Is LinkedIn Learning Worth It? An In-Depth Analysis

LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com, is an e-learning platform that offers thousands of video courses taught by industry experts on topics like software, creative skills, business strategy, and more.

But is the premium subscription really worth the investment? Let’s take a detailed look at the pros and cons of LinkedIn Learning and whether it’s worth the money for you.

Overview of LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is the online learning platform from the professional networking site LinkedIn. It contains over 16,000 courses across a wide variety of subjects including:

• Software and technology skills like Python, Java, Photoshop
• Business skills like project management, leadership, marketing
• Creative skills like photography, graphic design, video editing
• Personal development topics like communication, motivation, time management

Courses are taught through a combination of video lectures, practice files, quizzes, and assignments. Most courses range from 1-10 hours in length.

Instructors are industry experts, many well-known in their fields. LinkedIn Learning collaborates with them to create courses that teach the most in-demand skills.

Here are some key features of LinkedIn Learning:

• Accessible anywhere: View courses on desktop, mobile, tablet, and offline through the app
• Expert instructors: Courses taught by real-world practitioners
• Hands-on learning: Practice while you learn with exercise files
• Personalized recommendations: Platform recommends relevant courses based on your goals
• Skill assessments: Validate your skills by taking assessments and earning certificates
• Progress tracking: View learning history and status at a glance

LinkedIn Learning offers individual subscriptions as well as enterprise plans for teams. We’ll cover the pricing options in more detail later.

First, let’s look at the potential benefits of using LinkedIn Learning for professional development and career growth.

Also read: LinkedIn AI Image Detection Research That Catches Fake Profiles

Benefits of Using LinkedIn Learning

Here are some of the main advantages of using LinkedIn Learning:

1. Learn In-Demand Skills

The course library focuses on teaching the most relevant and necessary skills across industries. This means you can actually gain career-boosting abilities, not just theory.

For example, some top courses teach high-value skills like:

• Coding languages like JavaScript, Python, and Swift
• Data science tools like Excel, Tableau, SQL
• Design software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

LinkedIn uses its insider knowledge of job market needs to continuously add new courses that give you a competitive edge.

2. Gain a Competitive Edge

Speaking of competitive edge, LinkedIn Learning is a secret weapon for standing out to employers.

You can become fluent in the latest programs, software, and concepts before others do. This allows you to:

• Apply for jobs requiring new skills
• Showcase relevant abilities in interviews
• Excel and add value to your current role

The right skills can unlock new opportunities and set you apart from other applicants or colleagues.

3. Learn from Industry Experts

What better way to learn than from professionals currently working in their field?

LinkedIn Learning instructors are practicing experts with years of first-hand experience. Some are even well-known leaders in their industry.

This means you gain knowledge beyond just the textbook theory. You learn real best practices, workflows, tools, and perspectives.

Learning from a master photographer will be more practical than reading photography manuals. The same goes for any subject on LinkedIn Learning.

4. Develop at Your Own Pace

One major advantage is LinkedIn Learning lets you learn at your own pace on your schedule.

Most courses have downloadable exercise files so you can practice offline too. Plus, your progress is saved so you can pause and resume whenever needed.

This flexibility empowers you to integrate learning into your life in a sustainable way. You can spend more time on tough concepts and rewatch videos as needed.

5. Expand Your Knowledge

Beyond building specific job skills, LinkedIn Learning is a one-stop shop for learning about virtually any topic that interests you.

It can open up entirely new knowledge domains, satisfy your curiosity, or just provide a fun way to spend free time productively.

For example, you could learn:

• New hobbies like photography, drawing, and instrument lessons
• Home skills like gardening, cooking, home improvement
• Interests like history, science, health, culture

Of course focus on advancing your career, but some personal development courses can make life more fulfilling and well-rounded.

6. Advance Your Career

We’ve covered how it can help you get ahead in your current role or company. But LinkedIn Learning also provides training to switch professions or take the next step in your overall career.

It’s a powerful resource for:

• Making a career change – Get the skills to transition into your dream job
• Landing a promotion – Show you’re management material
• Starting a business – Gain knowledge to turn your idea into reality

Investing in yourself and your education pays off when it comes to achieving your long-term career aspirations.

