How to Use LinkedIn Learning for Free (2026)

LinkedIn Learning has 21,000+ courses on tech, business, and creative skills. Normal price is USD 39.99/month as part of LinkedIn Premium. But there are five legitimate ways to access it free, some for a month and some for years. This guide walks you through each option, what qualifies, and which combination gets you the most free access.

Method 1: The 1-month free trial (easiest)

Everyone qualifies for a 1-month free trial of LinkedIn Premium (which includes Learning) when they sign up for the first time.

1. Go to linkedin.com/premium/products.
2. Click “Try free for 1 month” on Premium Career (USD 39.99/month after trial).
3. Enter payment details (they will charge automatically after 30 days if you do not cancel).
4. Use LinkedIn Learning aggressively for 25 days, take 5-10 courses.
5. Set a calendar reminder for day 25 to cancel before the auto-charge on day 30.
6. To cancel: Settings > Account preferences > Premium subscription > Cancel subscription. You keep access until day 30 anyway.

This gets you a full month of Learning for free. Only works once per account.

Method 2: Public library access (best long-term option)

Many public library systems worldwide have institutional LinkedIn Learning subscriptions they offer free to cardholders. This can give you unlimited access for years.

Check your library:

1. Search “LinkedIn Learning library card [your city]” on Google.
2. Or visit your library’s website and search their online resources for “LinkedIn Learning” or “Lynda” (the former name).
3. Log in with your library card number and PIN.
4. Access is usually unlimited while your library card is valid.

Libraries known to offer free LinkedIn Learning:

• United States: Los Angeles Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, many mid-size city libraries.
• United Kingdom: Most county council libraries via a shared subscription.
• Philippines: National Library of the Philippines and some university-partnered public libraries. Ask at your local reference desk.
• Australia: Most state libraries.
• Canada: Toronto Public Library, Vancouver Public Library, many others.

Getting a library card is usually free with proof of address. This method is the best long-term option because access continues indefinitely.

Method 3: University / alumni access

Many universities buy LinkedIn Learning for their students and alumni:

1. Check your university’s IT services or student portal, search for “LinkedIn Learning”.
2. Log in with your school email address ([email protected]).
3. If offered, access is usually free while you are a current student.
4. Some schools (like the University of the Philippines system, many US state schools) extend access to alumni for life.

Contact your school’s IT desk or alumni association if it is not obvious. Many students never realize they have access.

Method 4: Employer benefits

Many companies buy LinkedIn Learning for their employees as part of the L&D budget:

1. Ask HR or check your employee benefits portal.
2. Search for “LinkedIn Learning”, “professional development”, or “training subscription”.
3. Some companies enroll all employees automatically; others require you to request access.
4. Access typically ends when you leave the company.

If your company does not currently offer it, propose it. Cite the retention and productivity benefits (companies with strong L&D benefits have measurably lower turnover). LinkedIn Learning for a 50-person team is around USD 300/month, well within most L&D budgets.

Method 5: LinkedIn’s always-free individual courses

A small subset of LinkedIn Learning courses are permanently free without any subscription:

1. Go to linkedin.com/learning.
2. Search for a topic.
3. Filter results by “Free” (if the filter is available in your region).
4. Free courses have a “Free” badge on the thumbnail.

These are usually intro-level teasers designed to make you upgrade. Quality is good but selection is limited. Best used to sample the platform before committing to a paid method.

Method 6: Government reskilling programs

Some countries partner with LinkedIn Learning to offer free access to jobseekers and displaced workers:

• United States: Some state Career OneStop centers offer free LinkedIn Learning to unemployed workers.
• Philippines: TESDA sometimes partners with LinkedIn for specific reskilling programs (check tesda.gov.ph for current offerings).
• Singapore: SkillsFuture credits can be used for LinkedIn Learning subscriptions.
• UK: National Careers Service occasionally offers free access through partnerships.

Availability changes yearly. Check government reskilling websites in your country for current offerings.

Best Coursera / edX alternatives (also free)

If none of the above work, consider these free alternatives that cover similar content:

• Coursera Plus (7-day free trial + audit mode): Free to audit most courses (no certificate, but full lecture access). Similar quality to LinkedIn Learning.
• edX Audit Track: Free access to Harvard, MIT, and other top-university courses. Certificate requires payment but content is free.
• freeCodeCamp: 100% free tech-focused courses, especially strong for web development and data science.
• Google Digital Garage: Free courses on digital marketing, data, and career skills, some with recognized certificates.
• HubSpot Academy: Free marketing, sales, and service courses with certificates.
• YouTube: Full-length courses by top instructors (Traversy Media for web dev, freeCodeCamp channel, others). No structured learning path but massive content.

The stacked strategy (get years of free access)

Combine multiple methods for continuous free access:

1. Now: Use the 1-month free trial (30 days of full access).
2. Month 2 onwards: Get a library card if you do not have one. Use library access.
3. In parallel: Check your alma mater alumni benefits.
4. If working: Ask HR about employer benefits.
5. Fill gaps: Use free Coursera audit mode and Google Digital Garage for topics LinkedIn Learning does not cover well.

Combined, most people can access LinkedIn Learning or equivalent quality content free for years without paying USD 39.99/month.

What to actually learn on LinkedIn Learning first

If you get access, popular high-value courses in 2026:

• “Learning Data Analytics” (Ben Sullins) – hands-on data with Excel and SQL
• “Excel Essential Training” (Dennis Taylor) – the definitive Excel tutorial
• “Learning Python” (Joe Marini) – clean Python intro for non-programmers
• “Communication Foundations” (Tatiana Kolovou) – underrated soft-skill course
• “AI for Everyone” (multiple instructors) – foundational AI literacy
• “Project Management Foundations” (Bonnie Biafore) – basics for anyone leading projects

Take one or two courses and finish them. Certificates go on your LinkedIn profile, which is a nice side benefit for job hunting.