LinkedIn Premium
In 2025, professionals and businesses alike turn to LinkedIn as a cornerstone for career growth, networking, and talent acquisition. While the free platform offers a robust set of tools, many users wonder about the benefits and pricing of its paid services.
The questions “what are the LinkedIn Premium costs?” and “how much is LinkedIn Premium?” are among the most common, but for businesses, a related question is equally critical: “what does it cost to post a job on LinkedIn?” The platform’s monetization strategy is built on providing targeted solutions, from individual career advancement to large-scale recruitment. Understanding the various subscription tiers and job advertisement options is essential to making a smart investment.
This comprehensive guide breaks down all the LinkedIn Premium charges and job posting fees for 2025. We’ll explore the different premium plans—including what’s included and their prices—and provide a detailed overview of the process and cost to advertise a job on LinkedIn. Whether you’re a job seeker looking for an edge, a sales professional hunting for leads, or a hiring manager searching for the perfect candidate, this article will give you the clarity you need to navigate the platform’s paid services effectively.
Understanding the Cost for LinkedIn Premium Plans
LinkedIn’s premium offerings are segmented into four primary plans, each tailored to a specific professional need. The cost of premium LinkedIn varies significantly between these tiers, with prices reflecting the value and exclusivity of the features included. All plans offer a discount if billed annually, which is a key consideration for long-term users. Many of the plans also come with a 30-day free trial, allowing you to experience the benefits firsthand before committing to a subscription.
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Premium Career: How Much is LinkedIn Premium for Job Seekers?
This is the most popular plan for individuals focused on career growth. It’s a powerful toolkit for job seekers, and a good answer to the question of “how much is the LinkedIn Premium?” for personal use. The monthly cost of Premium Career is typically around $29.99, while an annual payment can reduce the effective monthly price significantly. It’s an investment that can pay off quickly if it helps you land your next role.
Key Features:
- Direct Messaging (InMail): You get 5 InMail credits per month to directly message recruiters and hiring managers you’re not connected with. This is a game-changer for standing out.
- Applicant Insights: See how you rank against other applicants for a job, giving you the ability to tailor your application to be more competitive.
- “Who’s Viewed Your Profile”: Get a full list of everyone who has viewed your profile over the last 365 days, helping you identify potential networking or job opportunities.
- LinkedIn Learning: Unlimited access to a vast library of professional development courses to acquire new skills and certifications.
Premium Business: For Network Expansion and Business Growth
The Premium Business plan is for professionals who want to grow their network and gain deeper insights into market trends and companies. The cost for LinkedIn Premium for business is higher, typically around $59.99 per month, or a discounted annual rate. This plan builds upon the features of Premium Career with additional tools for strategic networking.
Key Features:
- Unlimited People Browse: This feature removes the “commercial use” search limit, allowing you to browse profiles and conduct market research without restrictions.
- 15 InMail Credits: With more InMail credits, you can conduct more outreach to potential partners or clients.
- Business Insights: Access in-depth data on companies, including growth trends and competitor analysis, which is crucial for strategic business decisions.
Sales Navigator Core & Recruiter Lite: Specialized Tools with a Higher Cost
For sales and recruiting professionals, the costs for these specialized tools are significantly higher, reflecting their targeted and powerful capabilities. The cost of premium LinkedIn for Sales Navigator Core is generally around $99.99 per month, while Recruiter Lite can start at approximately $170 per month. These tools are designed to be a fundamental part of a professional’s workflow, providing clear ROI in lead generation and talent acquisition.
Sales Navigator Core Features:
- Advanced search filters to find specific leads.
- 50 InMail credits per month.
- The ability to create and save lead lists.
Recruiter Lite Features:
- Advanced candidate search tools.
- 30 InMail credits per month.
- Integrated candidate management tools.
How to Post a Job on LinkedIn and Associated Costs
For businesses looking to hire, the process of how to post a job on LinkedIn is straightforward, but the associated costs can vary widely. LinkedIn offers two primary options for posting a job: a free job post and a paid, or “promoted,” job post. Understanding the difference is key to making an effective hiring decision.
Posting a Free Job vs. a Paid Job Ad
You can post a job to LinkedIn for free, which is an excellent option for small businesses or for testing the waters. A free job post is visible in search results and to your network, but its visibility is limited. You can only have one free job post active at a time, and it won’t receive the same promotional push as a paid ad.
