Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? Understanding The Benefits
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LinkedIn is a go-to platform whether you want to establish your professional brand, find a better job, or flesh out your existing network. But what if you're not getting the traction you want? You're not alone if you're struggling to reach your specific LinkedIn goals, like how to go viral on LinkedIn. Many users feel frustrated when they put in the time only to see minimal or no results. If you're in this position, you may wonder if upgrading your LinkedIn account to Premium can give you the boost you need. In this post, we'll explore the different Premium tiers, features, and benefits to help you decide if LinkedIn Premium is worth it.
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What is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is a paid subscription provided through the platform that offers added benefits in addition to the basic plan. It gives users additional capabilities like:
- InMail messages to out-of-network individuals (so you can use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters)
- Comparative applicant data
- Insight into your profile views
- A sales navigator
- Advanced search filters, and more
With a LinkedIn Premium subscription, you can build meaningful connections— expanding your visibility beyond your immediate network. Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base and grow your business, searching for your dream job, or hunting for talent, LinkedIn is a go-to spot and with a whopping 1 billion users worldwide, it’s where the action is!
How Much Does LinkedIn Premium Cost?
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LinkedIn Premium subscription offers two different starter account types:
- Premium Career
- Premium Business
The pricing varies depending on the plan and VAT (Value-Added Tax), with options for monthly or annual subscriptions.
Users can try LinkedIn Premium for free with a one-month trial to access all premium features at no cost. LinkedIn sends a reminder seven days before the trial ends. The objective is to let users easily cancel if they decide not to continue with the premium subscription.
LinkedIn Premium Career Cost - Best to Quickly Get Hired on Top Jobs
LinkedIn Premium Career costs $29.99 per month (VAT). The yearly subscription for LinkedIn Premium Career amounts to $239.88 (VAT) when billed annually.
LinkedIn Premium Career is perfect for job seekers, career changers, recent graduates, and professionals wanting to boost their careers. It offers:
- Advanced job search filters
- Better visibility to hiring managers
- Insights into company data, helping users stand out and land their dream jobs
Significant Features of LinkedIn Premium Career
- Who’s Viewed Your Profile: See who checked out your profile and learn trends from the past year. You can also check profiles without revealing your identity.
- InMail: Send up to 5 monthly messages to people who aren't in your network.
- Insights: Access information on other job seekers and companies.
- Search: Use advanced filters to find the people you're looking for.
- AI Assistant: Use the AI writing assistant to enhance your profile for better opportunities.
With LinkedIn Premium Career, you’ll also get access to a vast library of over 21,000 courses on LinkedIn Learning. You can learn at your speed, whenever you want, covering business, tech, and personal growth topics.
Whether starting a new job or improving your skills, you'll get course recommendations that match your goals.
LinkedIn Premium Business Cost - Best for Business Development Professionals for Lead Generation
LinkedIn Premium Business costs $59.99 per month (VAT). If you choose annual billing, it will cost $575.88 per year (+VAT)—a savings of $47.99.
LinkedIn Premium Business is a unique toolkit for business development professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Here’s how it helps each group:
For Business Development Professionals:
With LinkedIn Premium Business, BD pros can turn their profile into a lead-generating machine. It provides access to advanced search filters to find potential clients or partners based on:
- Industries
- Locations
- Job titles
They can see who's viewed their profile, giving insight into who’s interested in what they offer.
For Entrepreneurs:
Take your business to the next level with Premium Business. Whether looking for investors, partners, or clients, this account gives you an edge by:
- Showcasing your skills with rich media and presentations
- Standing out in search results
- Accessing online courses to sharpen your skills
For Small Business Owners:
Running a small business is about making connections and growing your brand. LinkedIn Premium Business helps small business owners:
- Flaunt their products or services to a broader audience
- Connect with other local businesses for partnerships
- Find top talent to join their team
It’s like having a virtual business advisor in your pocket.
With a LinkedIn Premium Business Account
You’ll get access to all the LinkedIn Premium Career features. You can expect the following bonus features, specially designed for businesses or business professionals.
1. Extended Capabilities for Fast-paced Network Growth
LinkedIn Premium Business offers expanded features like unlimited profile browsing and advanced search filters. You can use these enhanced capabilities to find and connect with potential leads or partners without limitations. In other words, you can expand your LinkedIn business network much quicker than a free account.
