Last updated: October 17, 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson. See our review methodology.
LinkedIn Learning lists more than 26,500 courses and learning paths, and most of them are forgettable. The ten below are the ones we would spend a subscription month on in 2026. Each was opened on LinkedIn Learning on 17 October 2026 to confirm it is live and to record its release date, rating and length, and we cross-checked our picks against LinkedIn’s own 2024 list of its most popular courses so you are not relying on our taste alone.
Quick verdict
LinkedIn Learning is worth a focused month for workplace skills: Excel, SQL, Python basics, project management and communication. It is weak for credentials that hiring systems filter on, where Coursera certificates and specialist certifications carry more weight. Best for: business and office skills, quick professional refreshers and anyone with free access through an employer or library. Skip if: you need an accredited or industry-recognized credential. Disclosure: LinkedIn Learning has no affiliate program we can join, so we earn nothing from these picks.
| # | Course | Instructor | Released | Rating (ratings) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Python Essential Training | Ryan Mitchell | Jan 2023 | 4.7 (17,656) | Complete beginners and analysts who want real Python fundamentals |
| 2 | SQL Essential Training | Walter Shields | Feb 2023 | 4.8 (19,954) | Anyone touching data at work |
| 3 | Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) | Leila Gharani | Jun 2026 | 4.8 (1,758) | Office workers who use Excel daily but never learned it properly |
| 4 | Power BI Essential Training | Gini von Courter | Jun 2025 | 4.7 (2,693) | Analysts standardizing on the Microsoft stack |
| 5 | What Is Generative AI? | Pinar Seyhan Demirdag | Mar 2023 | 4.6 (157,427) | Professionals who need to talk about AI clearly, not build models |
| 6 | Project Management Foundations | Bonnie Biafore | Oct 2022 | 4.8 (60,807) | Accidental project managers and coordinators |
| 7 | Becoming a Product Manager: A Complete Guide | Evan Kimbrell and Cole Mercer | Jun 2019 | 4.7 (8,198) | Career-switchers targeting an associate PM role |
| 8 | Communication Foundations | Brenda Bailey-Hughes and Tatiana Kolovou | Nov 2023 | 4.7 (14,061) | Early-career professionals |
| 9 | Time Management Fundamentals | Dave Crenshaw | Feb 2022 | 4.7 (27,087) | Overloaded managers and remote workers |
| 10 | Leadership Foundations | Dr. Shirley Davis | May 2023 | 4.8 (11,922) | First-time managers and team leads |
Ratings, rating counts and release dates as shown on each LinkedIn Learning course page, 17 October 2026.
How we picked: each course had to be live today, recent enough that its software and examples match what you will see at work (or about a subject that does not date), and backed by either LinkedIn’s own popularity data or an instructor with a verifiable track record. Roughly 40% of the picks on our 2021 version of this list had died or gone stale; we cut all of them, and this October check caught one more change, the new Excel edition.
1. Python Essential Training
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Instructor: Ryan Mitchell · Released Jan 2023 · 4h 23m · rated 4.7 (17,656) · View on LinkedIn Learning
The strongest single programming course on the platform. Ryan Mitchell, author of O’Reilly’s Web Scraping with Python, covers syntax, data structures, functions, classes and enough of the standard library to write useful scripts by the final chapter. It writes real code on screen rather than reading slides, and it is part of a Python Institute Professional Certificate path on LinkedIn Learning, which gives the completion more weight than a stand-alone course certificate.
Who it’s for: Complete beginners and analysts who want real Python fundamentals.
2. SQL Essential Training
Instructor: Walter Shields · Released Feb 2023 · 4h 36m · rated 4.8 (19,954) · View on LinkedIn Learning
Walter Shields teaches SQL the way hiring managers test it: SELECT statements, joins, aggregation and subqueries against a realistic database, in plain language and short chapters. SQL remains one of the most transferable data skills, and the core syntax carries straight over to the PostgreSQL and MySQL dialects that job postings list. With a 4.8 rating from nearly 20,000 learners, it is one of the best-rated technical courses on the platform.
Who it’s for: Anyone touching data at work.
3. Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365)
Instructor: Leila Gharani · Released Jun 2026 · 4h 32m · rated 4.8 (1,758) · View on LinkedIn Learning
A correction to our earlier version of this list: the course at this address is now the June 2026 edition taught by Leila Gharani, a Microsoft MVP, not Dennis Taylor’s earlier edition that topped LinkedIn’s 2024 most-popular list. Gharani covers data entry and organization, formulas, Copilot’s AI features, charts and PivotTables, sorting and filtering, and printing. Because it was recorded this year, everything on screen matches current Microsoft 365.
