LinkedIn InMail is a messaging feature on LinkedIn that allows users to directly contact other members, even if they are not connected. InMail messages bypass the default LinkedIn messaging filters and land directly in the recipient’s inbox. Many LinkedIn users find InMail to be an effective way to reach out to new professional contacts and build relationships.
However, InMail credits must be purchased in order to send InMail messages. LinkedIn provides all members with a limited number of free InMail credits when they first join, but these credits are quickly used up. After that, InMail credits must be bought if you want to continue messaging new connections through InMail.
What are InMail credits?
InMail credits allow LinkedIn members to send direct messages to other members without needing to connect first. Each InMail message sent deducts 1 credit from your account balance. Here are some key things to know about InMail credits:
- InMail credits are required to message non-connections on LinkedIn.
- Each InMail message you send costs 1 InMail credit.
- You must have at least 1 InMail credit available to send an InMail message.
- LinkedIn provides a limited number of free credits when you first sign up.
- After using your free credits, you must purchase InMail credits.
- Unused InMail credits do not expire and remain in your account balance.
In summary, InMail credits allow you to directly message people on LinkedIn you are not connected to. Sending each message deducts 1 credit from your account. Once your free InMail credits are used up, you need to buy more credits to keep messaging non-connections.
How much do InMail credits cost?
The cost of InMail credits varies depending on the quantity you purchase. Here are the current InMail credit packages and prices:
InMail Credit Package | Cost (USD) |
---|---|
5 Credits | $20 |
10 Credits | $45 |
20 Credits | $80 |
25 Credits | $95 |
50 Credits | $180 |
100 Credits | $340 |
150 Credits | $480 |
As you can see, the per-credit price decreases as you buy credits in larger quantities. The most cost-effective option is to purchase the 150 credit package at $3.20 per credit. However, you may want to start smaller if you are new to InMail. Overall, expect to pay between $3 and $4 per InMail credit when purchasing from LinkedIn.
How to buy InMail credits
Buying InMail credits is easy to do directly through LinkedIn in just a few steps:
- Log into your LinkedIn account
- Click on “My Network” at the top
- Select “Contacts” from the dropdown menu
- Click on the “More” tab, then “Purchase additional InMails”
- Select the quantity of credits you want to buy
- Enter your payment information and complete purchase
The credits will instantly be added to your LinkedIn account balance. You can then start using them to send InMail messages to new professional contacts.
In addition to buying directly on LinkedIn, some third-party sites and tools that integrate with LinkedIn may also offer InMail credit purchases. However, it’s usually easiest and most straightforward to just buy them directly through your LinkedIn account.
Tips for buying InMail credits
- Watch for LinkedIn discounts on InMail credits. Occasional sales may allow you to get credits for 20-50% off.
- Only buy the number of credits you think you’ll need in the short term. Unused credits won’t expire.
- The 150 credit pack offers the best value per credit, if you send high volumes of InMails.
- Start small if you are new to InMail. Buy 5 or 10 credits to test it out.
- Add more credits whenever your balance gets low. You can purchase credits as needed.
Are there alternatives to buying credits?
If you don’t want to purchase InMail credits, there are a few alternative ways to make professional connections and contact members on LinkedIn:
LinkedIn free messages
LinkedIn’s regular messaging system allows you to freely message your existing 1st-degree connections without needing credits. The downside is you can only message people already in your network.
LinkedIn connection requests
Sending connection requests to new contacts is free. If they accept your request, you can then message them through LinkedIn’s regular messaging at no cost.
Other contact information
Look for a way to contact the person outside of LinkedIn, such as through their company website, a phone number, or their social media profiles.
Upgrade to LinkedIn Premium
Subscribing to a Premium LinkedIn account includes a set number of monthly InMail credits as one of the benefits. This may work out cheaper than buying a large InMail package.
While these alternatives exist, purchasing InMail credits remains the most straightforward way to guarantee you can directly message any LinkedIn member.
Conclusion
In summary, it is not possible to send InMail messages to people you are not connected to on LinkedIn without first purchasing InMail credits. Credits must be bought in packages, typically costing between $3-$4 per credit depending on volume. Buying directly through your LinkedIn account is the easiest way to get InMail credits. While there are a few workarounds, purchasing credits is the only way to ensure you can freely message any member.