2. Get an Open Profile for Direct Access
With LinkedIn Premium Business, you can receive messages from anyone on LinkedIn, regardless of your existing connections. Interested businesses or people in your offering can message you directly without sending connection requests or other formalities.
3. Easy Monitoring of Your Profile Visits
You can easily track profile views with LinkedIn Premium Business. It lets you monitor all profile visits over the past 365 days to gauge your profile's impact and popularity. You can use this information to optimize your LinkedIn presence and attract/reach out to relevant connections.
4. More InMail Credits Than LinkedIn Career Plan
With LinkedIn Premium Business, you’ll get 15 InMail credits per month. The benefit of using LinkedIn’s InMail feature is that you’ll be able to:
- Write more detailed messages with more character space.
- Describe your purpose of connecting or reaching out comprehensively (without any limitations).
- Reach out to people or businesses before connecting with them via connection requests.
5. You Can Easily Find, Message, and Connect With People For Quick Network Expansion
LinkedIn Premium Business simplifies connecting directly with top executives, bypassing common hurdles. This means reaching decision-makers, even with strict privacy settings.
With features like InMail credits and personalized message drafts, you can reach out to people who have viewed your profile. It's a simple and effective way to start conversations and build connections on LinkedIn. In other words, these features make LinkedIn Premium cost justifiable.
LinkedIn Premium & AI
LinkedIn Premium uses AI to make your experience even better. With AI messages and post drafts, it helps you write messages to hiring managers or new connections. You'll save time and communicate more effectively.
AI gives insights on job posts, offering personalized tips and extra resources to improve your job search. And don't forget about the AI profile writing assistant. It helps you enhance your profile so you stand out from the crowd. These AI features are like your personal assistants, making LinkedIn Premium a valuable tool for small businesses and professionals.
What Other Paid Subscriptions or Tools Does LinkedIn Have to Offer?
For some people, LinkedIn Premium Business and Career are not enough. Therefore, LinkedIn offers other options as well.
1. Sales Navigator (Core, Advanced, & Advanced Plus) - Best for sales professionals
LinkedIn Sales Navigator offers three subscription plans: Core, Advanced, and Advanced Plus.
The Core plan offers:
- Advanced search filters
- Lead recommendations
- Custom lists
You also get 50 InMail messages monthly, ROI reporting, and Account IQ for AI-powered account summaries.
If you upgrade to the Advanced plan, you unlock more powerful tools, such as Relationship Explorer. It allows you to explore relationships more effectively, create dynamic org charts, and access advanced search filters. The Advanced Plus plan is ideal for big sales teams. It includes:
- CRM Embedded Profiles
- Better license management
Each sub-plan has its pricing. The three plans above help businesses connect more effectively with prospects and boost sales on LinkedIn.
2. Recruiter & Recruiter Lite - Best for recruiters
LinkedIn premium cost - Recruiter account type
LinkedIn provides two primary tools for recruiters:
- Recruiter Lite
- LinkedIn Recruiter
Recruiter Lite is ideal for small businesses and costs $180/month (VAT). It helps you to:
- Quickly find top talent
- Track applicants
- Manage communications all in one place.
You get 30 InMail credits to reach potential hires directly.
Advanced Hiring Tools for Large Recruiting Firms
On the other hand, LinkedIn Recruiter is customized for larger recruiting firms and offers advanced features such as:
- ATS integrations
- Open to Work filter.
It costs $835/month (VAT) and gives you 150 InMail credits monthly. It's perfect if you need to simplify complex hiring processes and want more sophisticated capabilities.
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Whether you're repurposing existing content from various formats or crafting original posts that match successful writing styles, Bluecast's AI content tool for LinkedIn streamlines the entire process from ideation to scheduling. Perfect for marketers, founders, and agencies looking to maintain a consistent, engaging LinkedIn presence that delivers business results.
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Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? Understanding the Benefits
One of the main benefits of LinkedIn Premium, especially for job seekers, is a boost in profile visibility. With a Premium subscription, recruiters and hiring managers will likely notice your profile. Here's how it works:
Premium Profile Badge
When you subscribe to LinkedIn Premium, a gold badge appears next to your name, signaling to recruiters and connections that you're serious about your career. This can increase your credibility and make your profile stand out in search results.