7. Get Certified

Many LinkedIn Learning courses offer quizzes and certificates of completion. While these aren’t official accredited certifications, they can still enhance your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Certificates prove you invested the time to complete the training and acquire the skills taught in the course.

They serve as credible indicators you know what you’re talking about, even if you lack formal education or training in that area.

Certificates also motivate you to implement what you learn so you can proudly showcase your new abilities.

Also read: How to Add Certificates on LinkedIn: The Ultimate 2023 Guide

Drawbacks of LinkedIn Learning

Of course, LinkedIn Learning has its downsides too. Here are some factors to consider:

1. No Instructor Interaction

All courses are pre-recorded videos, so you cannot ask questions or engage with the instructors live. For some learners, this can feel passive and lonely.

However, many courses have active discussion forums where you can ask questions and interact with fellow students.

2. Limited Official Certification

As mentioned, while you can earn course completion certificates, these are not official accredited certifications.

You won’t get recognized industry certifications like a Six Sigma Black Belt or PMP. While valuable, LinkedIn Learning is more for building skills vs earning credentials.

3. Cost After Free Trial

LinkedIn Learning offers a very generous one-month free trial. But after that, you must pay monthly or yearly fees, which can add up. We’ll analyze the costs next.

Depending on your financial situation and career goals, the ongoing expense may not be warranted.

4. Overwhelming Library

With over 16,000 courses, it can be information overload figuring out what content to take to achieve your goals. While they offer recommendations, you still have to sift through options.

It takes planning and research to identify the best courses for your needs vs randomly watching videos.

5. Requires Self-Discipline

Since you learn on your own time, it’s easy to procrastinate and put off watching the videos. You have to hold yourself accountable.

Similarly, you need the discipline to actively absorb the info vs just having it play in the background. LinkedIn Learning requires some level of time commitment and focus.

Now that we’ve weighed both sides, let’s analyze the pricing and see if the investment pays off.

LinkedIn Learning Pricing Breakdown

LinkedIn Learning offers several pricing tiers:

LinkedIn Learning Individual Plans

• Monthly: $39.99/month
• Annual: $26.99/month billed as one $239.88 payment

The individual plan gives you unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses on a single account. You can access it via the web or mobile app.

They offer a full refund within the first 30 days in case you change your mind.

The annual plan saves you $10 per month but does require paying a lump sum upfront.

LinkedIn Learning Enterprise Plans

LinkedIn Learning also offers plans for teams and organizations:

• Team: $249.99/month billed annually
• Enterprise: Custom quote based on company size

These options allow you to provide all employees with unlimited access. Admins can track learning progress and license usage.

There are tiered levels based on number of users. Volume discounts apply for larger organizations.

Also read: How Much is LinkedIn Learning? An In-Depth Guide

Free LinkedIn Learning Trial

The best part is you can test drive the platform free for one month. This allows you to take courses and decide if the investment is worthwhile.

Just redeem the offer on LinkedIn Learning’s pricing page to get your free 30 days.

Cost Comparison

How does LinkedIn Learning compare cost-wise versus other online learning options?

• LinkedIn Learning: $19.99-$39.99/month
• Udemy: $9.99-$199 per course
• Skillshare: $19/month for premium
• Coursera: $39-$99 per month for unlimited
• edX: Free or $199-300 for verified certifications
• MasterClass: $15/month annual plan

As you can see, LinkedIn Learning is very competitively priced, especially considering you get unlimited access to all courses.

The trick is taking enough courses per month to make the fee worthwhile. Consuming at least 1-2 courses justifies the expense.

Is LinkedIn Learning Worth It for Individual Learners?

For individual learners, whether the $30 per month subscription is “worth it” depends on your learning objectives:

General Skill Building

For self-driven learners interested in building diverse professional skills at your own pace, LinkedIn Learning offers very strong value with its all-access pass to quality courses. Dollar for dollar, you gain access to far more top-notch content than purchasing standalone courses or training.

