You're ready to upgrade from LinkedIn's free account, but then you hit a fork in the road: LinkedIn Premium or LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
They both promise to supercharge your LinkedIn experience, but they serve very different purposes. Premium is like upgrading from economy to business class—more comfort and perks. Sales Navigator is like getting a private jet with a dedicated sales crew.
So which one should you choose?
After years of using both tools (and helping thousands of sales professionals make this decision), we've created the definitive comparison guide. By the end, you'll know exactly which subscription fits your needs and budget.
Let's settle the LinkedIn Sales Navigator vs Premium debate once and for all.
What is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is a paid subscription that enhances your LinkedIn experience beyond the basic free account. Think of it as unlocking LinkedIn's full potential for networking, career development, and business growth.
With Premium, you get:
- InMail credits to message people outside your network
- Profile viewer insights to see who's checking you out
- LinkedIn Learning access to thousands of professional courses
- Business insights on companies you're targeting
- Enhanced search capabilities
LinkedIn generates over $1.7 billion annually from Premium subscriptions alone—clearly, millions of professionals find value in the upgrade.
Who is LinkedIn Premium For?
LinkedIn Premium actually comes in two flavors:
Premium Career ($39.99/month):
- Designed for job seekers
- Career advancement features
- Interview preparation tools
- Job seeker badges
Premium Business ($59.99/month):
- For entrepreneurs and business owners
- Network expansion tools
- Business insights
- Lead generation basics
For this comparison, we'll focus on Premium Business since it's the plan most comparable to Sales Navigator.
Key LinkedIn Premium Features
Let's break down what you actually get with Premium Business:
1. InMail Credits (15 per month)
InMails let you message any LinkedIn member, even if you're not connected. With Premium Business, you get 15 InMail credits per month that roll over for up to 3 months (45 maximum).
The catch: When someone replies to your InMail, you get that credit back. So if you write compelling messages, your credits stretch further.
Pro tip: You can also send up to 800 free InMails monthly to members with "Open Profiles"—no credits required.
2. "Who Viewed Your Profile" (Full Access)
See everyone who's viewed your profile in the past 365 days, including:
- Their full name
- Job title
- Company
- When they viewed your profile
Why it matters: Profile viewers are warm leads. They've shown interest in you, making them easier to convert than cold prospects.
3. Company Insights
Visit any company's LinkedIn page and see:
- Total employee count
- Employee growth over 6 months, 1 year, 2 years
- New hires by department
- Employee distribution by function
- Hiring trends
Strategic value: Companies that are hiring, growing, or receiving funding are more likely to have budget for your solution.
4. LinkedIn Learning
Access to thousands of video courses taught by industry experts on:
- Business strategy
- Leadership and management
- Sales and marketing
- Technology and software
- Creative skills
Bonus: Courses count toward continuing education credits for various certifications.
5. Advanced Search Filters
Premium unlocks additional search filters beyond the basic account:
- Years of experience
- Company size
- Seniority level
- Interests
- And more
Limitation: While better than Basic, Premium search filters are still basic compared to Sales Navigator.
6. Premium Badge
A small "Premium" badge appears next to your name, signaling you're a serious LinkedIn user.
Does it matter? Debatable. Some say it adds credibility; others say it screams "I paid for this."
LinkedIn Premium Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | $39.99/mo | $239.88/yr | 50% |
| Premium Business | $59.99/mo | $575.88/yr | 20% |
Note: Prices vary by country and exclude VAT/GST. Annual plans offer significant savings over monthly.
What is LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
If Premium is LinkedIn's business class, Sales Navigator is the private jet.
Sales Navigator is a standalone platform built specifically for sales professionals. It's not just an upgrade to your LinkedIn account—it's an entirely different tool optimized for prospecting, pipeline building, and deal closing.
Who is LinkedIn Sales Navigator For?
Sales Navigator is designed for:
Sales Development Representatives (SDRs): Building pipeline through outbound prospecting
Account Executives (AEs): Managing deals and relationships at target accounts
Business Development Managers: Identifying and pursuing new opportunities
Sales Leaders: Overseeing team performance and pipeline health
If your primary goal is lead generation and sales, Sales Navigator is worth considering.
