Two different buying models
LinkedIn Learning is a subscription library. LinkedIn's help center says there are two ways to get it: an individual Premium subscription or access through an organization, and that courses cannot be bought one at a time. Its business page describes 24,000+ expert-led courses across 25 languages. [1][4]
Udemy is mainly a marketplace of individual courses you buy once and keep. Its Personal Plan page lists single courses at $19.99 to $199.99 with lifetime access to that course. Udemy also sells Personal Plan, a subscription starting at $13 a month that gives access to over 28,000 curated courses, billed monthly or annually. [6]
Side-by-side comparison
Read from official pages on 2026-10-30. LinkedIn's help pages we could read did not list a price for Premium, so check the price shown at checkout in your country. [1][2][3][5][6][7]
| Factor | LinkedIn Learning | Udemy |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Through LinkedIn Premium or an organization; no single-course purchase | Per course ($19.99 to $199.99) or Personal Plan from $13 per month |
| Catalog | 24,000+ courses in 25 languages (business page) | 28,000+ courses in Personal Plan; individual courses sold separately |
| Free trial | Premium free trial lasts a month for eligible users | Personal Plan may start with a free trial offer |
| Free route | Some public libraries provide free access with a library card | No library route found in the pages we read |
| Refunds | Premium may be refundable within 7 days of a charge without Premium usage; EU users 14 days | Course page lists a 30-day money-back guarantee |
| After you stop paying | Access ends at the end of the billing cycle | Individual courses keep lifetime access |
| Certificate display | Completed courses can be added to your LinkedIn profile | Course page lists a certificate of completion |
Free access through your library
Many readers can skip the price question entirely. Chicago Public Library, for example, offers LinkedIn Learning to cardholders: in the app you sign in with chipublib as the email, then your library card number and PIN. Other library systems may offer it too, so check your own library's online resources page before paying for Premium. Our guide to library card course access covers how to look. [5]
Curation and catalog differences
LinkedIn Learning sells one library under one subscription, so you do not choose between competing courses on price. Udemy's individual catalog is open to many instructors and you choose by course; Personal Plan is described as a curated collection of top courses, and Udemy publishes a list of included courses. If you want a particular Udemy course, check that list before assuming Personal Plan covers it. [6]
For a single deep course you will revisit, such as a long programming course, owning it on Udemy can be simpler. The JavaScript course page we checked lists 71 hours of on-demand video, which is more than a typical month of evening study. [7]
Who should use which
Editorial guidance based on the pricing models above, not on test results.
- Library offers LinkedIn Learning: use it first; it costs nothing extra.
- You already pay for LinkedIn Premium: LinkedIn says Premium subscriptions include LinkedIn Learning access. [2]
- You need one specific course and want to keep it: buy it on Udemy and note the 30-day guarantee.
- You want to sample many courses for a few months: compare Udemy Personal Plan with Premium at your checkout prices.
- You care most about showing completions to recruiters on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Learning completions can be added to your profile directly.
Worked example: three months of learning
Suppose you want two programming courses and some short business courses over 3 months. On Udemy you could buy the two courses individually, somewhere between about $40 and $400 depending on the listed prices, and keep them. Or you could use Personal Plan from $13 a month, about $39 over three months, while subscribed. On LinkedIn Learning you would pay three months of Premium at your local price, or nothing if your library provides it. Cancel subscriptions before renewal if you finish early.
Questions before you decide
Can I buy a single LinkedIn Learning course?
No. LinkedIn's help center says courses cannot be bought one at a time; individual access comes through a Premium subscription or through an organization.
What is Udemy's refund policy?
The Udemy course page we checked on 2026-10-30 lists a 30-day money-back guarantee and full lifetime access. Check the course page you plan to buy.
Can I get LinkedIn Learning for free?
Often through a public library. Chicago Public Library, for example, provides it to cardholders who sign in with their card number and PIN. LinkedIn also offers a one-month Premium free trial to eligible users.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- LinkedIn Help: LinkedIn Learning subscription overview Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- LinkedIn Help: Access Learning with a Premium subscription Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- LinkedIn Help: LinkedIn refund policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- LinkedIn Learning for organizations Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Chicago Public Library: LinkedIn Learning access Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Udemy Personal Plan and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Udemy course page example: The Complete JavaScript Course Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.