LinkedIn Learning is not free for most people, but there are several legitimate ways to access the full course library at no cost. The standard subscription costs $29.99 per month (or less with an annual plan), but a free trial, library card access, and employer or university subscriptions can all get you in without paying.
The Free Trial
LinkedIn offers a free trial of LinkedIn Premium, which includes access to the full LinkedIn Learning course catalog. The trial length varies by region and by promotional offers running at the time you sign up, but it’s commonly one month. You will need to enter a valid credit card to start the trial, and you’ll be charged automatically once the trial period ends unless you cancel beforehand.
If you only need to complete a specific course or explore the platform, the trial can work well. Just set a reminder to cancel before the billing date if you don’t plan to continue. You can cancel through your LinkedIn account settings at any time during the trial without being charged.
Free Access Through Your Library Card
This is the least-known and most valuable option. Many public library systems across the country have partnerships with LinkedIn Learning that give cardholders free, unlimited access to the entire course catalog. You don’t need a LinkedIn account, and there’s no credit card required.
To use it, go to linkedin.com/learning/login or open the LinkedIn Learning mobile app. Click “Sign in with your library card,” then enter your library’s unique ID in the URL field. From there, you’ll enter your library card number and PIN. If you don’t know your library’s ID, call or visit your local library and ask if they offer LinkedIn Learning access. Not every library system participates, but thousands do, and it’s completely free with no expiration date as long as you maintain an active library card.
This route gives you the same courses, certificates of completion, and video content that paying subscribers get. The main difference is that it doesn’t include the other LinkedIn Premium perks like InMail credits or profile visibility boosts, since you’re accessing Learning as a standalone product through the library.
Access Through Your Employer or University
Many large employers and universities purchase LinkedIn Learning licenses in bulk for their employees or students. If your organization has a subscription, you can access the full library at no personal cost.
The easiest way to check is to go to LinkedIn Learning and sign in with your work or school email address. Based on your organization’s settings, you’ll be routed to the right login screen automatically. If that doesn’t work, check your company’s intranet or internal knowledge base, or reach out to your IT, HR, or learning and development team. They’ll know whether your organization has a LinkedIn Learning account and how to activate your access.
For university students, the access typically lasts as long as you’re enrolled. For employees, it continues as long as your employer maintains the subscription. Courses you complete and certificates you earn stay on your LinkedIn profile even after the institutional access ends.
Free Resources for Veterans and Job Seekers
Veterans can access one free year of LinkedIn Premium, which includes the full LinkedIn Learning library. This benefit is available directly through LinkedIn’s social impact programs and doesn’t require going through a third party.
State workforce agencies also have partnerships with LinkedIn through the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. These programs provide job seekers with free resources, including LinkedIn Learning content focused on job search skills. The availability and scope of these programs vary by state, so check with your local workforce development office or unemployment agency to see what’s offered in your area.
What You Get Without Paying Anything
Even without a subscription, trial, or institutional access, LinkedIn makes a small selection of courses available for free on the platform. These are typically introductory or promotional courses, and the selection rotates. You won’t have access to the full catalog of 16,000+ courses, but you can sample the format and quality before committing.
Each course page on LinkedIn Learning shows a preview video and the full curriculum outline, so you can evaluate whether a course is worth pursuing before you figure out your access method. If you find that most of what you need is available through your library, that’s likely the best long-term solution since it costs nothing and doesn’t require canceling before a billing cycle.