Key LinkedIn Sales Navigator Features
Sales Navigator includes everything from Premium Business, plus:
1. Advanced Lead & Account Search
Sales Navigator's search capabilities are dramatically more powerful than Premium:
50+ Advanced Filters:
- Job title keywords
- Function (Engineering, Sales, Marketing, etc.)
- Seniority level (C-level, Director, Manager, etc.)
- Company headcount
- Company revenue
- Company growth rate
- Years in current position
- Years at current company
- Geography
- Industry
- Company connections
- Posted on LinkedIn (last 30 days)
- Changed jobs (last 90 days)
- And many more
Boolean Search: Create complex search strings combining multiple criteria.
Saved Searches: Save up to 50 searches and get weekly alerts on new prospects matching your criteria.
2. Lead & Account Lists
Create and manage lists of:
- Leads (individual people)
- Accounts (companies)
Capacity:
- Core: 1,500 leads + 1,000 accounts
- Advanced: 5,000 leads + 2,000 accounts
- Advanced Plus: 10,000 leads + 5,000 accounts
Lists sync with your CRM, making pipeline management seamless.
3. Lead Recommendations
Sales Navigator's algorithm suggests prospects based on:
- Your saved searches
- Leads you've viewed
- Your sales preferences
- Past outreach patterns
Why it matters: The algorithm often surfaces prospects you wouldn't have found manually.
4. Real-Time Insights & Alerts
Get notified when prospects:
- Change jobs
- Post on LinkedIn
- Are mentioned in the news
- Change companies
- Get promoted
- Share content
Strategic value: These are perfect conversation starters. Reaching out with timely context dramatically improves response rates.
5. InMail Credits (Way More)
| Plan | Monthly InMail Credits | Yearly Total |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Business | 15 | 180 |
| Sales Navigator Core | 50 | 600 |
| Sales Navigator Advanced | 50 | 600 |
| Sales Navigator Advanced Plus | 50 | 600 |
Plus the same rollover and credit-back rules as Premium.
6. TeamLink
See extended network connections across your entire sales team.
How it works: If anyone on your team is connected to a prospect, you'll see it. This enables warm introductions through colleagues.
7. CRM Integration
Sales Navigator integrates natively with:
- Salesforce
- Microsoft Dynamics
- HubSpot (via third-party)
Benefits:
- Sync lead and account data
- Log LinkedIn activities in your CRM
- View LinkedIn insights within CRM records
- Update records automatically
8. Smart Links
Share content via trackable links that show:
- Who opened your link
- How long they viewed content
- When they accessed it
- Their LinkedIn profile details (if logged in)
Available: Advanced and Advanced Plus plans only
Use case: Perfect for sending proposals, case studies, or resources and tracking engagement.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $99.99/mo | $959.88/yr | Individual sales reps |
| Advanced | $149.99/mo | $1,300/yr | Sales teams (5-10 seats) |
| Advanced Plus | Custom | $1,600+/seat/yr | Enterprise teams (10+ seats) |
Note: Prices exclude VAT/GST and vary by region.
Key Differences:
- Advanced adds Smart Links, TeamLink Extend, integration admin tools
- Advanced Plus adds advanced reporting, API access, and premium support
LinkedIn Sales Navigator vs Premium: Side-by-Side Comparison
Let's put them head-to-head across key categories:
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Premium Business | Sales Navigator Core |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Monthly) | $59.99 | $99.99 |
| Price (Annual) | $575.88 | $959.88 |
| InMail Credits | 15/month | 50/month |
| Who Viewed Profile | ✅ Full access | ✅ Full access |
| LinkedIn Learning | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited |
| Company Insights | ✅ Basic | ✅ Enhanced |
| Advanced Search | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ 50+ filters |
| Boolean Search | ❌ | ✅ |
| Saved Searches | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Up to 50 |
| Lead Lists | ❌ | ✅ 1,500 leads |
| Account Lists | ❌ | ✅ 1,000 accounts |
| Lead Recommendations | ❌ | ✅ |
| Real-Time Alerts | ❌ | ✅ |
| CRM Integration | ❌ | ✅ |
| TeamLink | ❌ | ✅ |
| Smart Links | ❌ | ⚠️ Advanced+ only |
| Private Browsing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Buttons | ✅ | ✅ |
Pros & Cons Comparison
LinkedIn Premium Business
Pros:
- ✅ Affordable ($60/month vs $100/month)
- ✅ Great for networking and brand building
- ✅ Access to LinkedIn Learning
- ✅ Good for general business development
- ✅ Simple, easy to learn
Cons:
- ❌ Limited lead generation features
- ❌ Fewer InMail credits (15 vs 50)
- ❌ Basic search filters
- ❌ No lead/account list management
- ❌ No CRM integration
- ❌ No real-time prospect alerts
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Pros:
- ✅ Purpose-built for sales prospecting
- ✅ 50+ advanced search filters
- ✅ Lead & account list management
- ✅ Real-time alerts on prospects
- ✅ 50 InMail credits per month
- ✅ CRM integration
- ✅ TeamLink for warm introductions
- ✅ Lead recommendations
Cons:
- ❌ More expensive ($100-150/month)
- ❌ Steeper learning curve
- ❌ Overwhelming for beginners
- ❌ Requires consistent use to justify cost
Which One Should You Choose?