It is the most current Excel course on the platform, and early reviewers rate it 4.8. If you prefer Dennis Taylor’s teaching style, his Excel Tips Weekly course (6h 29m, rated 4.7) is still live.
Who it’s for: Office workers who use Excel daily but never learned it properly.
4. Power BI Essential Training
Instructor: Gini von Courter · Released Jun 2025 · 3h 34m · rated 4.7 (2,693) · View on LinkedIn Learning
A full tour of the Power BI workflow: connecting data, shaping it, building reports and publishing dashboards. Gini von Courter works in the free Power BI Desktop, so you can follow along without a license. The June 2025 edition is intermediate rather than beginner, so take the Excel pick first if PivotTables are new to you. Power BI ranked fourth on LinkedIn’s 2024 most-popular list.
Who it’s for: Analysts standardizing on the Microsoft stack.
5. What Is Generative AI?
Instructor: Pinar Seyhan Demirdag · Released Mar 2023 · 1h 17m · rated 4.6 (157,427) · View on LinkedIn Learning
About 75 minutes, no code, and the most-rated course on this list by a wide margin (more than 157,000 ratings). It explains what generative models do, where they fail and what that means for knowledge work. It is part of a Microsoft Professional Certificate path on generative AI. Treat it as the vocabulary lesson before hands-on AI training, such as the prompt engineering course in the by-goal section below.
Who it’s for: Professionals who need to talk about AI clearly, not build models.
6. Project Management Foundations
Instructor: Bonnie Biafore · Released Oct 2022 · 4h 1m · rated 4.8 (60,807) · View on LinkedIn Learning
Bonnie Biafore condenses project management into the parts working project managers use: scoping, scheduling, budgeting, stakeholders and closing. It has more than 60,000 ratings at 4.8 and sat second on LinkedIn’s 2024 most-popular list. If a recognized credential is the goal, the Google Project Management Certificate on Coursera is the stronger resume line; our Google Project Management Certificate review explains why.
Who it’s for: Accidental project managers and coordinators.
7. Becoming a Product Manager: A Complete Guide
Instructor: Evan Kimbrell and Cole Mercer · Released Jun 2019 · 10h 58m · rated 4.7 (8,198) · View on LinkedIn Learning
The most complete product-management career course on the platform: roadmaps, prioritization, working with engineers and the job search itself, across almost 11 hours. One honest caveat: it was released in June 2019, so it predates the AI tools now common in product work. The fundamentals still hold, but pair it with a recent AI primer.
Who it’s for: Career-switchers targeting an associate PM role.
8. Communication Foundations
Instructor: Brenda Bailey-Hughes and Tatiana Kolovou · Released Nov 2023 · 1h 13m · rated 4.7 (14,061) · View on LinkedIn Learning
Two Kelley School of Business lecturers on the situations that decide careers: meetings, email, presentations and difficult conversations. The advice is specific enough to use the same day, and the sections on structuring a point before you speak are worth the hour on their own. It is part of LinkedIn’s Becoming a Manager Professional Certificate path.
Who it’s for: Early-career professionals.
9. Time Management Fundamentals
Instructor: Dave Crenshaw · Released Feb 2022 · 1h 47m · rated 4.7 (27,087) · View on LinkedIn Learning
Dave Crenshaw’s system, gather everything into one trusted place, process it on a schedule and single-task, has held up across a decade of productivity fads. It is one of the few courses in the genre that teaches a method rather than motivation, and at under two hours it is easy to finish in a week.
Who it’s for: Overloaded managers and remote workers.
10. Leadership Foundations
Instructor: Dr. Shirley Davis · Released May 2023 · 1h 56m · rated 4.8 (11,922) · View on LinkedIn Learning
Dr. Shirley Davis, a former SHRM executive, covers the transition that trips up most new managers: influence without authority, feedback and leading through change. It is short, rated 4.8 and part of a LinkedIn Professional Certificate path. Pair it with our MasterClass leadership picks if you prefer long-form classes.
Who it’s for: First-time managers and team leads.
How to Choose the Right LinkedIn Learning Course
The catalog rewards a plan and punishes browsing. Three questions sort it quickly. First, is the goal a skill or a signal? If you need to do something new next month, such as write SQL or build a dashboard, pick one Essential Training course and finish it. If you need your profile to show something, choose a Professional Certificate path over scattered single courses; one completed path reads better than five orphaned certificates.
Second, check the release date before you commit. LinkedIn re-records its bestsellers regularly (the new Excel edition is an example), but the long tail contains thousands of older courses the search bar will happily surface. The release date sits on every course page; for software topics, treat anything more than two or three years old as suspect.
