Sales Navigator Without Premium: What You Need to Know

Nicolas Fernandez
🦁 Expert Growth, Outbound & AI : +10k meetings booked | 153 customers

Got Sales Navigator but no Premium account?

Relax — we’re breaking it all down. Here’s what you need to know:

✅ How to upgrade to Sales Navigator

✅ The benefits of using Sales Navigator

✅ Whether Sales Navigator is worth the cost

✅ Managing your LinkedIn profile visibility

Meme highlighting the confusion between LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Premium subscription plans

How to upgrade to Sales Navigator?

a.k.a. The Fast Track to Better Prospecting. 

Using a Basic or Premium LinkedIn account but want to level up your lead generation? Here’s how to upgrade to Sales Navigator in under 60 seconds and transform your prospecting for good:

1️⃣ Go to your LinkedIn homepage and click on your profile picture.

2️⃣ Select "Premium features".

3️⃣ Select "Sales Navigator".

4️⃣ Choose the subscription plan that suits you.

5️⃣ Purchase the plan and confirm your payment details.

Boom. You’re in! Now, start leveraging advanced features built to skyrocket your sales.

Step-by-step process for upgrading to LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Pro Tip: Still on the fence? Grab the free trial first and see what it does for you. Explore all Sales Navigator features before committing.

What are the benefits of Sales Navigator?

Why do top sales professionals swear by Sales Navigator? Simple — it makes prospecting easier with powerful features you won’t find in a Basic or Premium LinkedIn account. Here are some key benefits:

🔍 Advanced lead and company search: Use sophisticated filters to find the right prospects.

🎯 Lead recommendations: Get tailored suggestions based on your sales preferences.

📩 InMail messages: Reach out directly to anyone on LinkedIn, even if you're not connected.

📈 Real-time updates: Stay informed about job changes and company news in your network.

🔗 CRM Integration: Sync your leads and accounts with your CRM system.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator interface displaying advanced search filters, saving leads, and InMail messages
LinkedIn Sales Navigator interface displaying real-time alerts, job changes, and company news

These features are designed to streamline your prospecting and improve your sales outcomes.

Pro Tip: Use advanced search filters to zero in on your ideal prospects — fast and efficiently

Is Sales Navigator worth the cost?

Look, if you’re gonna spend money, you wanna know it’s worth it. So let’s get straight to it! Here's a quick breakdown of what’s included in the Sales Navigator cost:

Feature Basic Account Sales Navigator
Lead Recommendations
InMail Messages 5/month 50/month
Advanced Search Filters 🚫 Limited ✅ Advanced

Serious about lead generation and closing deals? The investment pays off in time and resources saved. Pricing varies by plan, but the impact on your sales pipeline is huge. 

Pro Tip: Check your sales goals — if the features fit, go for it! Choose your plan and start closing more deals.

How to manage LinkedIn profile visibility?

Ever wanna check out a prospect without them knowing you were there? (Yeah, we all do)

Here’s how to be a LinkedIn ninja:

1️⃣ Go to your LinkedIn homepage and click on your profile picture.

2️⃣ Select "Settings & Privacy".

3️⃣ Under "Visibility", choose how you want your profile to be seen.

4️⃣ Adjust the "Profile viewing options" to control what others see when you view their profiles.

👉 Manage these settings to reach prospects more effectively.

Pro Tip: Use private mode when researching and switch back to public when you’re ready to engage.

What is the difference between Sales Navigator and Premium?

Both are paid LinkedIn services, but they serve different purposes:

🔹 Premium: Geared towards job seekers and professionals wanting to enhance their profiles.

🔹 Sales Navigator: Designed for sales professionals focusing on lead generation and prospecting.

That’s it. That’s the difference — Sales Navigator includes advanced search, lead recommendations, and CRM integration, which are not available features with Premium.

Pro Tip: Choose the right fit for your goals — Premium for career growth, Sales Navigator for sales success.

Can I use Sales Navigator without Premium?

Short answer? Yes. Sales Navigator and Premium are separate subscriptions.

When you subscribe to Sales Navigator, you get all the features included in that plan. However, the Premium profile badge and LinkedIn Learning access are exclusive to select Premium plans — not in Sales Navigator.

If you need both sales tools and career resources, consider a plan that combines Sales Navigator and Premium features.

How to access a free trial of Sales Navigator?

Want to try before you buy? Here’s how to claim your free trial:

1️⃣ Visit the LinkedIn Sales Navigator page.

2️⃣ Click on "Start your free trial".

3️⃣ Select the plan you want to try.

4️⃣ Enter your payment information (you won't be charged until the trial ends).

5️⃣ Enjoy exploring the features for the trial period.

Set a reminder to cancel before the trial ends — unless, of course, it’s already paying for itself.

What are LinkedIn membership types?

Membership Type Who It's For Key Benefit
Basic (Free) Everyone Networking, limited searches
Premium Career Job Seekers LinkedIn Learning courses
Premium Business Professionals Business insights, expanded visibility
Sales Navigator Sales Professionals Advanced search, lead recommendations
Recruiter Lite Recruiters Candidate tracking, smart suggestions

Each plan serves different needs — choose the one that aligns with your goals.

Pro Tip: Compare features of each membership type to find the perfect fit for your professional growth.

Want to take your prospecting even further? Check out Pronto’s Sales Navigator scraper free tool to automate your lead generation and stop wasting time on manual searches.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator interface displaying the export search to Pronto

💰 Curious about pricing? Check out Sales Navigator LinkedIn cost for a full breakdown.

🔍 Wondering if LinkedIn Sales Navigator includes Premium features? Get the answer here: Does LinkedIn Sales Navigator include Premium?

📚 Not sure if LinkedIn Learning is part of your plan? Find out if LinkedIn Learning is included in your Sales Navigator.

Now the real question is: Are you ready to master your tools, optimize your membership, and unlock your full networking and sales potential?

Was this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback!
It helps us improving our guide.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

+30 Sales Hacks

Generate tons of meetings in one month.

More Tips To Boost Your Lead Generation

Top LinkedIn Sales Navigator Features to Boost Sales

Boost your sales with LinkedIn Sales Navigator features: 30+ search filters, unlimited leads, up to 50 InMails & seamless CRM integration. Discover more!

How Much Does LinkedIn Charge for Preauth on Sales Navigator?

Wondering how much LinkedIn charges as preauth for Sales Navigator? Uncover details on the temporary holds and streamline your sales efforts today!

Get LinkedIn Sales Navigator Free First Month

Unlock LinkedIn Sales Navigator free for the first month! Boost your lead generation with a 30-day trial of this powerful sales tool. Start now.

Unlock LinkedIn Sales Navigator Discount: Save Big Today

Discover 5 ways to get a LinkedIn Sales Navigator discount and save up to 75%. Unlock exclusive promo codes and tips to maximize your budget today!

Is LinkedIn Sales Navigator Worth It? Discover the ROI

Discover if LinkedIn Sales Navigator is worth it! Boost lead generation, improve sales ROI, and streamline your process. Make an informed choice today.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator Referral Program Explained

Boost sales with LinkedIn Sales Navigator referrals! Discover 5 expert tips to generate warm leads and grow your sales pipeline today.