Table of contents
- What is LinkedIn Learning
- How LinkedIn Learning works
- Integration with the LinkedIn profile and job offers
- How much LinkedIn Learning costs
- International prices and comparisons
- What affects the cost: variables to consider
- “How much LinkedIn Learning costs” vs. “LinkedIn costs”
- Advantages and limitations of LinkedIn Learning
- Strategies to use LinkedIn Learning effectively (with examples)
- LinkedIn Learning in cyber security practice (applied example)
- LinkedIn Learning and the professional social network
- Differentiation versus other profiles
In the world of cyber security as in many other technological and professional fields continual skills development is essential to remain competitive.
In this context, LinkedIn Learning stands out as a very interesting platform: it offers online courses on a vast range of topics, it’s integrated with your LinkedIn profile, and it can be activated “at any time.”
In this article, we’ll explore what LinkedIn Learning is, how LinkedIn Learning works, how much LinkedIn Learning costs, its advantages and disadvantages, practical tips, concrete examples, and comparisons. We’ll also answer 10 FAQs about LinkedIn Learning.
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What is LinkedIn Learning
The background and context
LinkedIn Learning is an online training (e-learning) platform acquired by LinkedIn. Formally, LinkedIn acquired the Lynda.com platform (historically one of the first video-tutorial platforms) and later integrated and renamed the library as LinkedIn Learning.
Since then, LinkedIn Learning has become an integral part of LinkedIn’s professional social network ecosystem, with the goal of offering targeted training courses integrated with the dynamics of the LinkedIn profile and the LinkedIn algorithm (i.e., suggestion/visibility tools).
In essence, LinkedIn Learning is a platform that provides a digital library of video lessons, training modules, and thematic learning paths, accessible via subscription.
Key features of the platform
- The platform offers thousands of courses on topics ranging from business to technology, from design to creativity.
- Courses are taught by industry experts (professionals, lecturers, industry specialists).
- You can follow courses whenever you want, at any time, on PC, tablet, or smartphone, with “on-demand” mode (i.e., videos you can pause, resume, and rewatch).
- Every user has a LinkedIn account integrated with the platform: if you already have a LinkedIn account, you can easily sign in (or activate LinkedIn Learning linked to it).
- Completed courses that issue certificates can be displayed on your own LinkedIn profile, thus helping improve visibility and professional credibility.
- The platform’s algorithm suggests courses based on the skills you’ve listed, the interests you follow, the activities on your LinkedIn profile, and the skills you want to develop.
- LinkedIn Learning also provides structured paths (learning paths) that group related courses by a specific theme, useful for building skills progressively.
- Not just video modules: the platform includes additional resources such as exercises, quizzes, supplementary materials, and practical projects (in certain courses).
In short, LinkedIn Learning is more than just a video archive: it’s a platform integrated with the LinkedIn social network that supports continuous, personalized professional growth consistent with your profile.
How LinkedIn Learning works
To truly understand how LinkedIn Learning works, it helps to “walk through” the experience step by step as if you were a user who decides to activate it and use it to upgrade professional skills.
Step 1: access and activation
If you already have a LinkedIn account, accessing LinkedIn Learning is straightforward: you can activate the subscription directly from your LinkedIn profile. The platform may require you to “upgrade” to a Premium plan that includes course access. In many cases, upgrading to Premium and enabling LinkedIn Learning are integrated.
A free trial (one month) is often offered to new users, allowing you to use LinkedIn Learning at no cost for an initial period.
During the free trial, you can access all online courses, browse the catalog, complete lessons, and even earn certificates for completed courses.
Step 2: exploration and recommendations
Once your account is active, the platform shows you a personalized home page with course suggestions based on your LinkedIn profile, the skills you’ve indicated you want to develop, and market trends. The LinkedIn algorithm (or more precisely, the LinkedIn Learning algorithm) plays an important role: it analyzes what you’ve already “followed,” the skills you follow, and the searches you make to propose new relevant courses.
You can also run explicit searches, filtering by category (e.g., business, technology, creativity), by level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), by duration, and by instructor.