InMail Messages
LinkedIn Premium allows you to send direct messages to other users without connecting. This feature, InMail, is handy for reaching out to recruiters, potential clients, or industry influencers. Standard LinkedIn users are limited to messaging only their first-degree connections, so this feature can significantly expand your networking opportunities.
Unleash Your Potential with LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is a powerful educational platform that offers thousands of online courses across various fields. Whether you want to improve your skills, learn a new software program, or gain insights into a particular industry, LinkedIn Learning provides the resources to help you grow.
Unlimited Access
As a LinkedIn Premium member, you can access the entire course library of LinkedIn Learning. This benefit is especially valuable for professionals looking to stay competitive by continuously upgrading their skills.
Certificates of Completion
After completing a course, you can earn a certificate to add to your LinkedIn profile. This demonstrates your commitment to professional development and increases your profile's appeal to recruiters and potential employers.
Advanced Job Search Tools: Find Your Dream Job Faster
Job seekers are among the most frequent users of LinkedIn Premium. The platform offers several advanced tools that can help you find your dream job faster:
Who Viewed Your Profile
LinkedIn Premium lets you see everyone who has viewed your profile in the last 90 days and insights into how they found you. This feature can help you identify potential job opportunities and reach out to recruiters who have shown interest in your profile.
Job Insights
LinkedIn Premium provides detailed insights into job postings, such as:
- The number of applicants
- The top skills among applicants
- How you compare to other candidates
This information can help you tailor your resume and application to fit the job requirements better.
Applicant Status
As a Premium member, your job applications are prioritized in recruiters' search results, increasing the likelihood of your profile being noticed. LinkedIn also provides you with real-time updates on the status of your application.
Expanded Networking Opportunities: Connect with the Right People
Networking is a critical component of career success, and LinkedIn Premium offers tools to help you connect with the right people:
Unlimited Search Filters
LinkedIn Premium allows you to use advanced search filters to find and connect with professionals in your industry. You can search by job title, location, company, and more, enabling you to narrow down your search to the most relevant connections.
Extended Network Insights
Premium provides detailed information about your extended network, including second and third-degree connections. This can help you identify potential contacts and leverage your existing network to make new connections.
InMail Messaging
As mentioned, the InMail feature lets you send messages directly to users outside your network. This can be particularly useful for reaching out to industry leaders, potential mentors, or hiring managers.
Competitive Business Insights: Stay Ahead of the Competition
For business professionals, LinkedIn Premium offers valuable insights that can help you stay ahead of the competition:
Company Insights
Premium users gain access to in-depth insights into companies, including their:
- Growth trends
- Hiring patterns
- Key decision-makers
This information can be invaluable for market research, competitive analysis, or identifying potential business opportunities.
Content Insights
LinkedIn Premium provides analytics on how your posts and articles are performing, including:
- Who's viewing your content
- How it's being shared
This can help you refine your content strategy to engage your audience better.
People Also Viewed
This feature shows profiles of other professionals similar to those you've recently viewed. It can help discover new connections and stay informed about industry trends.
Sales Navigator: A Game Changer for Sales Professionals
For sales professionals, LinkedIn Premium offers the Sales Navigator plan, which is specifically designed to help you find and engage with potential leads:
Advanced Lead Searches
Sales Navigator allows you to conduct advanced searches to find the right leads based on criteria such as company size, industry, and role. This can help you target your efforts more effectively and increase your chances of closing deals.
Lead Recommendations
Based on your search history and preferences, Sales Navigator suggests potential leads that match your criteria. This feature can save you time and help you discover new opportunities.
CRM Integration
Sales Navigator can integrate with your customer relationship management (CRM) system, allowing you to track and manage your leads seamlessly. This can help you stay organized and ensure no potential opportunities slip through the cracks.
LinkedIn Recruiter Lite: The Ultimate Tool for Recruiters
Recruiters play a crucial role in connecting talent with opportunity, and LinkedIn Premium offers a suite of tools to make their job easier:
Advanced Candidate Search
Recruiter Lite allows recruiters to search for candidates using advanced skills, experience, and location filters. This can help you find the best candidates more quickly and efficiently.
Automated Alerts
Recruiter Lite provides automated alerts when new candidates that match your criteria join LinkedIn or update their profiles. This ensures that you're always aware of new talent entering the market.
