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Did you know LinkedIn Learning is one of the leading online learning platforms out there?
I am sure you have heard of Lynda.com as it’s one of the oldest elearning platforms, founded 20 years ago. Lynda.com merged with LinkedIn and in 2017 migrated into LinkedIn Learning. It offers 20,000+ courses in Business, Creative and Technology subjects. It has a growing community of 850+ million users in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Sounds pretty impressive right?
But, that doesn’t mean that you will find what you are looking for with LinkedIn Learning. So let’s find out more in this in-depth LinkedIn Learning review.
A 1-month free trial giving you access to the 20,000+ courses and other resources available.
Certificate Completion
Earn a certificate when you complete a course and share via your LinkedIn profile.
Offline Viewing
Able to download courses to the mobile app for offline viewing making it super convenient when you are on the go.
Learn At Your Own Pace
All courses are self paced so you are able to learn when it suits you with the option to go back and relearn something if you need a refresher.
Multiple Languages
Courses are offered in multiple languages including the language selector for the entire website.
No Accredited Certificates
You will receive a completion certificate, but keep in mind this isn’t an accredited certificate from a University or a Partner. If that is what you are looking for it may be worth checking out Coursera or edX.
Limited Course Topics
LinkedIn Learning focuses on Business, Creative and Technology topics which may mean you can’t find the subject you are looking for. If that is the case, then it is worth checking out platforms like Udemy for a wider selection of courses.
LinkedIn Learning Review Verdict
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers a wide variety of courses and learning paths on Business, Creative and Technology subjects. Its courses vary from bite-sized videos to in-depth courses and are taught by instructors with real-world experience. All users can track their progress and courses are all self-paced, so you can learn anytime, anywhere. You will earn a certificate every time you successfully complete a course, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile. You have the option to purchase an individual course, or you can sign up for the monthly or annual membership plan which comes with a 1-month free trial. If you do change your mind in that first month you can cancel your membership, and you won’t be charged anything.
Who Is LinkedIn Learning For?
If you are looking to develop your skills in Business, Creative or Technology topics than LinkedIn Learning is an online platform to consider. Its 20,500+ courses are presented through expert-led videos along with practice exercise files and quizzes which you can download anytime on your computer or smartphone.
LinkedIn Learning offers personalized course recommendations based on your skills and interests giving you a filtered selection of courses to suit your needs. Once you complete a course you will receive a certificate of completion which you can share via your LinkedIn Profile. If recognition of completing a course is what you are looking for, then you are considering the right platform.
Note:LinkedIn Learning certificates aren’t accredited; they are just a recognition of course completion. If an accredited certificate is what you are looking for, then check out either Coursera or edX.
It’s video course content is offered in multiple languages including; English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. It’s content appeals to international learners studying in another language. In my experience of reviewing elearning platforms (let me tell you there have been a few) not many offer other languages outside of English. Some of the courses and features are not available in all the languages offered.
LinkedIn Learning for Teams & Organizations
LinkedIn Learning doesn’t only offer courses for individual learners, they have personalized online learning for your team or organization. Its team plan is designed for a smaller company of 20 or less and its plans for organizations is for 21 employees or more.
 LinkedIn Learning for your team
LinkedIn Learning for your team focuses on how learning online can benefit your organization by maximizing team training and promoting personalized development. If you want to find out more you can check it out here.
How Much Are LinkedIn Learning Courses Really?
LinkedIn Learning courses have a couple of payment options. You can either pay for an individual course or sign up for either a Monthly or Annual subscription. Both of these subscriptions give you access to 20,500+ expert-led courses, personalized course recommendations, practice exercise files and quizzes, download to mobile app for offline viewing and earn a certificate on course completion.
Annually: You will pay an annual fee is ($239.88) working out at $19.99/month
Monthly: You will pay a monthly subscription of $39.99/month*
LinkedIn Learning Subscriptions
LinkedIn Learning offers monthly or annual billing system. If you do decide to pay for your subscription annually, you will save 50% of the full year.
LinkedIn Learning Features
The LinkedIn learning features include unlimited access to its library of courses, learning at your own time, a certificate of completion and full access to LinkedIn Premium.
A 1-month free trial is included in both the annual and monthly subscription. You will be reminded 7 days before the free trial ends. You can check it out here.
Buy an individual course
If signing up for a monthly or annual subscription isn’t for you then you do have the option to purchase an individual course by selecting Buy this course (see image below). The cost of individual courses range from $20 to $40 including tax. You will find the individual course when you browse and select either the Subjects or Software.
