Does LinkedIn Learning ever offer free weeks or weekends?

LinkedIn Learning occasionally offers free access on weekends a few times per year. They promote these limited-time events on their social media channels and email newsletter. It's a great time to take as many courses as you can or earn some certifications at no cost. So keep an eye out for the next free weekend promo!

Is LinkedIn Learning worth paying for?

LinkedIn Learning is worth the investment if you want: Unlimited access - A paid subscription gives you unlimited courses rather than just free trials or samples. Valuable certifications - These add credibility to your skills and resume. Convenient learning - You can learn on any device and download content to study offline. Expert instructors - Its course library is more comprehensive and of higher quality than most free learning platforms. Career advancement - The skills you gain can translate into job opportunities and promotions. But free access options are great if you want to sample courses or earn a few certs without paying.

How do colleges and libraries provide free access?

Academic institutions and libraries purchase institution-wide LinkedIn Learning subscriptions for all their eligible users. So you get access bundled as part of the services they provide. The terms and availability vary between schools and library systems based on which subscription they purchased. But it provides a lot of value at no direct cost to you as the user!

How do I get free LinkedIn Learning as a teacher?

If you're a teacher, request free access through the LinkedIn for Education program . Benefits include: LinkedIn Learning Teacher license Classroom tools like customizable course playlists Integration with school LMS Student reporting capabilities With the Teacher license, you get access to take courses for your own PD and share content with students.

How to Get Free LinkedIn Learning in 2023: The Ultimate Guide

Are you looking to skill up or get certified but don’t want to pay for LinkedIn Learning? You’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the tricks and hacks to get free access to LinkedIn Learning courses and certifications.

Overview of LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) is an e-learning platform owned by LinkedIn that offers over 16,000 courses in business, technology, and creative skills. Courses are taught by industry experts and include video tutorials, practice files, quizzes, and certificates of completion.

A premium LinkedIn Learning subscription typically costs $39.99 per month, but don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to get access for free if you’re a bit strapped for cash.

Also read: Is LinkedIn Learning Worth It? An In-Depth Analysis

What You Get with a Paid Subscription

A paid LinkedIn Learning subscription gives you:

Unlimited access to all 16,000+ courses
Downloadable course materials
Certificates of completion
Mobile app access
Curated course recommendations
Offline viewing

Does LinkedIn Learning Give Certificates?

Yes, LinkedIn Learning offers certificates of completion for all its courses. When you complete 100% of a course, you can add the certificate to your LinkedIn profile to showcase your new skills.

These certificates can help boost your resume and LinkedIn presence. However, LinkedIn Learning certificates hold less weight than accredited certifications because they simply verify you completed the course, not that you passed an exam.

Now let’s get into the good stuff – how to access all these courses and certs for free!

How to Get LinkedIn Learning for Free

Here are the best methods to get free access to LinkedIn Learning courses, whether you’re a student, library goer, Microsoft user, or LinkedIn member.

1. Use Your School or University Resources

If you’re a student at a high school, college, or university, you likely have free access to LinkedIn Learning through your school. Over 13,000 institutions worldwide provide it to their students.

To check if your school offers LinkedIn Learning:

Go to LinkedIn Learning for Schools.
Search for your school by name.
Click “Get access” and log in with your school credentials.

Once logged in, you can browse and take any course for free!

2. Visit Your Local Library

Many public libraries provide patrons with free LinkedIn Learning access. Here’s how to get it:

Go to your library’s website and look for e-learning or online resources.
Search for “LinkedIn Learning” to see if they offer it.
If they do, follow the instructions to log in through the library’s portal. You’ll need a valid library card.

With a library LinkedIn Learning subscription, you can take as many courses as you want for free. The only limitation is that some libraries limit the number of users that can be logged in at once.

3. Use LinkedIn Learning Through Microsoft

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes LinkedIn Learning, like Business Premium or Enterprise E3, you already have access!

To log in:

Go to Microsoft Learn.
Click “My Learning” and you’ll see the LinkedIn Learning library.
Browse and take any course for free with your Microsoft account.

Microsoft also offers a free 30-day trial of LinkedIn Learning for non-subscribers.

LinkedIn themselves offer a one-month free trial of LinkedIn Learning. To get it:

Go to the LinkedIn Learning signup page.
Select the premium plan with unlimited access.
Provide your credit card information but you won’t be charged.
Your 1-month free trial will begin immediately. Make the most of it!

During the trial you can take as many courses as you want and earn certifications. Just remember to cancel before the month is up if you don’t want to be charged.

5. Use Perkopolis If You’re a Student

Perkopolis has an exclusive deal that gives students 6 months of LinkedIn Learning for free. To get it:

Go to Perkopolis and sign up with your university, college, or high school email.
Search for LinkedIn Learning and redeem the offer.
Follow the instructions to activate your free 6-month subscription!

6. Take Free LinkedIn Learning Courses

While much of LinkedIn Learning is behind the paywall, they do offer over 130 free courses you can take anytime without a subscription.

Go to the LinkedIn Learning Free Courses page and browse or search for what you want to learn. Courses span topics like:

Leadership and management
Creative skills
Technology and developer skills
Data and analytics
Business software tutorials

While the selection is limited compared to the paid library, these free courses are still a great way to learn new skills at no cost.

