Other sources of online learning cost less than LinkedIn
3UHPLXPEXWZKDWWKH\R̆HUYDULHV:KLFKRQHLVEHVW
for you depends on what you want to learn. PCMag has
three Editors’ Choices: First, Khan Academy (free) is
best at teaching academics. MasterClass is best if you
ZDQWLQVSLUDWLRQDOWDONVDQGVSHFL¿FDGYLFHIURPSHRSOH
DWWKHWRSRIWKHLU¿HOGV6NLOOVKDUHKDVPRUHEUHDGWKLQ
VXEMHFWPDWWHUWKDQWKHRWKHUVDOWKRXJKLW¶VVWDUWLQJWR
IRFXVPRUHRQOHVVRQVIRUFUHDWLYHW\SHVR̆HULQJFODVVHV
on how to sell goods on Instagram and learning the ins
and outs of an electric sewing machine, for example.
HOW TO GET LINKEDIN LEARNING
Again, to use LinkedIn Learning you need a paid
3UHPLXP/LQNHG,QDFFRXQW/LQNHG,QR̆HUVDIHZ
GL̆HUHQWYHUVLRQVRI3UHPLXP\RXFDQEX\WRFDWHUWR
GL̆HUHQWW\SHVRIEXVLQHVVSHRSOH$OORIWKHVHSDLGWLHUV
of service give you unlimited access to everything in
LinkedIn Learning. Non-members can’t buy access to a
course, which is a shame, because there are some
H[FHOOHQWFRXUVHVIRUVSHFL¿FKDUGVNLOOV²SDUWLFXODUO\
for learning software.
LinkedIn Premium Career ($29.99 per month or
SHU\HDU LVWKHOHYHOPHDQWIRUMREVHHNHUVDQG
applicants. Premium Business ($59.99 per month or
$575.88 per year) is geared toward people who want
insight into how their company is viewed on LinkedIn.
Then there are paid subscriptions for people in sales
and hiring roles, sold at group rates. If you’ve never had
a Premium account before, you can likely get a one-
month free trial.
Keep in mind that a paid LinkedIn account includes
PDQ\RWKHUEHQH¿WVVXFKDVEHLQJDEOHWRPHVVDJH
SHRSOHHYHQLI\RX¶UHQRWFRQQHFWHGWRWKHP:HVHH
LinkedIn Learning as a perk rather than a draw to
having a Premium account.
LinkedIn
Learning
PROS Wide range of
learning courses, with
plenty for business
people. Great for
specific hard skills,
such software
training. High
production quality
CONS Requires a
LinkedIn Premium
account; no per-class
purchasing or other
subscription options.
Many videos have an
overly corporate tone.
Categorization of
classes can be
confusing
BOTTOM LINE For
hard and soft skills
alike, LinkedIn
Learning has plenty of
courses for
professionals trying
to learn something
new. You need a
LinkedIn Premium
account to get access,
however.