LinkedIn InMail credits allow you to directly contact other members on LinkedIn, even if you are not connected to them. The number of InMail credits you get per month depends on the type of LinkedIn account you have.
Basic LinkedIn Account
With a basic, free LinkedIn account, you do not get any InMail credits per month. Sending InMails requires a paid subscription. The basic free account allows you to send connection requests and messages to your 1st degree connections only.
Premium LinkedIn Account
With a Premium LinkedIn account, you get 5 InMail credits per month. You can use these to send messages to any LinkedIn member, whether you are connected or not. Premium accounts start at $29.99 per month when billed annually.
Sales Navigator Account
With a Sales Navigator account, you get 15 or 25 InMail credits per month, depending on your subscription level. The Sales Navigator Team subscription provides 15 InMails per month for $64.99/month when billed annually. The Sales Navigator Professional subscription provides 25 InMails per month for $79.99/month when billed annually.
Recruiter Lite Account
With a Recruiter Lite account, you get 25 InMail credits per month. This account costs $119.95 per month when billed annually.
Recruiter Account
With a standard Recruiter account, you get 50 InMail credits per month. This account costs $159.95 per month when billed annually.
How InMail Credits Renew
Your InMail credits renew at the start of each new monthly billing cycle. Any unused credits do not carry over month to month. For example, if you have a Sales Navigator account with 15 monthly credits, and you only use 10 this month, your balance will reset to 15 at the start of next month.
Purchasing Additional InMail Credits
If you ever need more credits in a month than your account’s monthly allowance, you can purchase additional credits:
- 10 InMails for $10
- 25 InMails for $25
- 50 InMails for $50
- 100 InMails for $100
The purchased extra credits expire after 12 months if not used. They will be in addition to the monthly credits you continue receiving through your regular account.
Getting More InMail Credits
Here are some ways to get more InMail credits on LinkedIn without purchasing extras:
- Upgrade to a higher account level – e.g. Premium to Sales Navigator
- Change to an annual billing plan, some levels include more credits when paying annually vs. monthly
- Use account credits to pay – some account plans allow earning extra credits
- Refer friends to paid accounts – referral bonuses may include credits
- Watch for LinkedIn promotions that offer free credits
InMail Credit Use Cases
Here are some examples of how LinkedIn members use InMail credits to make connections:
- Sales professionals reaching out to leads
- Recruiters contacting potential job candidates
- Job seekers applying for open positions
- Businesses connecting with potential partners
- Networking with industry influencers
- Connecting with former colleagues and classmates
- Following up after in-person meetings and events
InMail Credit Restrictions
LinkedIn restricts excessive use of InMails to maintain quality. Some limitations include:
- Daily sending limits based on account level
- Limits on the number of InMails a single member can receive
- Restrictions on contacting members marked as “InMail Unavailable”
- Monitoring for spam-like behavior that can close accounts
Violating these limits may result in restrictions on your account or loss of InMail privileges.
Best Practices for InMail
To get the most value from your InMail credits, follow these best practices:
- Personalize each message with the recipient’s name and why you are contacting them
- Make the subject line descriptive to encourage opening
- Highlight value you can offer the recipient – information, connections, opportunities
- Follow up after sending if no response, but avoid excessive outreach
- Track your InMail response rates to optimize effectiveness
InMail Credit FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about InMail credits:
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Do unused credits expire each month? | Yes, credits reset to your monthly allowance amount |
Can I share credits between company accounts? | No, credits cannot be transferred |
Where can I see my current credit balance? | In the LinkedIn messaging section and account settings |
Do credits roll over if I upgrade my account? | No, existing credits do not carry over if you upgrade |
Can I get a refund for unused credits if I cancel my account? | No, LinkedIn does not issue refunds for unused credits |
Conclusion
The number of InMail credits you get on LinkedIn each month depends on your account type. Most paid accounts include credits in the range of 5-50 per month. Additional credits can also be purchased as needed. Using your credits strategically to make purposeful connections is key to getting value from the feature.