The answer depends on your role, goals, and budget.
Choose LinkedIn Premium Business If:
✅ You're focused on general networking, not active prospecting
✅ Your budget is limited and you need the basics
✅ You want LinkedIn Learning for professional development
✅ You're a solopreneur or consultant building your personal brand
✅ You occasionally need to message prospects outside your network (15 InMails is enough)
✅ You don't need CRM integration or advanced list management
✅ Sales isn't your primary function—you're in marketing, recruiting, or general business development
Bottom line: Premium is for casual users who want enhanced LinkedIn features without the sales-specific tools.
Choose LinkedIn Sales Navigator If:
✅ Sales is your primary function and you're actively prospecting
✅ You need to build and manage a pipeline of hundreds or thousands of prospects
✅ Advanced search and filtering are critical to finding your ICP
✅ You want CRM integration to streamline your workflow
✅ Real-time alerts on prospect activity would improve your outreach timing
✅ You need more InMail credits (50 vs 15)
✅ You work on a sales team and need TeamLink for warm introductions
✅ Lead recommendations would help you discover prospects you'd otherwise miss
Bottom line: Sales Navigator is for serious sales professionals who need a dedicated prospecting platform.
The ROI Calculation: Is Sales Navigator Worth It?
Let's do the math.
Sales Navigator Core: $99.99/month ($1,200/year)
Question: How many deals do you need to close to justify the cost?
Scenario 1: B2B SaaS Sales Rep
- Average deal size: $10,000 ACV
- Close rate: 10%
- Sales Navigator impact: +50% more qualified leads found
Math:
- Without SN: Find 100 prospects → Close 10 → $100,000 revenue
- With SN: Find 150 prospects → Close 15 → $150,000 revenue
- Incremental revenue: $50,000
- ROI: 4,067%
You need to close 1-2 additional deals per year to justify the cost.
Scenario 2: Agency Business Development
- Average deal size: $5,000/month retainer
- Close rate: 5%
- Sales Navigator impact: +30% more leads found
Math:
- Without SN: Find 100 prospects → Close 5 → $25,000/month = $300,000/year
- With SN: Find 130 prospects → Close 6.5 → $32,500/month = $390,000/year
- Incremental revenue: $90,000
- ROI: 7,400%
You need to close 1 additional client to justify the entire year's cost.
The Real Question
Can Sales Navigator help you close one additional deal per year?
If yes, it's worth it. If no, stick with Premium.
Advanced Strategy: Combining Sales Navigator with LinqMaster
Here's where things get really powerful: Sales Navigator + LinqMaster.
The Problem with Sales Navigator Alone:
- Manual outreach is time-consuming
- You're limited by LinkedIn's daily limits
- No multi-channel sequences
- Difficult to scale personalization
The Solution: LinqMaster
LinqMaster automates and scales your Sales Navigator prospecting:
How It Works:
- Find leads using Sales Navigator's advanced search
- Export to LinqMaster (via CSV or direct integration)
- Create automated sequences combining:
- LinkedIn connection requests
- LinkedIn messages
- InMails
- Email outreach
- Personalize at scale using custom variables
- Track everything in one dashboard
The Result:
- 10x more outreach without increasing time spent
- Higher response rates through multi-channel sequences
- Better personalization at scale
- More closed deals from the same leads
Real Example:
A sales rep using Sales Navigator alone might manually reach out to 20-30 prospects per week.