Technical Certification

It can be worth supplementing preparation for IT certification tests like CompTIA A+ and Cisco CCNA. But verify LinkedIn Learning offers official prep courses proctored by the administering organization. Don’t expect exam vouchers – you’ll need to register and pay for testing separately.

Career Transitioning

LinkedIn Learning is less ideal if you’re trying to make a major career change without any background in your goal field. You’ll likely need a more structured track like a college program or intensive boot camp, which includes direct career support.

Knowledge for Learning’s Sake

For casual learners looking to expand your knowledge or brush up new skills, the platform offers an affordable way to access engaging, high-quality instruction. But the subscription only makes sense if you’ll take consistent advantage of it.

Check out LinkedIn Learning’s one month free trial to experience the platform before subscribing. Analyze if you actively use the courses – don’t pay for unused access you won’t maximize.

Is LinkedIn Learning Worth It for Businesses?

Here are some top ways LinkedIn Learning provides excellent value for organizations:

Employee Onboarding

LinkedIn Learning is a turnkey solution for training new hires across required skills, company policies, software and tools. It ensures a consistent onboarding experience at a fraction of custom development costs.

Leadership and Management Development

Bulk access empowers managers and emerging leaders to strengthen their skills anywhere at any time via LinkedIn Learning’s extensive leadership course library.

Ongoing Professional Development

Centralized access to thousands of courses makes it easy to promote and track employee skills training. Learners can develop relevant skills like programming, design, management, and more on flexible schedules.

Specialized Software/Tool Training

For enterprise tools you already pay for like Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Tableau, etc., LinkedIn Learning offers tailored courses to maximize user adoption and ROI on those platforms.

Compliance Training

Maintain compliance by assigning required training courses related to sexual harassment prevention, cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, and other organizational policies.

Skills Gap Analysis

Use aggregate data insights to identify organizational skill gaps, track employee progress, and quantify proficiencies to focus development in key areas.

For the full learning platform capabilities, plus content customization and API integration, LinkedIn Learning’s enterprise pricing starts at roughly $150 per user for an annual contract. The company tier also includes live instructor-led sessions and cohort groups.

Compared to developing custom elearning programs, partnering with training vendors, or outsourced L&D, LinkedIn Learning’s turnkey solution delivers outstanding ROI. Volume discounts also apply as organization size grows.

Also read: How to Create a LinkedIn Account: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Experts

LinkedIn Learning Course Quality and Customer Feedback

With a massive content library, course production value, rigor, and instructor quality varies. But overall, LinkedIn Learning maintains exceptionally high ratings and reviews:

• iOS App Store: 4.8 stars based on 220,800+ ratings
• Google Play Store: 4.6 stars based on 128,700+ ratings
• Better Business Bureau: A+ Rating
• Trustpilot: 4.2 stars based on 1,500+ reviews
• Capterra: 4.5 stars based on 650+ reviews
• G2: 4.4 stars on 5 point scale based on 1,400+ reviews

The sheer volume of positive customer feedback indicates high satisfaction with the value LinkedIn Learning provides, even with the occasional less stellar course.

Technical skills courses in areas like programming, graphic design, and IT tend to be the most comprehensive and highly-rated based on my research. Courses on more abstract soft skills receive more mixed results, given the variation in teaching and communication styles preferred by each individual.

LinkedIn Learning Vs. Major Competitors

If you’re evaluating other online learning options, here’s how LinkedIn Learning compares to the top competitors in the space based on course library, customer satisfaction, features and pricing:

LinkedIn Learning Vs. Udemy

• Course library: LinkedIn – 16,000+ courses; Udemy – 150,000+ courses
• Instructors: LinkedIn – Top industry experts; Udemy – Anyone can publish a course though quality varies
• User experience: LinkedIn – More membership model with personalized dashboard; Udemy – More marketplace model with search/browse
• Price: LinkedIn – $30/month full access; Udemy – Marketplace pricing, most courses $11.99 – $99.99

Verdict: Udemy has wider variety but uneven quality given anyone can publish. LinkedIn Learning has a smaller but more curated library with consistently high production standards. Udemy better for one-off purchases; LinkedIn better for ongoing development.