To reach a wider, more qualified audience and increase your chances of finding the perfect candidate, you can advertise a job on LinkedIn through its promoted job posting feature. This is where the costs come into play. The cost to post a job ad on LinkedIn is not a fixed fee; it operates on a pay-per-click (PPC) basis. This means you are only charged when someone clicks on your job ad.
How LinkedIn Job Ad Costs are Determined
The average cost per click (CPC) on a LinkedIn job ad can range from $0.50 to $6.00, but this figure is highly dynamic and depends on several factors:
- Job Title and Location: Highly competitive roles and popular locations will naturally have a higher CPC.
- Industry: Certain industries with a high demand for talent will have higher costs.
- Budget: You can set a daily or total budget for your ad. LinkedIn will spend your budget to maximize visibility and clicks. The minimum daily budget is typically around $5.
- Ad Relevance: LinkedIn’s algorithm favors well-written, relevant job descriptions, which can help lower your cost per click.
You have full control over your spending by setting a daily budget, and the ad will automatically stop once that budget is reached. This flexibility allows you to manage your costs effectively, making it a viable option for businesses of all sizes.
LinkedIn Premium Costs vs. Other Platforms: A 2025 Comparison
Understanding the pricing of professional and social platforms is crucial for both individuals and businesses. The table below compares the premium subscription costs and job posting models of LinkedIn against its primary competitors in the market, including X (formerly Twitter), Indeed, and Glassdoor, based on data from 2025.
| Platform | Premium/Subscription Model | Individual Subscription Cost (approx. monthly) | Job Posting/Advertising Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Career, Business, Sales Navigator, Recruiter Lite | $29.99 – $170+ (depending on plan) | Pay-per-click (PPC) or daily budget (minimum ~$5/day) | |
| X (formerly Twitter) | Premium Basic, Premium, and Premium+ tiers | $3 – $40 (depending on tier) | Primarily through self-serve ads, PPC/CPM (Cost-per-1000 impressions) based on budget |
| Indeed | Sponsored Jobs, Indeed Resume (Recruiter service) | $120+ (for premium recruiter tools) | Free option available. Sponsored jobs are pay-per-application (PPA), with a minimum budget of ~$5/day |
| Glassdoor | Employer branding packages, Premium Profile | Variable (bundled with employer packages) | Variable and often included in an annual contract. Can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. |
| Facebook (Meta) | No individual subscription, but offers professional business tools | N/A | Budget-based PPC/CPM model. Average cost-per-click is around ~$0.50, highly dependent on targeting and campaign objective. |
Whether you’re asking “how much LinkedIn Premium?” for your personal career or “what is the cost of premium LinkedIn?” for your business, the key is to match the features to your goals. For job seekers, the cost of the Premium Career plan is a worthwhile investment. For businesses, the ability to post a job on LinkedIn for free is a great starting point, with promoted jobs offering a scalable and powerful way to find top talent. By understanding the pricing structure for both premium subscriptions and job postings, you can strategically use the platform to achieve your professional and hiring objectives without overspending. The ultimate value of these services isn’t just in the features themselves, but in how effectively you use them to drive results.
FAQ: What is a fair cost of premium LinkedIn and job posts?
Q: What is the primary difference between LinkedIn Premium Career and Premium Business?
A: The main difference lies in their focus. Premium Career is for job seekers and career development, offering tools like Applicant Insights. Premium Business is for networking and business growth, providing features like unlimited Browse and business insights. Their respective costs for LinkedIn Premium reflect these different focuses.
Q: Is there an annual discount?
A: Yes, all LinkedIn Premium plans and many job posting packages offer a significant discount if you pay annually instead of monthly. This can be a smart way to save money if you plan to use the service for an extended period.
Q: Can I post a job for free, and then promote it later?
A: Yes, you can start with a free job post and later choose to promote it. LinkedIn gives you the option to set a budget to boost your job’s visibility, which is how you transition to a paid ad.
Q: How much does it cost to post a job on LinkedIn with a promoted plan?
A: The cost is not a single amount but is determined by your daily or total budget and the dynamic cost per click (CPC). You can expect to pay anywhere from a few dollars a day to several hundred dollars, depending on the job, location, and your desired reach.