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Last updated: June 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: There’s no longer a choice to make — Lynda is LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn fully retired the Lynda.com brand in 2021 and moved the entire course library into LinkedIn Learning. So if you’re comparing the two, you’re really just deciding whether to use today’s LinkedIn Learning. It’s a solid platform for professional and creative skills, but if you want a sharper alternative, Pluralsight (for tech), Coursera (for recognized credentials), or Udemy (for affordable one-off courses) are the picks we’d point you to.
- The short answer: Lynda was rebranded into LinkedIn Learning — same library, one platform
- Best for: professional, business, and creative skills, especially if you have LinkedIn Premium
- Stronger alternatives: Pluralsight (tech depth), Coursera (credentials), Udemy (price)
See Our Top Alternative (Pluralsight) →
What Happened to Lynda?
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Lynda.com was one of the original online-learning platforms, founded back in 1995. LinkedIn acquired it in 2015, and Microsoft acquired LinkedIn the following year. Over the next few years the Lynda library was gradually folded into a new product, LinkedIn Learning, and in 2021 the Lynda.com brand was retired for good. Every Lynda course, instructor, and certificate of completion lives on inside LinkedIn Learning today — the content didn’t disappear, it just moved house. That’s why “Lynda vs LinkedIn Learning” is no longer a real comparison: they’re the same platform at two points in time.
What LinkedIn Learning Is Today
LinkedIn Learning carries the same strengths Lynda was known for: a deep, professionally produced library covering business, creative, and software skills, taught by experienced instructors. The big addition is integration with LinkedIn itself — completed courses can show on your profile, and the platform recommends courses based on your role and connections. It runs on a subscription (often bundled with LinkedIn Premium), and a free trial is usually available. For a full breakdown of the current platform, see our LinkedIn Learning review and our guide to how much LinkedIn Learning costs.
Lynda vs LinkedIn Learning: What Actually Changed
If you used Lynda years ago and are wondering what’s different now, the core library is the same — but a few things changed in the move:
- Branding and login: Lynda.com is gone; you now sign in through LinkedIn Learning with a LinkedIn account.
- Profile integration: completed courses can be added to your LinkedIn profile automatically — a feature standalone Lynda never had.
- Personalized recommendations: the platform now suggests courses based on your job title, skills, and connections.
- Pricing model: instead of a standalone Lynda subscription, access is sold through LinkedIn Learning, often bundled with LinkedIn Premium.
- Same instructors and certificates: the teaching staff and certificates of completion carried over intact.
In short, you get everything Lynda offered plus tighter LinkedIn integration — the trade-off being that it’s now tied to the LinkedIn ecosystem rather than a separate account.
Is LinkedIn Learning Worth It?
For broad professional development — leadership, project management, design, marketing, and popular software — it’s a strong, polished option, and it’s an easy yes if you already pay for LinkedIn Premium (the subscription is bundled). Where it’s weaker is depth in any single technical track: a developer who wants hands-on coding paths will outgrow it quickly, and someone chasing a recognized credential won’t find accredited certificates here. That’s where a more focused platform earns its place.
Better Alternatives, by Goal
If LinkedIn Learning isn’t the right fit, here’s where we’d send you depending on what you’re after:
- For tech and software depth: Pluralsight — the closest LinkedIn Learning competitor, with far deeper developer, cloud, and IT skill paths plus hands-on labs. See our Pluralsight comparison too.
- For recognized credentials: Coursera — university- and industry-backed certificates that carry real weight with employers.
- For affordable, one-off courses: Udemy — pay per course rather than a subscription, ideal if you only need one specific skill.
For a wider set of options, see our roundup of the best online course platforms by subject.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lynda now LinkedIn Learning?
Yes. LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com in 2015 and gradually moved its library into LinkedIn Learning, retiring the Lynda.com brand entirely in 2021. The courses and instructors live on inside LinkedIn Learning — it’s the same platform, just renamed and expanded.
Can I still use Lynda.com?
No. Lynda.com no longer exists as a separate site; visitors are directed to LinkedIn Learning, which hosts the full former Lynda catalog. If you had a Lynda account, it transitioned to LinkedIn Learning.
How much does LinkedIn Learning cost?
LinkedIn Learning runs on a monthly or annual subscription and is frequently bundled with LinkedIn Premium, so many users effectively get it as part of that plan. A free trial is usually available. See our LinkedIn Learning cost guide for current figures.
What’s the best alternative to LinkedIn Learning?
For technical skills, Pluralsight is the closest and deeper competitor. For recognized credentials, Coursera is stronger. For affordable, single-topic courses without a subscription, Udemy is the better value. The right pick depends on whether you want breadth, credentials, or price.