Quick answer: No, LinkedIn Premium does not offer unlimited messaging. The paid LinkedIn Premium subscriptions provide additional monthly InMail credits beyond the free allowance, but there is still a limit on the number of messages you can send.
How LinkedIn Messaging Works
On LinkedIn, there are two main ways to message other members:
- InMail – Private, direct messages that go to the recipient’s inbox.
- Regular messaging – Messages sent through profile contact forms that go to the Other folder.
With a free LinkedIn account, you can send unlimited regular messages, but you only get a limited number of InMails per month. The exact InMail allowance depends on your account status:
- Basic (free) members – 0 InMails per month
- Premium Business members – 15 InMails per month
- Premium Career members – 25 InMails per month
- Sales Navigator Professional – 25 InMails per month
- Sales Navigator Team – 50 InMails per month
So while Premium and Sales Navigator subscriptions give you more InMail credits to work with, there is still a set monthly limit. You cannot send unlimited direct InMails to LinkedIn members, even with a paid subscription.
Maximizing Your LinkedIn Messaging
Here are some tips to make the most of your available LinkedIn messaging capabilities with or without a Premium subscription:
- Use regular messages instead of InMail when possible – Regular messages through profile contact forms have unlimited volume.
- Personalize your messages – Customized messages have higher response rates than generic InMails.
- Follow up tactfully – Try sending a 2nd message if your 1st attempt gets no reply after a week.
- Target recipients carefully – Focus your outreach on those most likely to respond and convert to connections.
- Upgrade to Premium – The extra InMails per month provide more direct messaging capacity.
LinkedIn Premium Features
While Premium doesn’t grant unlimited messaging, it does offer other useful features and perks, including:
- Expanded profile views – See who’s viewed your profile, even anonymous users.
- Additional InMail credits – 15-50 more InMails to message key prospects.
- Advanced profile filtering – Focus searches by industry, job role, location and more.
- Unlocked insights – Access tips for profile & content optimization.
- Premium badge – Displayed on your profile to showcase your Premium status.
- Expanded network – Grow your network with Premium subscriber suggestions.
Premium subscriptions cost between $29.99-$79.99 per month depending on the plan. Many users find the extra features worthwhile for boosting their LinkedIn presence and connecting with more high-value contacts.
Other LinkedIn Messaging Tips
Here are some additional tips for making the most of LinkedIn messaging:
- Message new connections – Start relationships with new connections off on the right foot.
- Follow up after meetings – Continue the conversation and solidify new contacts.
- Share relevant articles – Demonstrate expertise and value with useful content shares.
- Give recommendations – Strengthen bonds by endorsing skills and writing recommendations.
- Say thank you – Show appreciation for advice, referrals, and connections.
- Offer help and advice – Be a valuable member of your LinkedIn community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many InMails do you get per month on LinkedIn?
The free LinkedIn account gets 0 InMails. Premium Business gets 15 InMails. Premium Career gets 25 InMails. Sales Navigator Pro gets 25 InMails. Sales Navigator Team gets 50 InMails.
What are the limits of LinkedIn Premium?
The main limits are:
- Max InMails per month (15-50 depending on plan)
- Number of profile views (varies by plan)
- Number of search filters available
- Some advanced insights still restricted
But Premium still unlocks significantly more messaging, profile views, and platform capabilities vs. free LinkedIn.
Can you message someone without being a LinkedIn connection?
Yes, you can send either an InMail or regular message without connecting first. But recipients are much more likely to respond and convert to connections if you share any existing connections or network overlap in your message. Messaging complete strangers is less effective.
Is LinkedIn Premium worth the cost?
For power users actively building their network and leveraging LinkedIn for business, Premium is usually worth the monthly or annual cost to unlock more insights, visibility, and messaging capacity. But more casual users may find the free account sufficient. Review the key Premium features and decide if the benefits justify the spend for your personal use case.
The Value of LinkedIn Premium
While LinkedIn Premium does not grant unlimited messaging, for many professionals the expanded messaging capacity, profile views, search filters, and other perks justify the pricetag to boost their LinkedIn presence and grow their network.
The additional InMails let you be more proactive about outreach to key contacts and prospects. The profile badges highlight your exclusive Premium status. And the insights help optimize your profile and activity.
So Premium, while not cheap, can amplify your LinkedIn efforts and connections in impactful ways. Evaluate if the features align with your personal LinkedIn strategy and networking goals to decide if upgrading makes sense for you.
With savvy messaging techniques, focused targeting, and optional Premium upgrades, you can build an expansive LinkedIn network of valuable relationships and opportunities over time.
Conclusion
The key points to remember are:
- LinkedIn Premium does not grant unlimited InMail messages
- But Premium does provide additional monthly InMail credits vs. free LinkedIn
- Focus messaging on most promising prospects to maximize results
- Regular messages sent through profiles have unlimited volume
- Premium offers other benefits beyond messaging like profile views, filters, and insights
- Evaluate Premium’s value based on your specific networking goals
With the right techniques and some optional upgrades, LinkedIn can be a powerful relationship-building platform. Just be aware messaging volumes remain capped, even with paid Premium access.