7. Audit LinkedIn Learning Courses

Auditing allows you to preview LinkedIn Learning courses for free. While you won’t have full access, you can get a taste of the instructor, topics covered, and course materials.

To audit a course:

Go to any LinkedIn Learning course page that interests you.
Click “Try this course” to start the audit.
Preview a few modules of your choice for free.

Auditing is meant to give you a snapshot before committing to purchasing the course. But it’s still possible to learn a few things from the preview content.

8. Use Free Trials Offered by Bloggers and YouTubers

Sometimes bloggers and YouTubers partner with LinkedIn Learning to offer free trials to their audience as a promotion.

Keep an eye out for these offers, which usually involve getting a code to redeem or clicking a special link. Trials offered this way typically last 1-2 weeks.

9. Ask Your Company If They Provide It

Some companies offer employees free LinkedIn Learning access as a professional development benefit. Ask your manager or HR department if they already provide it.

If not, make the case for why they should invest in it! LinkedIn Learning can help employees learn skills that benefit their roles.

10. Take LinkedIn’s Free Courses

In addition to LinkedIn Learning, LinkedIn itself offers many free online courses you can take directly on their platform.

Browse free courses in:

While these courses won’t earn you official LinkedIn Learning certificates, they can still be valuable professional development.

11. Follow LinkedIn Learning Instructors for Tips

Many LinkedIn Learning instructors are active social media users. Follow them on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, etc. where they often share free tips and tidbits from their courses.

For example, photography instructors may post free tutorials on Instagram or YouTube that mirror what they teach in LinkedIn Learning photography courses.

12. Use Free Trial Gift Cards

Some deal sites like Groupon occasionally offer discounted gift cards that include free 1-month LinkedIn Learning trials.

The gift card gets you 1-month free premium access. Even if you don’t use the gift card amount itself, the trial makes these deals worthwhile.

So keep an eye out!

Also read: The 12 Best LinkedIn Learning Courses to Take in 2024

Get LinkedIn Learning Certificates for Free

In addition to accessing courses, many people also want LinkedIn Learning certificates to boost their credentials. Here are a few ways to get certificates without paying:

Ask Your School If They Provide Certificates

Many academic institutions with LinkedIn Learning access also provide students with certificates of completion for free. Ask your school if they offer this option.

If so, make sure to request and download any certs you earn before graduation. You likely won’t have access after you leave.

Earn Certificates During a Free Trial

No matter which free trial option you use, you can earn as many certificates as you can fit in during the trial period!

Just make sure to download any certificate PDFs before the trial ends. They provide a nice addition to your resume and LinkedIn.

Consider an Annual Subscription

While not free, buying an annual LinkedIn Learning subscription provides the best value.

The annual plan breaks down to just $19.99 per month, compared to $29.99 for monthly billing. If you prepay annually, you can maximize the number of courses and certs you take each month.

Over 12 months, an annual subscription would essentially reduce costs by 33% compared to paying monthly.

Are There Any Completely Free LinkedIn Learning Certificates?

Unfortunately, there is no way to earn official LinkedIn Learning certificates 100% for free. You need some form of free trial or paid subscription access.

LinkedIn Learning operates on a freemium model, where they offer some free content (like the 130+ free courses) but require payment for premium features like certifications. This incentivizes users to buy subscriptions to unlock the full benefits.

That said, the various free trial options we covered let you unlock premium temporarily to earn certs at no cost. You just can’t maintain free certification access indefinitely.

FAQs About Get

If you’re a teacher, request free access through the LinkedIn for Education program.

Benefits include:

LinkedIn Learning Teacher license
Classroom tools like customizable course playlists
Integration with school LMS
Student reporting capabilities

With the Teacher license, you get access to take courses for your own PD and share content with students.

ting Free LinkedIn Learning Access

Does LinkedIn Learning ever offer free weeks or weekends?

LinkedIn Learning occasionally offers free access on weekends a few times per year. They promote these limited-time events on their social media channels and email newsletter.
It’s a great time to take as many courses as you can or earn some certifications at no cost. So keep an eye out for the next free weekend promo!
Is LinkedIn Learning worth paying for?

LinkedIn Learning is worth the investment if you want:
Unlimited access – A paid subscription gives you unlimited courses rather than just free trials or samples.
Valuable certifications – These add credibility to your skills and resume.
Convenient learning – You can learn on any device and download content to study offline.
Expert instructors – Its course library is more comprehensive and of higher quality than most free learning platforms.
Career advancement – The skills you gain can translate into job opportunities and promotions.
But free access options are great if you want to sample courses or earn a few certs without paying.
How do colleges and libraries provide free access?

Academic institutions and libraries purchase institution-wide LinkedIn Learning subscriptions for all their eligible users. So you get access bundled as part of the services they provide.
The terms and availability vary between schools and library systems based on which subscription they purchased. But it provides a lot of value at no direct cost to you as the user!
How do I get free LinkedIn Learning as a teacher?

If you’re a teacher, request free access through the LinkedIn for Education program.
Benefits include:
LinkedIn Learning Teacher license
Classroom tools like customizable course playlists
Integration with school LMS
Student reporting capabilities
With the Teacher license, you get access to take courses for your own PD and share content with students.