LinkedIn InMail is a messaging feature that allows LinkedIn members to directly contact other members, even if they are not connected. InMails can be a useful tool for making important business connections or reaching out to potential clients or recruits. But InMails are not free – LinkedIn charges a fee in order to send InMails. So how much does LinkedIn charge for InMails? Here is a breakdown of LinkedIn’s InMail pricing and options.
InMail Credits
LinkedIn sells InMails through a credit system. You purchase packs of InMail credits and then use those credits to send InMails. Here are the current InMail credit pack options and pricing (as of October 2023):
Credit Pack | Number of Credits | Price |
---|---|---|
Starter Pack | 3 credits | $15 |
Classic Pack | 10 credits | $45 |
Pro Pack | 25 credits | $100 |
Premium Pack | 50 credits | $175 |
Executive Pack | 100 credits | $325 |
So as you can see, the per-credit cost ranges from $5 per InMail for the Starter Pack to $3.25 per InMail for the Executive Pack. The more credits you buy at once, the cheaper each InMail becomes.
InMail Pricing for Recruiters
LinkedIn offers different InMail pricing for recruiters who use LinkedIn Recruiter to source candidates. Here are the InMail credit pack options for LinkedIn Recruiter subscribers:
Credit Pack | Number of Credits | Price |
---|---|---|
Starter Pack | 25 credits | $42 |
Remarkable Pack | 150 credits | $212 |
Elite Pack | 300 credits | $380 |
Tycoon Pack | 500 credits | $600 |
As you can see, the per InMail cost for recruiters ranges from $1.68 per InMail with the Elite Pack to $2.10 per InMail with the Remarkable Pack. So recruiters get a significant discount compared to regular members.
Unlimited InMail Subscriptions
In addition to pay-as-you-go InMail credits, LinkedIn offers flat-rate unlimited InMail subscriptions for recruiters. These give you unlimited InMails per month for a fixed monthly price. Here are those unlimited InMail subscription options:
- Recruiter Lite – $414/month
- Recruiter Professional – $834/month
- Recruiter Corporate – Custom pricing
The unlimited subscriptions can be a good option for frequent InMail users. But you need to send a high volume of InMails per month to get your money’s worth from the flat monthly rate.
Sending InMails Without Credits
While InMail credits are required to send messages to people you aren’t connected to, there are a couple ways to send InMail-like messages without using credits:
InMail to 1st Degree Connections
You can send InMail messages to any 1st degree connections in your network for free without needing credits. So if you want to directly reach out to someone you’re connected with, it won’t cost anything.
Open Networkers
Some LinkedIn members designate themselves as “Open Networkers.” These members indicate they are receptive to receiving InMail from anyone, even people they aren’t connected to. You can send InMails to Open Networkers for free without needing credits.
Adding Credits
If you run out of InMail credits, you can purchase additional ones at any time. You don’t need to wait until your current credits fully expire. There are a few ways to add more InMail credits on LinkedIn:
- Recharge your account – Add credits from any of the pack options. You pay the full price of the credit pack.
- Monthly subscription – Sign up to have a recurring monthly credit allotment added to your account. Discounted pricing.
- Pre-pay subscription – Pre-pay for 3, 6, or 12 months of credits upfront. deeper discounts.
No matter which option you choose, purchased InMail credits don’t expire as long as you maintain an active LinkedIn account. You can roll over unused credits month to month.
Conclusion
So in summary, here are the key things to know about LinkedIn InMail pricing:
- InMails are purchased through a credit system – prices range from $5-$3.25 per credit
- Recruiters get discounted InMail rates as low as $1.68 per InMail
- Unlimited InMail subscriptions are available for very frequent users
- You can message 1st degree connections for free
- Credits can be added at any time, don’t expire, and roll over if unused
LinkedIn InMail can be a powerful tool for making meaningful connections and getting important messages in front of the right people. But you need to factor in the costs of credits or subscriptions in order to use InMails effectively.
Understanding LinkedIn’s InMail pricing models allows you to plan your budget and select the right package based on your messaging needs. With pay-as-you-go credits or unlimited plans, LinkedIn provides flexibility. But InMails do come at a cost, so use them strategically to maximize value.
This concludes an overview of how LinkedIn charges for InMails. Let me know if you have any other questions!