LinkedIn Learning buy this course
Once you have purchased an individual course you will be able to rewatch and retake the course as many times as you like, as long as you keep your LinkedIn account. There is no time limit set for the amount of time you can access the course.
LinkedIn Learning secure checkout
For any courses, you have purchased and completed, you will receive certificates of completion which you can then share on your LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn Learning Refund & Cancellation Policy
LinkedIn Learning does not offer refunds on its premium annual or monthly subscription plans. But it does offer a 30-day refund guarantee if you purchase an individual LinkedIn Learning course.
If you do decide to cancel your annual or monthly subscription plan, you’ll retain access to your completed courses to add to your profile, but paid content will no longer be available after the end of your current billing cycle. To cancel just follow these easy steps:
Click on your profile photo (upper right-hand corner)
LinkedIn Learning offers a couple of different subscription plans depending on the size of your team or organization.
For Teams 2-20 Seats: $379.99 per seat/year (1-month free trial is included)
For Organizations 21+ Seats: Contact LinkedIn Learning for Custom Quote
LinkedIn Learning For Teams
LinkedIn Learning For Teams focuses on smaller teams of less than 20 and a 1-month free trial is included to try out the plan. LinkedIn Learning for Organizations is for bigger Organizations of more than 21, and it offers a more extensive list of features like skill development insights, you will need to contact LinkedIn Learning for a quote.
If you decide that LinkedIn learning isn’t for you, you can cancel or downgrade at anytime from your settings page. If you cancel, you will lose access to the premium features at the end of the billing cycle.
How To Open A LinkedIn Learning Account?
The registration process for LinkedIn Learning is really straightforward. I thought it would still be helpful to explain a little more of what the registration process looks like.
If you already have a LinkedIn.com account you can sign in with your email/phone and password.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn.com account you can be redirected to Join now
Then you can sign in to your LinkedIn Learning account
LinkedIn Learning browse categories
Once you are signed up you can then begin to Browse the categories Business, Creative and Technology. Once you select one of the categories they are broken into sub categories Subjects, Software and Learning Paths.
Examples Of The Most Popular LinkedIn Learning Courses
On the LinkedIn Learning landing page you can find its most highlighted courses with subheadings like Trending now, Learn within 30 minutes, New Releases and more (see image below). If you aren’t sure what you are looking for this can be a great place to start browsing.
I thought it would be helpful to highlight the most popular courses that LinkedIn Learners are most enjoying.
Finance and Accounting Tips – A course for beginners to help you understand balance sheets, debit and credits, company operating cycles and more. It has had close to 120,000 viewers and 30,000+ who have liked this course. The course instructors are Jim and Kay Stice who have been exploring financial information for a combined 60 years.
Effective Listening – A course to assess your current listening skills, understand the challenges to effective listening and develop behaviours to become a better listener. It has had over 200,000 viewers and 14,000+ who have liked this course. The course instructors are Tatiana Kolovou and Branda Bailey-Hughes who are communications experts.
Introduction to Graphic Design – A course that covers the concepts and software that every designer needs to know and explain how they fit into a typical graphic design workflow. It has had over 115,000 viewers and close to 5,000 who have liked this course. The course instructor Tony Harmer has worked in the creative industry for over 30 years on a range of design, illustration, and web/screen projects.
Python Essential Training – A course that helps you on how to use Python 3 to create well-designed scripts and maintain existing projects. It has had close to 300,000 viewers and 13,000+ who have liked this course. The course instructor Bill Weinman is a tech advocate, entrepreneur, and expert in programming languages such as Python.
Time Management Fundamentals – A course to help effectively manage time with indispensable skills by learning how to get more done in the shortest time possible and avoid obstacles and distractions. It has close to 300,000 viewers and over 13,000 who have liked this course. The course instructor Dave Crenshaw, a best-selling author and business coach lays out theoretical and practical foundations for managing your time becoming more productive.
7Â tips To Find The Perfect LinkedIn Learning Course
Trying to decide on the right course or path for you isn’t always easy, especially when you have a library of 20,500+ courses to choose from. I have put together 7 helpful tips to help you pick the perfect LinkedIn Learning course.
Preview course
Previewing the course is one of the best ways to get a taste for the course and the instructors teaching it. Most courses offer a couple of sample videos to watch including the introduction and some from the first chapter.
LinkedIn Learning Preview Course
I would highly recommend watching the preview videos before purchasing the individual courses or paying for the subscription. This way you will be confident that the course is for you and will meet your expectations.
Course recommendations Feature
The recommendations of LinkedIn Learning courses are based on your existing skills and other profile details, like the skills you’re interested in.