Candidate Management
With Recruiter Lite, you can create and manage candidate projects, track communication, and set reminders to follow up with potential hires. This can help you stay organized and streamline your recruiting process.
Enhanced Privacy Features: Control Your Online Presence
Privacy is a key concern for many professionals, and LinkedIn Premium offers enhanced privacy features to help you control your online presence:
Profile Viewing Options
LinkedIn Premium allows you to browse profiles anonymously. This can be useful to research competitors or potential leads without revealing your identity.
Resume Privacy
When applying for jobs, you can keep your resume private and only visible to recruiters actively searching for candidates. This can help protect your personal information while allowing you to pursue job opportunities.
Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
While LinkedIn Premium offers many features, it's wise to consider the cost and whether it's a worthwhile investment for your career or business.
Try the Free Trial and Choose the Best Plan
Before subscribing, taking advantage of LinkedIn's free trial is a good idea to see if the benefits align with your needs. Additionally, consider how often you'll use the features offered by your chosen plan. For some professionals, the enhanced visibility, networking opportunities, and access to LinkedIn Learning alone may justify the cost.
For others, particularly those in sales or recruiting, the specialized tools and insights provided by Sales Navigator and Recruiter Lite can offer significant returns on investment.
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Use Cases of LinkedIn Premium
LinkedIn Premium can be a game-changer for job seekers. For individuals searching for their next career opportunity, the Premium Career plan offers several tools that make connecting with the right people easier.
For instance, LinkedIn InMail allows you to reach out directly to hiring managers or recruiters, even if disconnected. This means you can network with decision-makers without the usual gatekeeping.
Gain Insights and Proactively Engage with Recruiters
In addition, Premium gives you insights into who’s viewed your profile. Knowing that a recruiter has checked you out allows you to follow up and engage proactively. The detailed job insights, including salary ranges and candidate fit indicators, help you gauge whether a particular role is worth pursuing.
If you’re serious about landing your dream job, LinkedIn Premium can provide you with the extra edge you need.
LinkedIn Premium for Business Professionals: Leveling Up Your Networking
LinkedIn's core is Business development and networking, and LinkedIn Premium for Business is designed specifically for professionals looking to expand and nurture their network. This plan gives you detailed insights into company data such as:
- Total employee count
- Headcount growth by function
- New hires
These metrics can be invaluable when researching potential clients or partners, helping you identify trends and opportunities within target organizations. This data-driven approach lets you build more effective strategies for reaching out and growing your professional network, making it a wise investment for business leaders and development professionals.
LinkedIn Premium for Sales Professionals: Streamlining Your Sales Process
Sales professionals have a lot to gain from LinkedIn Premium Sales Navigator. This tool is tailor-made to help you find the right prospects faster, keep track of key leads, and stay updated on company changes. With Sales Navigator, you can easily save leads and accounts to one dashboard and even log your activities directly to your CRM.
This streamlines your sales process and allows you to build deeper relationships by staying on top of your prospects’ updates. Sales Navigator's advanced search and filtering features can be a real asset if you aim to maximize your outreach and drive more sales.
LinkedIn Premium for Recruiters: Finding Candidates with Ease
With a user base of 1 billion, finding the right candidate on LinkedIn can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. LinkedIn Premium Recruiter Lite is designed to help recruiters easily navigate this vast network. The advanced search tools allow you to filter candidates more precisely.
At the same time, access to a broader talent pool, including third-degree connections, means you can find hidden gems that aren’t visible to those using the free version. Moreover, unlimited InMail messages give you the flexibility to reach out directly, and saved search alerts help you build and manage a pipeline of candidates. This makes the recruitment process faster, more efficient, and more effective.
Get Started with a 7-day Free Trial Today - No Credit Card Required
Bluecast empowers B2B professionals to amplify their LinkedIn presence through AI-powered content creation and management, helping them grow their audience and drive revenue without the typical content creation bottlenecks.
Whether you're repurposing existing content from various formats or crafting original posts that match successful writing styles, Bluecast's AI content tool for LinkedIn streamlines the entire process from ideation to scheduling. Perfect for marketers, founders, and agencies looking to maintain a consistent, engaging LinkedIn presence that delivers business results.
Get started with a 7-day free trial today, no credit card required!
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