If you spend a bit of time on LinkedIn, you’ll probably get a promo at some point for LinkedIn Premium.
I’m often asked in workshops… is it worth it?
Short answer: not really, At least if you are trying use LinkedIn as a sales and marketing too.
What Do You Get with LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium gives you a handful of helpful upgrades:
- You can connect with more people without hitting the weekly limit.
- You get that little “custom button” on your profile and posts.
- You see more insights on companies and profile views.
- Access to LinkedIn Learning and LinkedIn’s AI Writing tool.
- You get InMail credits to message people outside your network.
Sounds decent, right?
And honestly, it is better than a free account – but only just. Think of Premium as LinkedIn’s way of selling you back the features they’ve quietly stripped out of the free version over the years.
It’s not bad. It’s just not impressive.
When Sales Navigator is the Better Choice
Sales Navigator, on the other hand, actually gives you something useful:
- You can build lead lists and save accounts, so your outreach is strategic.
- You can create a focused home feed made up of your actual prospects (instead of whatever mess the LinkedIn algorithm throws at you).
- Search is way more powerful – filters by seniority, company headcount, recent job changes, etc.
- You can track activity and pick up on buying signals.
It’s a proper business tool, not a light upgrade.
But who should consider LinkedIn Premium?
If you are not sales focused, Premium is ideal, if you are an executive or leader and want to enhance your personal brand, it’s worth the investment, but it can be a cost if you don’t leverage the platform to your advantage.
If you are using LinkedIn for lead generation, prospecting and want to find the best and most active prospects – it’s not the best option, if budget is tight, Premium can bridge the gap. It’ll make life a bit easier. But if you’re serious about using LinkedIn to bring in clients – not just scroll – Sales Navigator is where you want to be.
Premium is like an unlocked free plan. Sales Nav is the actual upgrade.
Want to build your brand and leverage LinkedIn? Check our our workshops and public events.