LinkedIn Learning recommendations
On your LinkedIn Learning homepage you can find a list of categories for the course recommendations like Top picks, Learn within 30 minutes, Most liked on LinkedIn Learning, New Releases and more.
LinkedIn Learning Skills
If you want your course recommendations to be more personalised you can add your interests to the skills you’re interested in. By clicking on your profile picture and selecting Skills (see image above).
You are then taken to My Learning and can select suggested skills or Find skills you are looking for (see image above). This way you will be shown courses you’re Interested in on your LinkedIn Learning homepage.
Course description
The course description gives you a succinct description of the course, outlining what you will be learning and reference to the course instructor. Along with the description the skills covered are highlighted.
LinkedIn Learning course description
In the course description, you will find the What you’ll learn (see image below). This helps you to identify the specific knowledge of your chosen course and can be a really quick way for you to know if the course is for you or not.
LinkedIn Learning What you’ll learn
Learning Paths
LinkedIn Learning Paths connect the gap between career and the skills you need to get there. It is currently offering 70+ learning paths in Creative, Business and Technology subjects.
LinkedIn Learning Path
The Learning Path will provide you with several courses focused around a larger topic e.g. Become a web developer, Master Microsoft Excel and much more. So if learning the right skill set for a career is what you are looking for then considering the Learning Path is a great option for you.
Question & Answer
Majority of courses at LinkedIn Learning offer a Q&A for learners where you are able to ask questions on any doubts that you have about the course.
LinkedIn Learning Q&A
Other learners or instructors are able to answer the questions. It may also be worth just reading through the Q&A as it can answer any questions you have.
Check out the Instructor
Finding out more about the instructor of the course you are considering can be one of the best indications of whether the course is for you. You can read a small bio about the Instructor on the Course description page. It also includes links to their LinkedIn profile and other courses they teach.
LinkedIn Learning Instructor Bio
Try For Free
When you first sign up you will have the option to get a 1-month free trial which gives you access to the following:
Certificate of completion (added to LinkedIn profile)
Interactive learning (practice with exercise files & quizzes)
Full access to LinkedIn Premium (salary & job insights, unlimited profile viewing)
LinkedIn Learning free trial
You will be required to input your credit/debit card number to get the free trial which when that month ends it will convert to a paid subscription. If at any moment during your free trial you decide LinkedIn Learning isn’t for you, you can cancel before your trial expires and won’t be charged a penny.
So, why not give it ago to get a real taste for this platform and the courses it has to offer.
Criteria
Comment
Ease of use
Opening an account is really simple. If you do already have a LinkedIn account, you are able to sign in with that. If you don’t have a LinkedIn.com account you will need to create one so you can join LinkedIn Learning.
To navigate around LInkedIn Learning feels really intuitive with a clean design. My favourite part is the fact you have course recommendations on your homepage.
Convenience
All of LinkedIn Learning courses are self paced, allowing you to learn anytime and anywhere.
The 1-month free trial gives you access to the full library of courses, personalized course recommendations, certificates of completion and much more.
Courses are available to watch offline on its app which can come in useful for when you are on the go.
Available platforms
LinkedIn Learning courses are 100% online which you can access from a desktop, laptop or via the LinkedIn Learning app with a smartphone (for Android and iOS).
The LinkedIn Learning app has a 4.8 rating with Apple and a 4.5 rating with Android.
Official certifications:
LinkedIn Learning does provide certificates on course completion which you can then share via your LinkedIn profile.
Its certificates are not accredited by a partner or University and cannot be used for a formal accreditation.
Categories
LinkedIn Learning offers 18,000+ courses on topics in Business, Creative or Technology. It’s courses are to help you achieve the skills for your personal and professional growth.
It also offers courses for teams, if you are interested in this option
Free courses
Technically LinkedIn Learning doesn’t offer any free courses, but with its 1-month free trial, you are able to access its 18,000+ courses for free and learn at your own pace.
Content quality
LinkedIn Learning content is produced by industry’s top producers, directors and editors so that the content is of the highest quality.
Instructors are vetted to ensure that they are a good fit for teaching and collaborating with LinkedIn Learning.
Languages
LinkedIn Learning offers its courses in multiple languages including: English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish
You will be able to change the content language from your account page. This will also be available for the iOS and Android smartphone on the app.
Instructors
Every LinkedIn Learning instructor is a subject matter expert. The instructor will collaborate with LinkedIn Learning (top producers) on the production, directing and editing of the content to produce high quality material.
To become a LinkedIn Learning instructor you will need to apply with a sample video which is evaluated for your teaching and delivery style.
