Are you considering giving your LinkedIn Premium subscription the axe? Whether you signed up for a free trial that‘s about to expire, found the features aren‘t worth the cost, or simply don‘t use LinkedIn enough anymore to justify the expense, canceling Premium is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes.
In this guide, we‘ll walk you through how to end your Premium subscription step-by-step, complete with screenshots. We‘ll also take a deeper dive into LinkedIn Premium‘s offerings, the reasons users cancel, and some key considerations to weigh before doing so. Let‘s get started!
LinkedIn Premium: A Quick Overview
LinkedIn launched its first premium subscription plans back in 2005 as a way to monetize its growing user base and offer power users enhanced tools beyond what was available in free accounts. Today, LinkedIn Premium encompasses a variety of plan options at different price points, each geared toward a specific use case.
The plans and their current pricing as of 2023 are as follows:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | $29.99 | 5 InMail credits, insights on applicants for jobs you apply to, additional details on job listings, access to LinkedIn Learning courses |
| Premium Business | $59.99 | Expanded list of profiles per search, unlimited people browsing, 15 InMail credits, company insights |
| Sales Navigator Pro | $79.99 | Advanced lead/account searches, lead recommendations, real-time insights on accounts and leads, 20 InMail credits |
| Recruiter Lite | $119.95 | 30 InMail credits, advanced search filters, smart suggestions, recruiting-specific tools and insights |
According to data from LinkedIn itself, the platform had over 900 million total members as of January 2023, with more than 39% of users accessing the site on a monthly basis. However, only about 1% of LinkedIn users have a paid Premium account.
So what drives users to cancel their Premium subscriptions? A 2022 survey by Statista found that the top reasons were high cost compared to value (39%), completion of job search (15%), and simply not using LinkedIn much in general anymore (14%).
With those key reasons in mind, let‘s explore the step-by-step process for giving your own Premium plan the boot:
Step 1: Log In and Navigate to Your Premium Account Page
First, head to LinkedIn.com and log into your account (if you aren‘t already signed in). From your LinkedIn homepage, click the "Me" icon in the top menu bar.
In the dropdown menu that appears, click the "Premium subscription" link under the "Account" header. This will take you to your Premium account homepage.
Step 2: Access Your Billing and Subscription Details
Once on your Premium account overview page, look for the "Manage Premium account" link on the right side of the screen and give it a click.
You‘ll now see your full subscription details, including your plan type, billing frequency, and the card on file for payments.
Step 3: Proceed with Cancellation
Locate the "Cancel subscription" link under your plan information and click it. LinkedIn will present a few offers and alternatives to persuade you to stay, such as a temporary discount on your Premium subscription.
If you still wish to proceed with cancellation, click the "Continue to cancel" button. Otherwise, consider whether one of the presented options might be a better fit for you than canceling outright.
Step 4: Confirm Subscription Cancellation
After choosing to continue with cancellation, you‘ll see one final confirmation screen. LinkedIn will display the date your Premium plan will expire (which will be at the end of your current billing cycle).
Click the blue "Confirm cancellation" button to finalize the process. You‘ll receive a confirmation email from LinkedIn and your Premium plan will terminate on the date listed.
What Happens After You Cancel LinkedIn Premium
So you‘ve officially given your Premium plan the axe…now what? It‘s important to understand what you‘ll lose access to and when.
Since LinkedIn doesn‘t prorate subscription fees, you‘ll maintain full access to all your Premium features until the end of your current billing period. After that, your account will revert to a basic free LinkedIn account.
This means you‘ll no longer have access to Premium-exclusive features like InMail credits, detailed profile/company/job insights, and applicant/lead recommendations after your current subscription expires. Any unused InMail credits will be forfeited.
If you‘ve been taking advantage of the LinkedIn Learning library of video courses that‘s included with Premium Career and Premium Business plans, you‘ll also lose access to that content when your subscription lapses. Anything you‘ve already viewed will still be reflected in your skills and learning history on your profile.
Considerations Before Canceling LinkedIn Premium
Deciding whether to cancel LinkedIn Premium shouldn‘t be done hastily. It‘s important to weigh the costs and benefits to determine if you‘re still getting enough value to justify the monthly expense.