LinkedIn Learning vs. Skillshare

• Content focus: LinkedIn – Professional and technology skills; Skillshare – Creative skills like graphic design, photography, fine arts
• Course quality: Comparable production standards and instructors
• Price: LinkedIn Learning – $30/month; Skillshare – $19/month basic plan
• User experience: LinkedIn prioritizes learning paths; Skillshare emphasizes exploring by categories

Verdict: Skillshare excels for artistic skills; LinkedIn is stronger for business, tech, and career-oriented learning. Pick based on your goals.

LinkedIn Learning vs. Pluralsight

• Content focus: LinkedIn – Broader business, creative & personal development; Pluralsight – Technical skills for IT professionals
• Course quality: Comparable depth and expert instructors
• User experience: Pluralsight considered more intuitive and modern
• Price: LinkedIn – $30/month; Pluralsight – $45/month core plan

Verdict: Pluralsight better optimized if you’re solely focused on IT upskilling. LinkedIn Learning more well-rounded for professional growth.

LinkedIn Learning vs. Coursera

• Learning style: LinkedIn – Self-paced video courses; Coursera – Cohorts and deadlines more classroom-like
• Content focus: Coursera – Education partner courses; LinkedIn – Professional workplace skills
• Certification: Coursera – Offers many accredited programs; LinkedIn – Non-accredited certificates
• Price: Coursera – Subscription for $39-$79/month or free version; LinkedIn – Flat $30/month

Verdict: Coursera better for academic learning; LinkedIn better for career skills development.

LinkedIn Learning vs. edX

• Providers: edX – Top universities like MIT and Harvard; LinkedIn Learning – Individual experts
• Content focus: edX – Broad academic subjects; LinkedIn – Practical workplace skills
• Credentials: edX – Offers MicroMasters programs; LinkedIn – Non-accredited certificates
• Price: edX – Free or $199 MicroMasters; LinkedIn Learning – $30/month subscription

Verdict: edX ideal for academic learning from top institutions; LinkedIn Learning is better for professional skill building.

Based on your learning goals, one of these other major platforms may be a better fit than LinkedIn Learning. Evaluate course subjects, credentials, and teaching styles when choosing. But for professional training, LinkedIn Learning stands out as a leader.

Also read: What Are The Benefits Of LinkedIn?

Tips to Maximize LinkedIn Learning’s Value

Here are my top recommendations to get the most value out of LinkedIn Learning based on my experience using the platform:

• Take the Learning Paths. Don’t get overwhelmed browsing the full course library. Let Learning Paths guide you through key skill areas step-by-step.
• Download courses to consume offline when traveling or without consistent internet access.
• Speed up video playback to finish courses faster. Many sections can be sped up to 1.5x or 2x speed with no comprehension loss.
• Share your certificates on your LinkedIn profile, CV, and sites like Credly to showcase your achievements.
• Use closed captioning to retain concepts better by reading as you listen.
• Preview courses thoroughly and read reviews to verify quality and depth before diving in.
• Stick to a learning schedule by setting reminders to keep up motivation and consistency.
• Supplement learnings with real-world practice and projects to generate portfolio pieces and onboard skills faster.
• Leverage exercise files and templates to apply course concepts hands-on.
• Engage in the Discussion tabs to make connections and discuss learnings with peers.
• Search course transcripts to find and revisit key sections quickly.

FAQ

Are LinkedIn learning certificates worth it?

While not official credentials, LinkedIn Learning certificates can add value to your resume and LinkedIn profile. They demonstrate you invested time in mastering new skills and knowledge. Many hiring managers view them favorably.

Conclusion

So, is LinkedIn Learning worth it? For many individuals and organizations, the answer is absolutely yes. The platform provides outstanding self-paced learning across thousands of courses taught by recognized experts.

For professionals seeking to expand technical skills and business acumen on a flexible schedule, the wealth of practical, career-focused content makes the subscription worthwhile. Just be sure to leverage the platform actively, supplement learnings, and take advantage of community features.

While lacking accredited programs or direct career placement help, LinkedIn Learning checks all the