InMail is LinkedIn’s internal messaging system that allows you to connect with anyone on LinkedIn, even if you’re not connected to them. However, InMail messages are typically only available to LinkedIn Premium subscribers. So why are some people able to send InMails for free?
Who Can Send Free InMails?
There are a few categories of LinkedIn members who are able to send a certain number of free InMails each month:
- LinkedIn Recruiters – Recruiters who use LinkedIn’s Recruiter platform get a monthly allowance of free InMails to contact potential candidates. The number of monthly InMails depends on the Recruiter account level.
- Sales Navigator Users – LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscribers get a small number of free InMails each month to contact prospects and leads.
- Open Networkers – Members who have enabled the Open Networking setting on their profile can send up to 15 free InMails every month to other Open Networkers.
- Company Pages – Verified company pages on LinkedIn get a monthly allowance of free InMails to contact followers and prospects.
So in summary, recruiters, sales professionals, open networkers, and companies themselves tend to have access to a pool of free InMails each month. This allows them to initiate contact with people they normally wouldn’t be able to message on LinkedIn.
Why Does LinkedIn Offer Free InMails?
LinkedIn offers free InMails to certain members for a few key reasons:
- Lead Generation – Allowing recruiters and sales professionals to send InMails helps them generate more leads and business opportunities on LinkedIn.
- Incentivize Premium Subscriptions – Granting limited free InMails gives people a taste of the benefits, hoping they’ll subscribe to Premium to get more capabilities.
- Encourage Relationship Building – InMails foster more relationships between members, ultimately leading to a more engaged user base.
- Provide Value to Pages – Letting Pages send InMails allows them to proactively contact followers to share company news and content.
Essentially, LinkedIn wants to provide just enough value via free InMails to get people hooked and convert them into paying Premium subscribers. Offering limited free InMails to Pages and sales professionals also makes LinkedIn more valuable to businesses.
Limits on Free InMails
While some members do get access to free InMails, LinkedIn still imposes limits and restrictions, including:
- Capped Number Per Month – There is a set maximum number of free InMails members can send each month before they start getting charged.
- Limited Capabilities – Free InMail messages have fewer features and customization options compared to Premium InMails.
- No Rollover – Any unused free InMails expire at the end of each month.
- Restricted Recipients – Members may only be able to send free InMails to certain categories of recipients based on account type.
This ensures that LinkedIn can still generate revenue from members who want unlimited InMails and access to the full suite of messaging features.
Types of Free InMail Accounts
Not all free InMail accounts are created equal. The number and capabilities depend on the type of LinkedIn membership.
Recruiter InMail Accounts
LinkedIn Recruiters get access to the Recruiter InMail tool, with the number of free InMails scaling based on which Recruiter edition they use:
| Recruiter Edition | Free InMails per Month |
|---|---|
| Recruiter Lite | 150 |
| Professional | 300 |
| Expert | 550 |
| Master | 750 |
Recruiter InMails also come with features like read receipts, follow-up reminders, and customized message templates.
Sales Navigator InMail Accounts
The number of free InMails for Sales Navigator subscribers depends on their account level:
| Sales Navigator Plan | Free InMails per Month |
|---|---|
| Pro | 10 |
| Team | 15 |
| Enterprise | 25 |
Sales Navigator InMails allow sending messages to anyone, regardless of whether they’re a 1st-degree connection.
Open Networker InMail Accounts
Members who enable Open Networking on their profile get up to 15 free InMails per month to contact any other Open Networkers. This comes with the basic InMail capabilities.
Company Page InMail Accounts
Verified company pages receive a monthly allowance of free InMails to message their followers. The quantity depends on the number of followers:
| Followers | Free InMails per Month |
|---|---|
| Up to 500 | 10 |
| 501 – 5,000 | 25 |
| 5,001 – 10,000 | 50 |
| 10,001+ | 100 |
Company Page InMails can only be sent to followers of that particular Page.
Buying Additional InMails
If free InMails are used up, most account types allow purchasing additional InMail credits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The current rate as of 2023 is $2.49 per InMail credit.
Alternatively, members can upgrade to a Premium subscription to get unlimited InMails. Personal Premium plans start at $29.99 per month, while Sales Navigator upgrades are available if you’ve used up your allotment.
Best Practices for Using Free InMails
Here are some tips to use free InMails effectively and avoid issues:
- Personalize Each Message – Make sure to customize every InMail rather than blasting the same generic text.
- Provide Value – The message should provide value to the recipient and give a reason to respond.
- Follow Company Policy – If using InMail for sales or recruiting, ensure messages align with company guidelines.
- Avoid Spam Terms – Don’t use words that may trigger LinkedIn’s spam filters and get messages blocked.
- Focus on Quality over Quantity – Just because you have a set amount of free InMails doesn’t mean you should use them all.
- Track Opens and Responses – Use tracking features to see if messages are being opened and responded to.
- Refine Your Approach – Tailor your outreach approach based on InMail open and response rates.
Conclusion
LinkedIn offers free InMails to Recruiters, Sales Professionals, Open Networkers, and Company Pages to help drive engagement and encourage premium subscriptions. However, to avoid issues, free InMails should be used selectively for valuable, personalized messages rather than spamming connections.
Following best practices and refining your outreach strategy based on data can ensure you get the most benefit from the limited number of free InMails available.