Step 3: taking the courses
After selecting a course:
- Lessons are videos you can play, pause, rewind, or fast-forward.
- They are often divided into short modules (microlearning) to make “bite-sized” study easier.
- Some courses include quizzes, practical exercises, or projects to complete.
- You can watch offline by downloading videos to your device (in certain cases).
- You can stop at any time and resume the course where you left off.
Step 4: completion and certificates
When you complete a course, you receive a digital certificate that you can add to your own LinkedIn profile, making your newly acquired skills visible to your connections.
Completing courses or paths prompts the algorithm to suggest similar content and helps your LinkedIn profile “learn” your areas of interest.
Step 5: continual updates and new courses
Every day, LinkedIn Learning adds new courses and updates existing ones to reflect new technologies, professional practices, and emerging certifications. This means you can continue expanding your skills in line with your needs and the market.
You can use LinkedIn Learning at any time, according to your free time and a pace that suits you. It’s specifically designed for professionals with busy schedules who want “on-hand” training.
Integration with the LinkedIn profile and job offers
A distinctive aspect is the integration between LinkedIn Learning and the LinkedIn profile: completing courses, adding certificates, and showcasing new skills can improve your profile’s visibility and help attract job offers from recruiters looking for candidates with specific skills.
Example
Additionally, LinkedIn Learning can recommend courses based on the job roles you search for or view in listings: if you’re looking at job offers in cyber security, you might get suggestions for related courses.
In short: using LinkedIn Learning means having a training platform closely tied to your professional path, integrated with the professional social network, and evolving day by day.
How much LinkedIn Learning costs
One of the central questions for anyone considering LinkedIn Learning is: how much does LinkedIn Learning cost (or “linkedin learning cost”)? Let’s look at the details, plan differences, and what to consider.
Base prices in Italy
According to recent sources, in Italy LinkedIn Learning offers a one-month free trial to new users. At the end of the trial, the subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled.
Prices reported by Italian sources indicate:
- Monthly plan
About €40.32 per month (billed every 30 days) - Annual plan
About €30.24 per month, billed annually (equivalent to a discount compared to the monthly plan)
These prices may vary based on the billing country, your LinkedIn profile, and any promotions.
Specialist sources state that the plan for individual professionals costs €30.95 per month, with the first month free.
International prices and comparisons
In the United States, LinkedIn Learning (or LinkedIn Premium plans that include LinkedIn Learning) has an indicative cost of $39.99 per month for unlimited individual access to courses.
The U.S. annual plan is often $239.88 per year (equivalent to about $19.99/month) with the promise of a certain saving over the monthly cost.
LinkedIn Learning may also offer business or team plans, with prices and conditions that vary depending on the number of licenses required and additional features (admin tools, analytics, customized paths).
In a business setting, the cost of LinkedIn Learning for teams is “custom”: more licenses, greater customization options, higher costs but also volume discounts.
What affects the cost: variables to consider
- Billing country
Pricing can change from Italy to the United States or other countries. - User profile / LinkedIn plan
If you already have a LinkedIn Premium subscription that includes LinkedIn Learning (or you pay for Premium), part of the cost is shared. - Promotions and discounts
At certain times, the company offers reduced rates, discounts, or promotions on annual subscriptions. - Commitment period
Choosing an annual plan often entails a discount on the monthly cost compared to the monthly plan. - Number of licenses (for businesses)
More licenses often make it possible to obtain a volume discount.
“How much LinkedIn Learning costs” vs. “LinkedIn costs”
The question “does LinkedIn cost?” often comes from those who think LinkedIn Learning is an independent option: in reality, LinkedIn (the social network) has a basic free version that does not include unlimited access to courses. Full access to LinkedIn Learning is activated via an upgrade to LinkedIn Premium (or via a specific LinkedIn Learning subscription), which incurs an additional cost.
In practice, what you pay is the monthly or annual subscription, which varies depending on the plan you choose. Saying “LinkedIn costs” isn’t accurate: it’s the Premium/Learning plan that carries a cost.
