LinkedIn InMail credits allow you to directly contact other LinkedIn members outside of your network. Many LinkedIn users find InMail to be an effective way to make valuable connections and grow their professional networks. However, sending InMails requires having credits, which must be purchased. So how much do LinkedIn InMail credits cost?
The cost of LinkedIn InMail credits depends on the package you purchase. LinkedIn offers InMail credit packages ranging from 5 to 100 credits. As you buy more credits, the per-credit cost goes down.
For example, a package of 5 InMail credits currently costs $45, working out to $9 per credit. At the other end of the scale, a package of 100 InMails costs $250, or $2.50 per credit.
So while individual InMails may seem expensive at $10 each, the more credits you buy at once, the more the per-unit price drops.
LinkedIn InMail Credit Packages
Here is a breakdown of the current InMail credit bundles offered by LinkedIn and how much they cost:
Package | Number of Credits | Price | Cost Per Credit |
---|---|---|---|
Starter | 5 | $45 | $9 |
Silver | 15 | $100 | $6.67 |
Gold | 30 | $175 | $5.83 |
Platinum | 60 | $300 | $5 |
Diamond | 100 | $500 | $2.50 |
As you can see, the Diamond package offers the lowest per InMail cost at just $2.50 each. But the Starter pack at $9 per message may be more suitable if you only need a handful of credits.
Buying Single LinkedIn InMail Credits
In addition to the bundled packages, LinkedIn allows users to add single InMail credits to their account for $10 each. This pay-as-you-go approach makes sense if you only need to send a few messages sporadically.
However, the per-unit cost is much higher at $10 per InMail compared to the bulk discount pricing. So frequent InMail users will save money by purchasing larger credit packages.
Who Needs LinkedIn InMail Credits?
Having LinkedIn InMail credits is required to directly contact people outside your network. There are two account types on LinkedIn:
Free Accounts
Free members can only message their 1st-degree connections without needing credits. Trying to InMail someone beyond your own network will prompt you to purchase credits.
Premium Accounts
LinkedIn Premium subscribers have varying allotments of free InMails each month depending on their account level:
Premium Type | Free InMails Per Month |
---|---|
Premium Career | 5 |
Premium Business | 15 |
Premium Sales | 25 |
Premium Hiring | 25 |
However, even Premium members will need to purchase credit packages once they exceed their monthly free allotment.
Buying LinkedIn InMail Credits
If you want to purchase LinkedIn InMail credits, here is the process:
Step 1: Go to the InMail Credit Page
Log into your LinkedIn account and go to the InMail credits purchase page. This can be found under the “My Network” tab by clicking “Stay in touch with InMail.”
Step 2: Select a Credit Package
On the InMail credit page, you will see the available bundles ranging from 5 to 100 credits. Choose the amount you want to buy based on how many messages you anticipate sending.
Step 3: Complete the Purchase
With the desired credit bundle selected, complete the secure checkout process by providing your payment method and billing information.
Step 4: Send Your InMails
As soon as your purchase is complete, the new InMail credits will be added to your account. You can then start contacting people outside your network on LinkedIn.
InMail Credit Restrictions
While InMail credits allow you to freely message any LinkedIn member, there are some restrictions in place:
– Recipients can block messages from strangers. So your InMails may not reach every person you contact.
– You can only send a certain number of messages per week, based on your account status. This helps limit spam and abuse.
– LinkedIn prohibits using InMail for promotional content and mass messaging. Doing so could get your account restricted.
So while InMail is a useful networking tool, credits should be used judiciously and only to send relevant professional messages one-to-one. Mass messaging will not be tolerated.
Conclusion
The amount LinkedIn charges for InMail credits ranges from $2.50 to $10 per message, with bulk packages offering reduced per-unit pricing. While free members can only InMail their connections, Premium subscribers get 5-25 free monthly credits depending on their account level.
InMail can be a worthwhile investment for making strategic business contacts and expanding your professional network. But be sure to use InMail selectively for one-on-one communication rather than spamming promotional content.