LinkedIn InMail: What It Is, Credits & How to Use It
Complete guide to LinkedIn InMail in 2026. Learn what InMail is, how many credits you get, costs, best practices, and alternatives for outreach.
LinkedIn InMail is a premium messaging feature that lets you contact anyone on LinkedIn—even people you're not connected with. Each InMail uses one credit from your monthly allocation, which ranges from 5 to 150 credits depending on your subscription plan.
Understanding how InMail works helps you maximize your outreach while avoiding wasted credits.
Key Takeaways
- InMail requires a Premium subscription and lets you message non-connections directly
- Credit allocations range from 5 to 150 per month based on your LinkedIn plan
- Unused credits expire after 90 days but can accumulate up to plan limits
- You get credits back when recipients respond to your InMail
- Average InMail response rate is 18-25%, compared to 3% for regular connection requests
What Is InMail on LinkedIn?
According to LinkedIn Help, InMail messages allow you to directly message another LinkedIn member you're not connected to. With a free Basic account, you can only message people in your network. InMail removes this limitation.
How InMail Differs from Regular Messages
| Feature | Regular Messages | InMail |
|---|---|---|
| Recipients | 1st-degree connections only | Anyone on LinkedIn |
| Cost | Free | Uses premium credits |
| Character limit | 8,000 characters | 1,900 characters (body) |
| Subject line | No | Yes (200 characters) |
| Response tracking | Basic | Detailed analytics |
InMail Message Limits
- Subject line: Up to 200 characters
- Message body: Up to 1,900 characters including spaces
- One message per person: You cannot send another InMail until they respond
- No attachments: InMails support text only
How Many InMail Credits Do You Get?
Your monthly InMail credit allocation depends on your LinkedIn subscription:
| LinkedIn Plan | Monthly Credits | Max Accumulation |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | 5 credits | 15 credits |
| Premium Business | 15 credits | 45 credits |
| Sales Navigator Core | 50 credits | 150 credits |
| Sales Navigator Advanced | 50 credits | 150 credits |
| Recruiter Lite | 30 credits | 90 credits |
| Recruiter Corporate | 150 credits | 450 credits |
Credit Renewal Rules
According to LinkedIn's documentation:
- Credits renew on your monthly billing date
- Unused credits accumulate up to 3 months' worth
- Credits expire after 90 days of non-use
- You receive a credit back when someone responds to your InMail
How to Check Your Available Credits
- Click your profile picture in the top right
- Select "Settings & Privacy"
- Navigate to "Account preferences"
- Click "Subscriptions and billing"
- View your current InMail credit balance
Or visit LinkedIn's InMail credit page for a direct link.
How to Send an InMail
Sending an InMail is straightforward once you have a Premium subscription.
Step-by-Step Process
- Find your recipient: Navigate to the person's LinkedIn profile
- Click "Message": This button appears below their profile header
- Compose subject line: Write a compelling reason to open
- Write your message: Keep it under 1,900 characters
- Send: Click the send button
InMail Best Practices
Based on LinkedIn's business research, effective InMails follow these principles:
1. Personalize the subject line
- Bad: "Quick question"
- Good: "Your SaaS pricing article inspired this idea"
2. Reference something specific
- Mention their recent post, company news, or shared connection
- Show you've researched them
3. Keep it brief
- Aim for 400-600 characters
- Longer messages have lower response rates
4. Include a clear ask
- One specific call-to-action
- Easy to respond to
5. Provide value first
- Share a relevant insight
- Offer help before asking for anything
InMail Response Rates
LinkedIn reports that InMails achieve significantly better engagement than cold outreach methods.
Industry Benchmarks
According to LinkedIn's data:
- Average open rate: 85%
- Average response rate: 18-25%
- Comparison to cold email: 3-5x higher response
Factors That Improve Response Rates
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Personalization | +40% response rate |
| Subject line relevance | +25% open rate |
| Timing (business hours) | +15% response rate |
| Message length (under 400 chars) | +20% response rate |
| Mutual connections mentioned | +30% response rate |
Free Ways to Message Non-Connections
InMail isn't the only way to reach people outside your network.
Open Profile Recipients
Members with Open Profile enabled can receive messages from anyone—no InMail credit required. Look for the gold LinkedIn icon next to their name.
Connection Requests with Notes
You can include a 300-character note with connection requests. While not as detailed as InMail, it's free and effective when personalized.
Group Members
If you share a LinkedIn Group, you can message fellow members directly without using InMail credits.
Event Attendees
People who attend the same LinkedIn Events can be messaged directly during and after the event.
InMail Alternatives Worth Considering
InMail has limitations. These alternatives may work better for certain use cases:
Connection Request Strategy
Instead of InMail, send a personalized connection request. Once connected, you have unlimited messaging access. This approach:
- Saves InMail credits for true cold outreach
- Builds your network for future interactions
- Has 30-40% acceptance rates when personalized
Engage Before Reaching Out
Comment thoughtfully on someone's posts before messaging them. When they recognize your name, response rates increase significantly.
Inbound Lead Generation
Rather than chasing prospects with InMail, position yourself so they come to you. ConnectSafely.ai helps you build LinkedIn authority that attracts inbound leads—eliminating the need for cold outreach entirely.
Common InMail Questions
What is InMail on LinkedIn and how does it work?
InMail is LinkedIn's premium messaging feature that lets you send direct messages to anyone on the platform, regardless of connection status. Each message uses one credit from your monthly allocation. Recipients can reply, ignore, or mark your message as spam. You receive your credit back if they respond.
How much does LinkedIn InMail cost?
InMail credits come bundled with Premium subscriptions, not sold separately. Premium Career at $29.99/month includes 5 credits, Premium Business at $59.99/month includes 15 credits, and Sales Navigator at $99.99/month includes 50 credits.
Can I buy additional InMail credits?
No. LinkedIn doesn't sell InMail credits separately. To get more credits, you must upgrade to a higher-tier subscription or wait for monthly renewal. Credits accumulate up to 3 months' worth if unused.
What happens to unused InMail credits?
Unused InMail credits roll over monthly but expire after 90 days. You can accumulate up to 3 months' worth of credits. For example, Premium Career users can bank up to 15 credits before losing the oldest ones.
How do I get InMail credits back?
LinkedIn returns your InMail credit when a recipient responds to your message. They have 90 days to respond for you to receive the credit back. This policy encourages sending quality messages that recipients want to answer.
Is InMail better than regular connection requests?
InMail allows longer, more detailed messages with subject lines, making it better for explaining complex value propositions. Connection requests are limited to 300 characters but, once accepted, provide unlimited future messaging. Use InMail for time-sensitive outreach; use connection requests for building long-term relationships.
When InMail Makes Sense (and When It Doesn't)
Good Uses for InMail
- Reaching C-suite executives unlikely to accept connection requests
- Time-sensitive business opportunities
- Job applications to hiring managers
- Following up with event contacts who didn't accept connections
When to Skip InMail
- Prospects who actively post (engage with their content first)
- People with Open Profile enabled (message free)
- Anyone in shared groups (message directly)
- Generic outreach without personalization
How ConnectSafely.ai Reduces InMail Dependency
Relying on InMail for lead generation means:
- Limited monthly credits
- Cold outreach that feels transactional
- Constant expense to maintain outreach volume
ConnectSafely.ai takes a different approach. Instead of chasing prospects with paid messages, we help you build LinkedIn authority so qualified leads reach out to you.
The result: inbound conversations with prospects who already trust your expertise—no InMail credits required.
Tired of limited InMail credits? Start your free ConnectSafely.ai trial and build an inbound lead system where prospects come to you.