Third, match the platform to the stakes. LinkedIn Learning is the right tool for fast, broad workplace competence. When a course is meant to change your job title, such as a data certification, a finance credential or a formal project-management qualification, a dedicated program from the alternatives below is usually the better spend. A useful middle step is a learning path: LinkedIn’s own Top 20 Most Popular Courses path bundles 20 courses and 33 hours of content, and LinkedIn says it will update that path on 2 November 2026, so finish it before then if you want its certificate.
Best LinkedIn Learning courses by goal
The ten picks above are generalist. If you came for a specific field, these six are the courses we would start with, checked on 17 October 2026. Several are recent re-recordings; the data analytics course is older but still one of the most-rated in its area.
| Goal | Course | Instructor | Released | Rating (ratings) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI and prompting | Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Generative AI | Ronnie Sheer | Aug 2024 | 4.6 (14,122) | Hands-on next step after What Is Generative AI?; part of a Microsoft Professional Certificate path |
| Data analytics | Learning Data Analytics: 1 Foundations | Robin Hunt | Apr 2021 | 4.7 (32,886) | How analysts think and work; on LinkedIn’s 2024 most-popular list |
| Finance and accounting | Accounting Foundations | Jim Stice and Kay Stice | May 2025 | 4.8 (867) | The accounting cycle and financial statements, taught by two Brigham Young University accounting professors |
| Marketing | Marketing Foundations | Marta Dapena Barón | Nov 2025 | 4.7 (236) | A current overview of strategy, customers and channels |
| HR | HR Foundations: Core Human Resources | Wayne Cascio | Sep 2023 | 4.7 (6,150) | Core HR areas from professor and author Wayne Cascio |
| IT support | IT Help Desk for Beginners | Robert McMillen | May 2023 | 4.8 (2,851) | Ticketing, troubleshooting and customer service for a first IT role |
For engineers and developers, the Python and SQL picks above plus LinkedIn’s Career Essentials in GitHub Professional Certificate (Ray Villalobos, released May 2023) make a practical bundle. For finance roles that need a recognized credential rather than a refresher, look at CFI or Coursera in the alternatives table below.
Two notes on these picks. The marketing and accounting courses are recent re-recordings with fewer ratings so far, so judge them on the table of contents and instructor rather than the rating count. And the HR and IT help desk courses are short introductions: they are good for deciding whether a field suits you, but a role-specific credential such as CompTIA A+ for IT support, or SHRM or HRCI certification for HR, is what employers screen for once you commit.
Are LinkedIn Learning Certifications Worth It?
Every course above issues a certificate of completion that appears on your LinkedIn profile in one click. Recruiters read it as evidence of initiative, not as a credential. A LinkedIn Learning certificate is not accredited, and no exam stands behind it.
Two honest upgrades exist. First, LinkedIn bundles courses into Professional Certificate paths, several of them co-branded: Python Essential Training is part of a Python Institute path, and What Is Generative AI? and Project Management Foundations are part of Microsoft paths. A completed path carries more signal than a single course. Second, LinkedIn says more than 2,000 of its courses prepare learners for over 120 outside credentials, including certifications, continuing education units and academic credit, so some courses do count toward professional continuing-education requirements. Check the course page for the issuing body before you rely on it.
One catch for library users: LinkedIn Learning for Library does not offer downloadable certificates (LinkedIn help). For credentials that hiring systems filter on, Coursera Professional Certificates and specialist programs carry more weight.
Browse Coursera Professional Certificates →
How Much Does LinkedIn Learning Cost?
LinkedIn no longer sells LinkedIn Learning on its own. Its help center says there is no individual Learning subscription and no single-course purchase, so for an individual the way in is a LinkedIn Premium plan, which includes Learning. Employers and schools buy it separately. LinkedIn shows your exact price only after you sign in, and it varies by country, so we do not print a number here that may not match your checkout. Eligible members get a one-month free trial. Our LinkedIn Learning cost guide covers the plans in detail.
Free routes: many public libraries give card holders LinkedIn Learning at no cost, and many employers include it as a benefit. Those routes give you the catalog, though library access comes without downloadable certificates.
Can You Download LinkedIn Learning Courses?
Yes, on a phone or tablet. LinkedIn’s help center says all learners can download courses and individual videos in the LinkedIn Learning mobile app, but not on a desktop or laptop. You need an active subscription, and the app asks you to sign in again every 30 days, so downloads are for commutes and flights, not for keeping courses after you cancel.