Concrete example
Imagine you decide today to activate LinkedIn Learning from Italy with a monthly subscription. You take advantage of the one-month free trial, use the platform, and complete several courses. If you don’t cancel before the end of the month, you’ll be charged about €40.32 for the following month. If instead you choose an annual plan, you might have an equivalent cost of €30.24 per month (annual billing in advance), paying about €362.88 for the entire year.
For companies, you might have, for example, 10 licenses at a “custom” cost lower than the sum of individual prices.
Note: LinkedIn notifies users about a week before the free trial expires to avoid unwanted charges.
Advantages and limitations of LinkedIn Learning
Knowing the pros and cons is essential in assessing whether the subscription fits your professional needs.
Advantages
- Unlimited access to courses
With a subscription you can take all available online courses without paying for each course individually. - Flexibility / free schedule
You can access content “at any time,” conveniently. - Integration with the LinkedIn profile
Certificates from completed courses enrich your own LinkedIn profile, increasing visibility and potential appeal for job offers. - Personalization via the algorithm
Recommendations for new courses based on your interests, your profile, and the skills you want to acquire. - Continuous updates
New courses are added every day, and many are updated to reflect the latest developments in the field. - Structured paths
Learning paths help you follow a coherent route for a specific skill, step by step. - Potentially cost-effective
Compared to purchasing individual courses, a subscription can be more convenient if used consistently. - Mobile access / offline option
Allows you to study even offline (by downloading lessons) in many cases. - Support for professional needs
Ideal for those who want to improve every day and stay updated in cyber security, technology, business, etc.
Limitations and aspects to consider
- Fixed monthly/annual cost
If you don’t use the platform regularly, it may be a poorly justified expense. - Generic / non-specialized content
For very niche areas (e.g., advanced cyber security specialties) you might not find deeply specialized courses. - Variable quality
Not all courses are at the same quality level; some are more superficial. - Auto-renewal
If you don’t cancel, the subscription renews automatically, charging your payment method. - Dependence on the LinkedIn ecosystem
If you don’t use LinkedIn as a professional channel, the integration may have less value. - Price variability by country/promotions
The cost may vary and, in some cases, be perceived as high. - Content overload
With thousands of courses, choosing where to start can be difficult. - Separate business access
If your company doesn’t provide access, you have to activate the subscription yourself.
Ultimately, LinkedIn Learning is particularly convenient for those who plan to use the platform consistently, need continual updates, and want synergy between training and the LinkedIn social network gaining visibility and potentially attracting job offers.
Strategies to use LinkedIn Learning effectively (with examples)
Here are some practical tips, examples, and strategies on how to use LinkedIn Learning effectively, especially for those working in areas such as cyber security.
1. Set clear goals
Before diving into “any course that looks interesting,” define your own needs and goals (for example: “I want to become proficient in pen testing,” “I want to improve risk management skills,” “I want to learn Python applied to security”).
With a clear goal, you can use the “search course” function or “learning paths” to find pre-built routes toward that goal.
2. Combine short courses + deeper dives
A “micro” course (30–60 minutes) can help you grasp a specific concept, but a complete path requires multiple modules.
Example
Start with an introductory “IT security fundamentals” course, then continue with modules on “cryptography,” “secure networks,” and “incident response.”
This modular approach (spread over time) is perfect if you have commitments and can’t dedicate long continuous sessions.
3. Choose courses with practical projects
Prioritize courses that include hands-on exercises, virtual labs, and real-world cases: putting yourself to the test is essential to solidify skills. If a course is only “theoretical lecture,” learning risks remaining abstract.
4. Study regularly
Even 20–30 minutes a day, every day, can lead to significant progress. Set a daily routine: watch one or two lessons, do the exercises, and take time to review.
Example
From 8:00 to 8:30 p.m., study a lesson, take notes, apply what you’ve learned to a tool or exercise.
5. Track your progress
LinkedIn Learning tracks completed courses, module progress, and certificates. Use these features to see how many hours you’ve invested, what topics you’ve covered, and what remains to be completed.
6. Integrate with activity on your LinkedIn profile
Add certificates to your profile, share your course progress with your network (you might gain visibility), and use your new skills in posts, comments, or real projects.
