LinkedIn Learning vs PluralSight: Which is Bettter?
If you’re deciding between LinkedIn Learning and Pluralsight, the choice depends on your career goals, learning preferences, and the skills you want to acquire.
Both platforms are subscription-based and cater to professionals, but they serve different audiences:
- LinkedIn Learning focuses on business, technology, and creative skills with a professional development approach.
- Pluralsight specializes in tech and IT skills, offering in-depth, structured learning paths for software developers, IT administrators, and data professionals.
Let’s compare them in detail.
1. Overview of Platforms
LinkedIn Learning
- Best for: Business professionals, creative learners, and general tech skill development.
- Topics Covered: Business, marketing, leadership, productivity, software, IT, creative design, and soft skills.
- Learning Style: Video-based courses, quizzes, and downloadable content.
- Recognition: Certificates can be added to your LinkedIn profile for professional credibility.
- Subscription Model: Monthly or annual plans with unlimited access.
Pluralsight
- Best for: Tech professionals (software developers, IT admins, cloud engineers, cybersecurity experts).
- Topics Covered: Software development, cloud computing, DevOps, cybersecurity, IT, and data science.
- Learning Style: Video courses, hands-on labs, skill assessments, and interactive exercises.
- Recognition: Certifications align with Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, and other industry exams.
- Subscription Model: Monthly or annual plans with different tiers (Standard & Premium).
✅ Winner: Depends on your field – Choose LinkedIn Learning for business and soft skills, and Pluralsight for tech-intensive training.
2. Course Quality & Content Depth
LinkedIn Learning
- Courses are high-quality and taught by professionals.
- Covers general tech topics like Excel, Python, and web development.
- Also includes soft skills, business management, marketing, and creative arts.
- Courses are short and beginner-friendly (typically 1-5 hours).
Pluralsight
- Expert-level, industry-recognized instructors.
- Covers deep, technical topics like cloud computing, DevOps, AI, and cybersecurity.
- Provides advanced, hands-on learning with real-world scenarios.
- Includes Skill IQ assessments to track progress and identify skill gaps.
- Courses range from beginner to expert level, with deep technical coverage.
✅ Winner: Pluralsight for tech professionals who need advanced courses; LinkedIn Learning for general skills and career development.
3. Certification & Recognition
LinkedIn Learning
- Provides course completion certificates that can be added to your LinkedIn profile.
- Not accredited but recognized by employers for business and soft skills.
Pluralsight
- Courses align with certification exams for AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, CompTIA, and more.
- Helps professionals prepare for technical certifications.
- More valuable for IT and software engineering professionals.
✅ Winner: Pluralsight for tech certifications; LinkedIn Learning for professional development and soft skills.
4. Learning Features & Hands-on Practice
LinkedIn Learning
- Video-based courses with quizzes and exercises.
- No interactive labs or real-world coding environments.
- Designed for self-paced, knowledge-based learning.
Pluralsight
- Interactive labs, coding exercises, and hands-on projects.
- Skill assessments (Skill IQ) help learners measure their progress.
- Role IQ suggests learning paths based on job roles.
- More suitable for serious technical training with hands-on practice.
✅ Winner: Pluralsight, because of its hands-on learning approach.
5. Pricing & Subscription Plans
LinkedIn Learning
- $39.99/month or $239.88/year (unlimited access).
- One-month free trial available.
- Access to 16,000+ courses.
Pluralsight
- Standard Plan: $29/month or $299/year (limited features).
- Premium Plan: $45/month or $449/year (includes interactive labs, certification practice exams).
- Team & Enterprise Plans available for businesses.
- No free trial, but a 10-day free access period is offered occasionally.
✅ Winner: LinkedIn Learning is cheaper and offers a free trial. Pluralsight is worth it for tech professionals needing hands-on training.
6. Mobile & Offline Learning
Both platforms offer:
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android.
- Offline downloads for learning on the go.
✅ Tie: Both offer great mobile learning experiences.
7. Pros & Cons
LinkedIn Learning – Pros & Cons
✅ Pros:
✔ Great for business, marketing, leadership, and soft skills.
✔ Professional-quality courses from industry experts.
✔ Certificates can be added to your LinkedIn profile.
✔ Affordable subscription with a free trial.
✔ Covers a wide range of topics, not just tech.
❌ Cons:
✖ Limited hands-on practice (no coding labs).
✖ Not as deep for advanced tech training.
✖ Certificates are not industry-accredited.
Pluralsight – Pros & Cons
✅ Pros:
✔ Best for software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and DevOps.
✔ Hands-on labs, coding exercises, and skill assessments.
✔ Aligned with Microsoft, AWS, Google, and CompTIA certifications.
✔ Advanced courses for professionals.
✔ Helps measure skill levels with Skill IQ & Role IQ.
❌ Cons:
✖ More expensive than LinkedIn Learning.
✖ No free trial (only occasional free access events).
✖ Courses are highly technical, so not ideal for beginners in business or creative fields.
Final Verdict: Which is Better?
The best platform depends on your career goals:
🏆 Choose LinkedIn Learning if:
- You need business, leadership, marketing, or general tech skills.
- You want soft skills training (communication, time management, teamwork, etc.).
- You want to add certificates to your LinkedIn profile to improve job prospects.
- You prefer a more affordable subscription with diverse course topics.
🏆 Choose Pluralsight if:
- You want in-depth, technical IT & software development training.
- You are preparing for certifications (AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, etc.).
- You want hands-on labs, coding challenges, and real-world projects.
- You are in software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, or DevOps.
Best of Both?
If you have the budget, you can use both:
- LinkedIn Learning for business skills & soft skills.
- Pluralsight for technical & IT training.