Strong Alternatives to LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning’s breadth is real, but four competitors beat it in their own lanes, and one of them is often the better spend if you already know your direction. Our full alternatives comparison goes deeper.
| Platform | What it does better | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Coursera | University and company certificates (Google, IBM, Meta); financial aid available | You want a credential employers recognize |
| Udemy | Pay per course and keep it; frequent sales | You want one specific skill without a subscription |
| DataCamp | In-browser coding practice for SQL, Python and Power BI | You learn data skills by doing, not watching |
| CFI | Finance certifications such as FMVA with weight in corporate finance | You work in corporate finance or accounting |
Head-to-head comparisons: Coursera vs LinkedIn Learning and Udemy vs LinkedIn Learning.
Compare course prices on Udemy →
How to Get Real Value From the Free Month
A one-month trial is long enough to finish two or three full courses if you treat it like a project. A plan that works: in week one, take the skill course your next review depends on (for most office roles, the Excel or SQL pick). In weeks two and three, take the career-track course (project management, product or leadership) and do the exercise files instead of letting the videos autoplay. In week four, add the certificates to your profile, then decide from experience whether to keep paying. Set a reminder a few days before the trial renews.
People on Reddit who rate the courses tend to land in the same place: the courses are clear and quick for getting up to speed on an unfamiliar topic before an interview or a new project, but many are introductory. One commenter who had taken a dozen found them most useful for condensed knowledge; others noted they lean toward beginners and a US workplace context.
What Happened to Lynda.com?
Lynda.com, the professional video-course library LinkedIn bought in 2015, was folded into LinkedIn Learning, and course pages still carry the line “formerly Lynda.com”. Old Lynda accounts and course lists migrated over, so if you are looking for a favorite Lynda course, its successor is probably in the LinkedIn Learning catalog under the same or a lightly updated title. Several long-running instructors, Dave Crenshaw among them, date from the Lynda era.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best LinkedIn Learning course overall?
For hard skills, SQL Essential Training (Walter Shields, 4.8 from nearly 20,000 ratings) and Python Essential Training (Ryan Mitchell). For office skills, the June 2026 Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) with Leila Gharani. For soft skills, Communication Foundations.
Are LinkedIn Learning certificates worth putting on a resume?
On your LinkedIn profile, yes: they display cleanly and signal initiative. On a resume, treat them as supporting evidence, not a credential, because they are not accredited and have no exam. A Coursera Professional Certificate or a specialist certification carries more weight.
Are LinkedIn Learning courses free?
Not on their own. LinkedIn Learning comes with LinkedIn Premium, which offers a one-month free trial to eligible members, and many public libraries and employers provide it at no cost to you. Library access does not include downloadable certificates.
Are LinkedIn Learning courses accredited?
No. Certificates of completion are not accredited. LinkedIn says more than 2,000 courses prepare learners for over 120 outside credentials, including continuing education units and academic credit, so check the specific course page if you need credit from a professional body.
How many courses does LinkedIn Learning have?
LinkedIn Learning lists more than 26,500 courses and learning paths, with new ones added each week (LinkedIn Learning, October 2026).
Can you download LinkedIn Learning courses?
Yes, in the LinkedIn Learning mobile app, with an active subscription. Videos cannot be downloaded on a desktop or laptop, and the app asks you to sign in again every 30 days.
What is the difference between a course and a learning path?
A course is a single set of videos with its own certificate of completion. A learning path is a sequence of courses on one goal, and some paths end in a Professional Certificate, co-branded with partners such as Microsoft or the Python Institute.
What happened to Lynda.com courses?
Lynda.com was absorbed into LinkedIn Learning after LinkedIn bought it in 2015. The catalog migrated, and many current bestsellers are updated versions of Lynda-era courses.
Is LinkedIn Learning better than Coursera or Udemy?
They do different jobs. LinkedIn Learning wins for short workplace-skill courses inside a subscription; Coursera wins for recognized certificates and university-backed depth; Udemy wins for buying and keeping a single course cheaply.
The Bottom Line
Use the free month on purpose: pick two or three courses from this list, finish them, add the certificates to your profile and decide from experience whether the subscription earns its keep. If what you actually need is a credential, start with the alternatives instead. That is the honest fork in the road, and the reason this page recommends both. Our full LinkedIn Learning review covers the platform itself.
Prefer a recognized certificate? See Coursera Plus →
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LinkedIn Learning review · LinkedIn Learning cost · LinkedIn Learning alternatives · Coursera vs LinkedIn Learning · Udemy vs LinkedIn Learning · Best Pluralsight courses · Best data analytics courses · Best Udemy Excel courses · Best programming certifications · Best online courses by subject
We review courses independently. LinkedIn Learning pays us nothing; we may earn a commission from Coursera, Udemy, DataCamp and CFI links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our review methodology.