Here are a few key considerations and questions to ask yourself:
Cost vs. Perceived Value
LinkedIn Premium plans aren‘t cheap, especially compared to general social media subscriptions. Take an honest look at which Premium features you actually use on a regular basis. Tools like InMail, profile/company insights, and advanced search filters can be extremely valuable when used strategically (for example, in a job search).
However, if you find yourself rarely taking advantage of your plan‘s premium offerings, it may be time to downgrade to a free account and save the cash for other expenses.
Your Current LinkedIn Use Case
Think about your primary purpose for using LinkedIn. Are you an active job seeker? A recruiter? A salesperson looking for lead generation tools?
Premium Career and Premium Business are geared more toward individual professionals looking to boost their networking and job seeking, while Sales Navigator Pro and Recruiter Lite are designed for salespeople and recruiters respectively.
Canceling may make sense if your use case for the platform has significantly changed – for instance, if you‘ve landed a new job and are no longer in active search mode.
Timing and Billing Cycles
As previously mentioned, LinkedIn does not prorate Premium subscription fees when you cancel. You‘ll maintain your full Premium access until the end of your current billing cycle, whether that‘s monthly or annually.
With that in mind, it‘s most cost-effective to cancel as close to your billing date as possible so you aren‘t paying for time you won‘t use. Set a reminder to cancel a few days before your subscription is set to renew.
LinkedIn Premium Alternatives
Finally, consider whether one of LinkedIn‘s other premium offerings might be a better fit for your needs and budget before canceling altogether:
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LinkedIn Learning: If your primary reason for subscribing to Premium is the LinkedIn Learning video library, you can access just that content for $39.99/month or $239.88/year. It‘s a more cost-effective option than Premium if online learning is your main goal.
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Downgrading to a Lower Plan: Not ready to fully give up Premium but looking to save some cash? Downgrading to a lower tier can decrease your monthly cost while still giving you access to valuable features. For instance, going from Sales Navigator Pro ($79.99/mo) to Premium Business ($59.99/mo) cuts your bill by $20 per month.
The Future of LinkedIn Premium
It will be interesting to see how LinkedIn Premium evolves in the coming years, both in terms of its pricing and feature set. As more and more professionals rely on the platform for networking, job searching, and brand building, the company will need to continue iterating on its premium offerings to provide value and stay competitive.
One potential area for growth is deeper integration of LinkedIn Learning content into Premium plans, or more specialized learning paths/course recommendations based on a user‘s career stage and goals. LinkedIn could also explore more a la carte pricing options, giving users the ability to pay for just the specific Premium features they need versus an all-or-nothing subscription.
The increasing adoption of AI tools like ChatGPT also begs the question of how LinkedIn will leverage this technology across the platform, including in its Premium offerings. Imagine AI-powered writing suggestions for InMail and message templates or predictive lead/account recommendations.
As remote work and virtual hiring become the norm, LinkedIn Premium may also expand its virtual interview/event tools and integrations to help job seekers stand out and make connections from afar.
While LinkedIn hasn‘t announced any major upcoming changes to its Premium offerings, it‘s clear that continuous innovation will be key to convincing users the features are worth the cost. A 2021 interview with LinkedIn‘s Chief Product Officer, Tomer Cohen, hinted at a future vision of "creating value" through more personalized, inclusive experiences powered by machine learning. It will be exciting to see how this goal translates to the evolution of LinkedIn Premium.
Key Takeaways
Canceling your LinkedIn Premium subscription is a quick and easy process that can be completed in just a few clicks. However, it‘s important to carefully evaluate your reasons for canceling and whether a Premium plan still makes sense for your professional goals before making a final decision.
Some key considerations include:
- Whether you‘re actively using/getting value from your Premium features
- How your LinkedIn use case and career stage have evolved over time
- The timing of your billing cycle and how to minimize "wasted" subscription fees
- Potential alternatives to canceling, like lower tier plans or standalone LinkedIn Learning access
Remember, you can always resubscribe to Premium at any point in the future if you find yourself missing the enhanced insights and features.
As LinkedIn continues to innovate and adapt to the changing world of work, it will be interesting to see how its premium offerings evolve to keep providing value to power users. One thing is for certain: As long as professionals continue to rely on the platform for networking and career growth, LinkedIn Premium will play a significant role in monetizing and enhancing that experience.