That same rep using Sales Navigator + LinqMaster can reach out to 200-300 prospects per week with better personalization.
Making the Switch: Can You Upgrade from Premium to Sales Navigator?
Yes, and it's easy.
How to Upgrade:
- Go to your LinkedIn Premium settings
- Look for "Change plan" or "Upgrade"
- Select Sales Navigator
- LinkedIn will pro-rate your Premium subscription
What Happens to Your Premium Features?
Sales Navigator includes all Premium Business features, so you won't lose anything.
Can You Downgrade?
Yes, but you'll lose:
- Advanced search filters
- Lead/account lists
- CRM integration
- Most InMail credits
Downgrading rarely makes sense once you've experienced Sales Navigator's capabilities.
Alternative Option: Start with Premium, Upgrade Later
Not ready to commit to Sales Navigator? Here's a smart approach:
Month 1-3: LinkedIn Premium Business
- Learn the basics of LinkedIn selling
- Build your profile and network
- Test messaging and outreach
- Evaluate if LinkedIn works for your ICP
Month 4+: Upgrade to Sales Navigator
- Once you've proven LinkedIn works, invest in the advanced tools
- You'll appreciate Sales Navigator more after understanding the basics
- The upgrade will feel like a natural progression
Common Questions Answered
Can I have both Premium and Sales Navigator?
No, they're mutually exclusive. Sales Navigator includes all Premium features, so you don't need both.
Does my team need Sales Navigator?
If your team does outbound sales, yes. The combination of TeamLink, shared lead lists, and CRM integration makes team selling significantly more effective.
Can I try Sales Navigator before buying?
Yes! LinkedIn offers a free trial (usually 30 days). Test it risk-free to see if it fits your workflow.
Will Sales Navigator make me a better salesperson?
No. Sales Navigator is a tool, not a strategy. It helps you find and track prospects more efficiently, but you still need:
- A clear ICP
- Compelling messaging
- A solid outreach strategy
- Follow-up discipline
Think of it like a power drill—it makes building faster, but you still need to know how to build.
Is Sales Navigator worth it for solo entrepreneurs?
It depends. If you're actively prospecting and closing deals worth $5,000+, yes. If you're just networking occasionally, Premium is sufficient.
Can I use Sales Navigator for recruiting?
Technically yes, but LinkedIn Recruiter is purpose-built for recruiting with better candidate search filters. If recruiting is your primary function, consider Recruiter instead.
The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Here's our recommendation based on years of experience:
Choose Premium Business if:
- You're budget-conscious (<$100/month for LinkedIn)
- Sales isn't your primary function
- You're building a personal brand or network
- You need LinkedIn Learning access
- You only message a few prospects per month
Choose Sales Navigator if:
- Sales/prospecting is your primary job
- You can afford $100-150/month
- You need to manage large lists of prospects
- CRM integration would streamline your workflow
- You want serious lead generation capabilities
- You can commit to using it consistently
Our Recommendation for Most Sales Professionals:
Start with Sales Navigator Core.
Here's why: If you're in sales, the advanced search alone is worth the extra $40/month. The time you'll save finding qualified prospects pays for itself immediately.
Plus, when you combine Sales Navigator with LinqMaster to automate and scale your outreach, you'll see ROI within weeks, not months.
Ready to Supercharge Your LinkedIn Prospecting?
Whether you choose Premium or Sales Navigator, remember: the tool is only as good as your strategy.
The best sales professionals don't just have better tools—they have:
- ✅ Clear ICPs
- ✅ Compelling value propositions
- ✅ Personalized messaging
- ✅ Multi-touch sequences
- ✅ Consistent follow-up
That's where LinqMaster comes in. We help you turn Sales Navigator (or Premium) leads into actual customers through:
- Automated multi-channel sequences
- Personalization at scale
- Smart follow-up logic
- Analytics and optimization
Try LinqMaster free for 7 days and see how combining the right LinkedIn plan with automation transforms your pipeline.
The question isn't Premium vs Sales Navigator—it's are you ready to take your LinkedIn prospecting seriously?
If the answer is yes, the choice is clear.
