How to Tell If Someone Has LinkedIn Premium [2026 Update]
TL;DR
The clearest sign someone has LinkedIn Premium is the gold circle badge next to their name. If you see a "Message" button on their profile even though you're not connected, they have Open Profile enabled (a Premium feature). Premium users can see who viewed their profile, have InMail credits, and tend to be more active on the platform. The badge looks the same across all tiers (Career, Business, Sales Navigator, Recruiter). You can hide the badge, so its absence doesn't confirm they don't have Premium.
You're looking at someone's LinkedIn profile and wondering: do they have Premium? It's a reasonable thing to want to know. Premium users have different capabilities, different levels of visibility into who views their profile, and sometimes different expectations around outreach.
The good news is that LinkedIn makes it fairly easy to tell. Here's what to look for.
Hey There!
Before we get into the signals, it's worth understanding why this matters. Knowing someone has Premium tells you something about how they use LinkedIn. Premium users tend to be more active, more likely to check their messages, and more likely to respond to outreach. They've invested in the platform, which means they're getting value from it.
That context shapes how you approach them.
What Is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is a paid subscription that unlocks additional features beyond the free LinkedIn experience. It comes in several tiers, each designed for a different use case: job seekers, business professionals, salespeople, and recruiters.
How Is LinkedIn Premium Different from LinkedIn?
Free LinkedIn gives you:
- A profile and the ability to connect with others
- Basic search (limited filters)
- Messaging to connections only
- Seeing the last 5 people who viewed your profile
- Limited InMail (none, actually, unless you have Premium)
LinkedIn Premium adds:
- InMail credits to message non-connections
- Full list of profile viewers (last 90 days)
- Advanced search filters
- LinkedIn Learning access
- Salary insights and applicant comparisons (Career tier)
- Business insights and unlimited people browsing (Business tier)
- Lead management and CRM integration (Sales Navigator)
- Candidate search and tracking (Recruiter)
Note: The specific features depend on which Premium tier someone has. The gold badge looks the same for all of them.
How to Tell If Someone Has a Premium LinkedIn Account?
The Gold LinkedIn Premium Badge
The most obvious indicator is the gold LinkedIn Premium badge. It appears as a small gold circle with a stylized "in" logo, displayed next to the person's name on their profile.
If you see this badge, they have some form of LinkedIn Premium. The badge appears:
- Next to their name on their profile page
- In search results next to their name
- In the "People You May Know" suggestions
- In connection request notifications
Not everyone with Premium displays the badge. LinkedIn gives users the option to hide it, so the absence of a badge doesn't definitively mean they don't have Premium. But if the badge is there, they definitely do.
The "Open Profile" Indicator
Some LinkedIn Premium subscribers enable the "Open Profile" feature, which allows anyone on LinkedIn to send them a message for free, even without being connected.
If you see a "Message" button on someone's profile even though you're not connected, they have Premium and have enabled Open Profile. This is a useful signal for outreach: you can message them directly without using InMail credits.
How to Search LinkedIn Premium Members?
You can filter for Premium members in LinkedIn search. Here's how:
- Run a search using LinkedIn's search bar
- Click "All filters" to open the advanced filter panel
- Look for the "Premium" filter under "Member features"
- Check the box to show only Premium members
This is useful when you want to prioritize outreach to people who are more likely to be active on the platform.
Note: This filter is available in basic LinkedIn search. Sales Navigator gives you even more granular filtering options, including the ability to filter by Open Profile status.
Conclusion
Knowing whether someone has LinkedIn Premium is a useful signal, but not a decisive one. Here's how to use it practically:
- If someone has the gold badge, they're an active LinkedIn user worth prioritizing in your outreach
- If they have Open Profile, message them directly without using InMail credits
- If they don't have the badge, don't assume they're less valuable. Many excellent prospects use free LinkedIn accounts
The quality of your outreach matters far more than whether your target has Premium. A personalized, relevant message to a free user will outperform a generic message to a Premium user every time.
FAQs
How Do You Upgrade to LinkedIn Premium?
Go to your LinkedIn profile, click "Try Premium free for 1 month" (if you haven't used the trial before), or navigate to linkedin.com/premium. Choose your tier, enter payment details, and your Premium features activate immediately.
Can People See If You Have LinkedIn Premium?
Yes, by default. The gold badge is visible to anyone who views your profile or sees you in search results. You can hide it by going to Settings > Visibility > Profile visibility > LinkedIn Premium badge.
Can You See Who Has LinkedIn Premium?
Yes. The gold badge is visible on profiles and in search results. You can also filter search results to show only Premium members.
Does LinkedIn Premium Show Who Searched You?
Not exactly. LinkedIn Premium shows you who viewed your profile, not who searched for you. There's a difference: someone can search for you and not click your profile, in which case they won't appear in your viewers list.
Does LinkedIn Premium Show How Many Times Someone Viewed Your Profile?
No. LinkedIn shows you who viewed your profile and when, but not how many times a specific person viewed it. Each viewer appears once in your list, showing their most recent visit.
Can You See Who Viewed Your Post With LinkedIn Premium?
No. LinkedIn doesn't show you who viewed your posts, regardless of Premium status. You can see aggregate view counts and engagement metrics, but not individual viewers.
Will Someone Know If I View Their LinkedIn Profile Without Logging In?
No. If you view a LinkedIn profile while logged out, the profile owner won't see you in their viewers list. However, LinkedIn may show them that an "anonymous LinkedIn member" viewed their profile.
How to Get LinkedIn Premium Cheap in 2026?
LinkedIn occasionally offers discounts through partner programs, student discounts, and promotional emails. The most reliable way to get a discount is to cancel your subscription and wait for a retention offer. LinkedIn often sends 50% off offers to users who cancel.
Can You Hide That You Have LinkedIn Premium?
Yes. Go to Settings > Visibility > Profile visibility > LinkedIn Premium badge, and toggle it off. Your badge will no longer appear on your profile or in search results.
Should I Show LinkedIn Premium Badge?
It depends on your goals. The badge signals that you're an active, invested LinkedIn user, which can increase your credibility and connection acceptance rates. For salespeople and recruiters, showing the badge is generally beneficial. For job seekers, it can signal desperation in some contexts.
How to Hide LinkedIn Premium Badge?
Settings > Visibility > Profile visibility > LinkedIn Premium badge > toggle off.
Can You Get LinkedIn Premium Without the Badge?
Yes. You can have Premium and hide the badge. The features remain active; only the visual indicator is hidden.
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