Course requirements
All LinkedIn Learning courses are self paced and flexible, so you are free to go back review course content as many times as you please.
Subjects are Individual Courses consist of video content, project files, quizzes and certificate on completion.
Software is where you learn a specific software skill consisting of video content, quizzes and certificate of completion.
Learning Paths are a series of courses put together that encapsulates a career skill e.g Become an SEO expert. Similar to individual courses it consists of video content, exercise files, exams and certificates.
Course structure
Every LinkedIn Learning course is a collaboration with the instructors and top producers to present the content in the best possible light.
Its courses are self paced based around video lessons, exercise files, quizzes, downloadable material and certificate on completion of the course.
Quizzes & tests
LinkedIn Learning offers interactive learning in its courses where you can practice exercise files and quizzes.
Payments & refunds
You can make payments with all major credit and debit cards.
LinkedIn Learning doesn’t offer refunds for subscriptions. You will be able to cancel and will have access to the end of your billing cycle.
A 30-day refund guarantee is available for any purchases of individual courses.
Support
LinkedIn Learning offers a Help Center for support which has recommended topics and suggested articles. It also offers a chat which you can ask any question or doubts you may have.
Overall rating
LinkedIn Learning offers self paced courses which you can purchase as an individual course or on a subscription model. Its courses focus on Business, Technology and Creative topics and you will earn a certificate on course completion. The self-paced learning is ideal for someone with a busy schedule so they can learn at a time that works for them. Its courses and subscriptions are inexpensive and the 1-month free trial is pretty appealing.
Will LinkedIn Learning Help Me With My Career?
LinkedIn Learning courses are ideal for someone wanting to develop their skills in either Business, Technology or Creative related topics. The learning paths option is focused towards gaining the tools and skills to become equipped for a particular career track.
LinkedIn Learning browse Learning Paths
Successful completion of a Learning Path will mean you will receive a certificate of completion. The certificate can then be shared on your LinkedIn profile and will document to clients, employers, colleagues, friends and potential future employers of your skill set. The Certificate of Completion will be automatically generated when LinkedIn Learning detects that all videos have been completed of the course.
LinkedIn Learning Certificate of Completion example
If you already have a full or part job, then studying with LinkedIn Learning could be an ideal option for you as all its courses are self-paced and flexible.
Is LinkedIn Learning Legit?
Something which many of us ask ourselves: Is this course legit?
You are not alone in having these doubts, especially if you are considering the annual subscription or considering a plan for your team.
In 2015, LinkedIn bought Lynda.com and then in 2017, Lynda.com was merged and renamed LinkedIn Learning. In 2019 it was announced the users would need a LinkedIn profile to access LinkedIn Learning.
It’s headquarters are located in California and its community of 700+ million users is ever growing.
Anyways, to clarify LinkedIn Learning is legit and won’t be scammed
Last Thoughts: Is LinkedIn Learning Worth It?
Ok, so let’s conclude this review on why LinkedIn Learning is worth it.
If you want to learn a new skill or focus on a career track in either Business, Technology or Creative related topic, then LinkedIn Learning is definitely the right elearning platform for you. It has a wide range of courses that focus by subject, software or learning path. Once you successfully complete the course you will earn a completion certificate which you can share on your LinkedIn profile.
On the other hand, if you are wanting to gain a validated certificate from a University or Partner then it is worth you check out platforms like Coursera and edX as they would meet those requirements.
You will love LinkedIn Learning for its:
Self-paced learning
1-month free trial
Subject matter expert instructors
Learning for your team
Offline viewing
Please, leave a comment below if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to help you out.
Hey. I am Catherine and I have been working as a freelancer for many years now. In 2005, I graduated from a BA honours in Art & Design from BCU and then went onto complete a Master’s Degree in Teaching from UEL. The skills I gained from learning and teaching have led me to create Upskillwise, a place for learners like myself to find the best possible resources and courses to train and upskill themselves, either personally or professionally. If you have a question, please feel free to ask me anything or leave me a comment.
edX: offers over 3,000 online elearning courses that are partnered with established universities and companies. It offers both self-paced or instructor-paced learning programs. Unlike LinkedIn Learning, you will receive accredited certificates
Udacity: comes with a smaller number of courses around 200. Its courses are focused on gaining skills for careers in the tech and business industry. Although its courses aren’t accredited, it is still highly recognized by Industry experts.
Coursera: has close to 5,000 courses accredited with top Universities and Partners. It offers courses, specializations and degrees on a wide range on topics from Business to Art and Humanities.