Example
“I’m studying a cloud security course on LinkedIn Learning; I’ve just completed the module on advanced cryptography” this can generate interaction and show your ongoing upskilling.
7. Leverage the free trial + timely cancellation
Activate the free trial, explore as many courses as you can, and assess the value you get. If it doesn’t convince you, cancel before the first charge hits. Don’t forget the deadline!
8. Join LinkedIn communities and groups
Many LinkedIn users share their learning paths and course tips in technical groups. You can request feedback on cyber security courses and ask which course to take for specific skills.
9. Reassess the plan periodically
Every six months, evaluate whether the subscription is paying off: are you completing courses, gaining value (new skills, visibility), and integrating what you learn into real work? If not, consider pausing until you need it again.
10. Use a company subscription (if available)
If your company offers LinkedIn Learning access, use it: it saves you the cost, places you in a shared environment with colleagues, and often includes official corporate learning paths.
LinkedIn Learning in cyber security practice (applied example)
To make things more concrete, imagine you’re a professional or aspiring professional in cyber security. Here’s how you could use LinkedIn Learning to structure a training path.
Example LinkedIn Learning training path
Phase 1: foundations
- Introduction to IT security / cyber security basics
- Networks and network protocols (TCP/IP, OSI models)
- Operating systems and security (Linux, Windows)
Phase 2: intermediate modules
- Cryptography and digital signatures
- Application security and common vulnerabilities (OWASP)
- Testing tools (Metasploit, Wireshark, Burp Suite)
Phase 3: advanced/specialized tracks
- Incident response and attack management
- Advanced penetration testing
- Cloud security / AWS / Azure security
- Threat intelligence and forensics
Phase 4: hands-on projects
- Virtual labs on vulnerable applications
- Attack/defense simulations
- Real case studies (analysis of notable breaches)
During each phase, add certificates to your own LinkedIn profile, join security communities, and share your progress.
Example
If a course is outdated (e.g., an older cryptography course), choose an updated one among the new courses released every day.
With a well-structured approach, you could complete a meaningful path in 6–12 months, gaining skills that are attractive for job offers in information security.
LinkedIn Learning and the professional social network
One of the aspects that makes LinkedIn Learning unique is its integration with the LinkedIn social network. Here’s how this connection can yield tangible value.
Better profile visibility
When you complete courses and add certificates to your LinkedIn profile, your network sees that you’re committed to continuous growth. This can enhance your reputation and credibility with peers, recruiters, and managers.
LinkedIn algorithm and suggestions
LinkedIn “learns” from your interests, the skills you follow, and the courses you complete, and uses this data to suggest new connections, job offers, and relevant content. So the more active you are with LinkedIn Learning, the more the algorithm can propose useful paths or highlight your profile in searches.
Related job offers
If a recruiter is seeking a profile with specific skills (e.g., “cyber security analyst with knowledge of cryptography”), a candidate with certified courses in those topics can have a competitive edge. In other words, using LinkedIn Learning and showcasing acquired skills can increase the likelihood that relevant job offers will be suggested to your profile.
Networking and sharing
You can share milestones, course completions, and interesting micro-learnings with your network: this can trigger conversations, feedback, and opportunities.
Example
“I’ve just completed a threat intelligence course on LinkedIn Learning—happy to discuss with anyone interested.” This strengthens your active presence on the platform.
Differentiation versus other profiles
Many LinkedIn profiles are static, listing only work experience and a few standard certifications. Using LinkedIn Learning makes your profile more dynamic and “alive,” constantly evolving. This is especially valuable in fields like cyber security, where innovation is continuous.
Final considerations
Ultimately, LinkedIn Learning offers a concrete opportunity for those who want to learn every day, in a flexible way, and directly connect their learning to their LinkedIn profile and the professional world.
Of course, to assess whether it’s worth it that is, whether the cost of LinkedIn Learning is justified it’s important to consider how much and how often you will use the platform, which courses you actually need, and whether the integration with LinkedIn is useful for your professional strategy.
