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Last updated: September 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, co-founded in 1995 by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin. LinkedIn agreed to buy it in April 2015 in a deal valued at about $1.5 billion, and Microsoft announced its $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn the following year. The Lynda library was then folded into a new product, LinkedIn Learning. Institutional accounts were moved across first — Rutgers, for example, migrated its Lynda accounts in August 2019 — and in early June 2021 LinkedIn shut Lynda.com down for good, as Class Central reported at the time. Today lynda.com simply redirects to LinkedIn Learning (we checked on 15 September 2026). The library didn’t disappear; it 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 — LinkedIn lists over 26,300 courses and Learning Paths, with more added each week. 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. The way you pay for it has changed too: LinkedIn no longer sells an individual LinkedIn Learning subscription or single courses. For an individual, access comes with a LinkedIn Premium plan, which offers a free trial to eligible members. 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: if you connect your LinkedIn account, completed courses can be shown on your LinkedIn profile. It’s optional.
- Personalized recommendations: the platform now suggests courses based on your job title, skills, and connections.
- Pricing model: the standalone subscription is gone. Individuals get LinkedIn Learning as part of LinkedIn Premium; schools and employers buy it for their people.
- Same library, same history: the course catalogue carried over, and migrated accounts kept their viewing history.
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, because Learning is included. It isn’t credential-free either: LinkedIn says more than 2,000 of its courses prepare you for over 120 outside credentials, including certifications, continuing education units and academic credits, and it hosts Professional Certificates from providers such as Microsoft and Zendesk. 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 who wants a university-backed certificate will do better elsewhere. 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; typing lynda.com takes you straight to LinkedIn Learning, which hosts the former Lynda catalog. Lynda accounts were migrated to LinkedIn Learning during the move.
How much does LinkedIn Learning cost?
LinkedIn no longer sells an individual LinkedIn Learning subscription or individual courses. If you’re paying for yourself, access comes with a LinkedIn Premium plan, which offers a free trial to eligible members; schools and employers buy it separately for their people. See our LinkedIn Learning cost guide for more detail.
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.