Hey Curtis, Thanks for your comment. You can download courses and individual courses on the LinkedIn Learning mobile app. To access the downloadable content, you must have an active subscription. At this time, videos cannot be downloaded onto desktops or laptops. I hope that answers your question 🙂
Abdul
1 year ago
My school offers free access to LinkedIn Learning. You might as well check if your school offers. By the way, my school is Indiana University. Hopefully helps someone.
Thanks Abdul, for your advice for other University learners. This is an excellent feature that LinkedIn Learning offers 🙂
Franco
1 year ago
Hi, I used Linkedin learning for over 6 months and used several courses however one important issue which you have missed in your article is that as soon as you end your subscription, you have no access to those courses you have already completed, even to the certificate of completion which to me is a rip off. As someone who has paid money to use their services, they should let people still access the compelted courses or at least the certificate of the completion. Other sites like EDX and similar online learning sites, do let you review and repeat the… Read more »
Thanks Franco, for your comment. That is really helpful to hear your experience, especially about not having access to the courses after completing them and the fact that many courses are out of date and from the old Lynda.com. I will make sure that this is added to the review. I hope you have better experiences with other online learning platforms, which you can check out here 🙂
Priya Sharma
1 year ago
Hi there! thanks for sharing this article with us, before reading this article I had some idea about the linkedin’s learning platform, but didn’t knew that it has such an detailed courses for learning, thanks for sharing this super informative article with us.
You are welcome Priya 🙂 So happy it was helpful for you and enjoy your learning with LinkedIn Learning
Ning
1 year ago
For those who plan to use LinkedIn Learning, they’ll likely end up using LinkedIn itself for professional reasons as well, so I wanted to mention this. From my experience, one great way to build your profile is by using the right hashtags in your posts.
Thanks Ning for your comment and the tip for building your LinkedIn profile 🙂
Mel
1 year ago
Our local library system offers free access to LinkedIn Learning via logging in with your library card on the library website. Others may wish to check and see if their local library offers this service.
Hey Mel, Thanks for your comment and the information, that is great to know and really informative for other learners. Thanks again and happy learning 🙂
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All sounds good and the on line reviews are very positive
Thanks, Derek, happy to hear you enjoyed the article and other reviews 🙂
If the course material is downloadable, won’t you have it for to review whenever you wish even after your subscription ends?
Hey Curtis, Thanks for your comment. You can download courses and individual courses on the LinkedIn Learning mobile app. To access the downloadable content, you must have an active subscription. At this time, videos cannot be downloaded onto desktops or laptops. I hope that answers your question 🙂
My school offers free access to LinkedIn Learning. You might as well check if your school offers. By the way, my school is Indiana University. Hopefully helps someone.
Thanks Abdul, for your advice for other University learners. This is an excellent feature that LinkedIn Learning offers 🙂
Hi, I used Linkedin learning for over 6 months and used several courses however one important issue which you have missed in your article is that as soon as you end your subscription, you have no access to those courses you have already completed, even to the certificate of completion which to me is a rip off. As someone who has paid money to use their services, they should let people still access the compelted courses or at least the certificate of the completion. Other sites like EDX and similar online learning sites, do let you review and repeat the… Read more »
Thanks Franco, for your comment. That is really helpful to hear your experience, especially about not having access to the courses after completing them and the fact that many courses are out of date and from the old Lynda.com. I will make sure that this is added to the review. I hope you have better experiences with other online learning platforms, which you can check out here 🙂
Hi there! thanks for sharing this article with us, before reading this article I had some idea about the linkedin’s learning platform, but didn’t knew that it has such an detailed courses for learning, thanks for sharing this super informative article with us.
You are welcome Priya 🙂 So happy it was helpful for you and enjoy your learning with LinkedIn Learning
For those who plan to use LinkedIn Learning, they’ll likely end up using LinkedIn itself for professional reasons as well, so I wanted to mention this. From my experience, one great way to build your profile is by using the right hashtags in your posts.
Thanks Ning for your comment and the tip for building your LinkedIn profile 🙂
Our local library system offers free access to LinkedIn Learning via logging in with your library card on the library website. Others may wish to check and see if their local library offers this service.
Hey Mel, Thanks for your comment and the information, that is great to know and really informative for other learners. Thanks again and happy learning 🙂
Can I earn certificate with my free month trial
Hey Olabimito. Yes, you will be able to earn Certificates of Completion with the LinkedIn Learning free trial. Enjoy and happy learning 🙂
The Linkedin Learning price has increased. Can you update your article ?
Thank you Madeleine for your comment. The article has been updated to the current prices of its annual and monthly subscription plans 🙂