InMail is LinkedIn’s internal messaging system that allows you to directly contact other members, even if you’re not connected. InMail is not free – there is a fee to send InMail messages. The ability to send InMails is included with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions or can be purchased in bundles starting at $10 for 5 credits. So in short, no, InMail is not free on LinkedIn.
How much does it cost to send an InMail on LinkedIn?
The cost to send a single InMail message on LinkedIn is $10 per credit. Here is a breakdown of the InMail credit packages available:
- 5 InMail credits – $10
- 10 InMail credits – $20
- 25 InMail credits – $45
- 50 InMail credits – $90
- 100 InMail credits – $180
So each InMail credit lets you send 1 message and costs $2 per message. If you buy credits in bulk, you get a discounted per-message rate (i.e. $1.80 each for the 100 credit package).
InMail credits never expire so you can buy them in bulk and use them as needed over time. Some key things to know about InMail costs:
- InMail is included with LinkedIn Premium Career and Business subscriptions. So Premium members don’t have to buy à la carte credits.
- Sales Navigator Team and Professional subscriptions include a set number of monthly InMail credits as part of the plan.
- You cannot send InMails with a free Basic LinkedIn account.
What are the alternatives to paying for InMail credits?
If you don’t want to pay for InMail credits, here are a few alternative ways to contact LinkedIn members:
Connect first, then message
You can send free messages to any LinkedIn member that you are connected with. So it may be worth sending connection requests before trying to InMail someone. If they accept your request, you can message them for free through LinkedIn messaging.
Use regular email
Many LinkedIn members include their business email address in their profile. So you can find the email address and contact them directly via regular email outside of LinkedIn’s platform. This avoids paying for InMail credits.
Send an invite to connect
When sending an InMail to someone you’re not connected to, you have the option to include an invite to connect. This lets you send a custom connection request along with your initial message. If they accept the connection request, you can continue the conversation via free LinkedIn messaging.
Upgrade to a Premium subscription
As mentioned previously, InMail credits are included with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions. Upgrading to Premium allows you to send InMails as part of your subscription without having to pay à la carte. Depending on your usage, a Premium subscription may be more cost effective than buying InMail credits.
How many InMail messages can you send with Premium?
The number of InMail messages included each month depends on the type of Premium subscription:
LinkedIn Premium Plan | InMail Messages per Month |
---|---|
Premium Career | 5 |
Premium Business | 15 |
Premium Sales | 25 |
Any unused InMail credits will roll over month-to-month up to a maximum balance of 100. So you can accumulate additional credits if you don’t use all of your monthly allotment.
With Premium Career and Business, you can purchase additional InMail credits beyond the monthly allowance. Premium Sales does not allow purchasing additional credits.
What are the pros and cons of using InMail?
Here is a quick rundown of some of the key advantages and disadvantages of using InMail to message LinkedIn members:
Pros
- Lets you contact anyone on LinkedIn without already being connected
- Messages have high inbox placement and open rates compared to regular email
- InMail stats let you see when your message is read
- Great for making first contact with hard-to-reach prospects
Cons
- Costs money to send messages unlike standard messaging
- Many people dislike unsolicited messages
- Easy to abuse for spam/sales pitches
- Per-message pricing seems expensive
Are there any ways to send InMails for free?
There are a few special situations where you can send InMail messages without using paid credits:
Open Inviters
Some members are Open Inviters, which means they are open to receiving InMail from anyone on LinkedIn. You can filter searches on LinkedIn to only see Open Inviters.
Responding to InMails
When someone sends you an InMail, you can respond for free without deducting from your credits.
Group owners and managers
Owners and managers of LinkedIn Groups can send InMail to group members for free in certain cases. For example, welcoming new members or recruiting for vacant manager positions.
Nonprofits
LinkedIn provides certain nonprofits with a set number of free InMail credits each month. These credits allow nonprofits to fundraise and share their mission. Qualifying nonprofits can apply through LinkedIn’s nonprofit support program.
Do free LinkedIn accounts have any InMail capabilities?
Regular LinkedIn members with free accounts cannot send InMails at all. Only members with Premium subscriptions or paid InMail credit bundles can send InMails.
However, free members can take a couple actions related to receiving InMails:
- Set your profile to be Open to InMail to receive messages from any LinkedIn member.
- Manage your InMail preferences to control notifications and filtering options.
But in general, a free account has no InMail sending capabilities beyond responding to received messages.
Can I automate InMail messages?
LinkedIn does not allow third-party services or software to automate sending InMails. Any type of automation whether it be bots, plugins, schedulers, etc. violates LinkedIn’s terms of service.
The only built-in automation LinkedIn provides is being able to create InMail templates that let you reuse content. All messages still need to be manually sent one at a time.
Violating the automation rules can result in your account being restricted, banned, or penalized in the algorithm. So it’s best to avoid trying to automate InMails to avoid issues.
Are there any limits on how many InMails you can send?
LinkedIn does enforce some daily and monthly limits on InMail usage:
- Maximum of 300 InMails per day
- Maximum of 1800 InMails per month
Keep in mind these are pretty generous limits unlikely to impact individuals and most teams. But companies doing large LinkedIn marketing/outreach campaigns should be aware.
If you consistently approach the limits, LinkedIn may flag your account for potential spam or abuse issues. So staying well below the thresholds is advised.
Can you get banned or blocked for sending too many InMails?
It is possible to get penalized by LinkedIn for misusing InMail. Here are some scenarios that could create issues:
- Sending marketing or promotional messages to people without a prior relationship
- Repeatedly messaging the same prospects without responses
- Using automated tools or bots to send InMails
- Sending copy/pasted InMails with no personalization
- Sending InMails at an extremely high frequency
Consequences for misuse can include:
- Having your account restricted from sending messages
- Being permanently banned from having an account
- Having your messages filtered as spam
- Being blacklisted from sending to specific recipients
- Removal of Open Inviter status
The best practice is to use InMail selectively for outreach that provides value and builds relationships. Avoid spraying and praying for sales leads. Personalize messages and make initial asks modest like requesting a connection or quick call.
What determines your InMail pricing and credits?
A few key factors influence how much InMail credits cost and how many you receive:
- Account type – Free, Premium, Sales Navigator, Business Plus, etc
- Add-ons – Purchasing à la carte credit packs
- Company size – Larger companies may receive volume discounts
- Message volume – Bulk discounts available with larger purchases
- Account status – Restricted accounts may have limits
The per-message cost can range from $2 down to as low as $0.50 depending on these factors. Subscription plans often provide the lowest rates without having to buy credits separately.
Conclusion
In summary, no InMail capabilities are included for free on LinkedIn. Sending messages requires either purchasing credit bundles or upgrading to a Premium account. There are limits and best practices to avoid misusing InMail that can lead to penalties. While InMail does cost money, it provides unique ability to directly contact and build relationships with your ideal prospects.