you want. Those cost nothing to improve.
“Premium and Sales Navigator are the same thing.” Sales Navigator is a separate sales product with lead lists and account search. Individual Premium plans are lighter. The Sales Navigator guide covers when that one fits.
“InMail means I can message anyone.” Credits are limited, and members can control how open they are to messages from outside their network.
“A free trial has no downside.” Trials usually turn into a paid subscription unless you cancel. Note the renewal date the day you start.
Five questions to answer before you pay
- What is the one problem I want solved? “I can’t reach hiring managers” points to InMail. “I want to know if recruiters see me” points to profile insights. If you cannot name the problem, you probably do not need the plan yet.
- Have I fixed the free basics? A clear headline and a specific profile make every paid feature work better. The LinkedIn profile checklist is a good first pass, and the free Headline Generator helps with the most visible line.
- What will I do during the trial? Set a target, such as a number of InMails to send or a list of profiles to research.
- How will I know it worked? Track replies, interviews or meetings while the plan is active.
- When does it renew, and will I cancel if it did not help?
If the answer to question one is reaching people, write those messages well. Each InMail uses a credit, and the Cold Message and InMail Generator helps you make each one count.