InMail is a messaging feature on LinkedIn that allows users to directly contact other members outside of their network. When you send an InMail to someone, it will go to their LinkedIn inbox even if you are not connected with them.
To prevent spam and abuse, LinkedIn limits the number of InMails a user can send in a certain period of time. This is known as the InMail restriction period. Understanding how this restriction works is important for using InMail effectively.
The Basics of InMail Restrictions
Here are some key facts about InMail restrictions:
- Free LinkedIn members have a 30-day moving window for sending InMails.
- Paid LinkedIn members have a 7-day moving window for sending InMails.
- Any InMails sent within that time period count towards your limit.
- Once the time window has passed since an InMail was sent, it no longer counts towards your limit.
- Unused InMails do not roll over to the next period.
So in essence, the restriction looks at InMails sent over the past 30 days (or 7 days for paid members). You have a fixed allotment for that period, and once an InMail drops out of that moving time window, your limit replenishes.
InMail Allowance for Free Members
As a free LinkedIn member, you get 15 InMails every 30 days. This means you can send up to 15 InMails in a given 30-day period.
For example, if you send 10 InMails on March 1st, you will have 5 remaining for the next 30 days. Any of those 10 InMails that were sent on or before February 28th would no longer count towards your March limit.
Here is a breakdown of how the allowance works:
- Your 30-day InMail period resets after 30 days since your last InMail was sent.
- Each 30-day period, you get 15 InMails to use.
- InMails expire 365 days after being sent if they have not been opened.
- InMails outside the 30-day window no longer count towards your limit.
- You can see your remaining InMail count on your account.
So as a free member, keep in mind you only get 15 InMails every 30 days. Use them strategically and remember old InMails will stop counting towards that number after 30 days.
InMail Allowance for Paid Members
For paid LinkedIn members, the InMail restriction window is shorter but the allowance is larger. Here is how it works:
- You have a 7-day moving window for sending InMails.
- The number of InMails you can send varies based on your account type:
Account Type | InMails per 7-Day Period |
---|---|
Premium Business | 25 |
Sales Navigator Professional | 30 |
Recruiter Lite | 40 |
Premium Business Plus or Sales Navigator Team | 50 |
Recruiter | 75 |
Recruiter Corporate | 175 |
So if you have a Premium Business account, you can send up to 25 InMails every 7 days. InMails expire 365 days after being sent if unopened.
The 7-day moving window functions the same way as for free members. Any InMails older than 7 days will no longer count towards your limit. The allowance resets after 7 days.
Getting More InMails
If you need to send more InMails than your account’s base limit, there are a few options:
- Upgrade to a higher tier paid account like Recruiter to get more InMails.
- Buy an InMail package from LinkedIn to add extra credits.
- Connect with more LinkedIn members so you can message them for free without using InMail.
- Be more selective in choosing who to InMail to maximize your allowance.
The best strategies combine adjusting your account type and usage. For example, upgrading your account and being more selective on recipients can significantly increase the number of people you can reach.
InMail Limits for New Accounts
There are some special restrictions to be aware of when your LinkedIn account is new:
- Accounts less than one month old can only send 5 InMails per day.
- Accounts between one and three months old can send 10 InMails per day.
- After three months, normal account limits apply.
This gradual increase is to protect against spam and misuse of InMail when accounts are brand new. The normal monthly InMail allotment will still apply during this period.
Restrictions for Inactive Accounts
If your LinkedIn account has been inactive for an extended time, additional InMail restrictions may be activated:
- Accounts inactive for 60+ days can only send 5 InMails per day initially.
- Accounts inactive for 1+ years can only send 1 InMail per day initially.
- Activity and reputation can gradually increase limits again.
LinkedIn does this to prevent inactive accounts from being exploited for spam. Maintaining regular activity can help avoid severe restrictions if you need to send more InMails after an absence.
Tips for Managing InMail Limits
Here are some tips to make the most of your InMail allotment:
- Track your remaining InMails in account settings.
- Spread out InMails over the 30-day or 7-day period.
- Use all your important InMails at the start of a new period.
- Prioritize your most important recipients.
- Follow up with an additional InMail if no response.
- Use your free messages whenever possible instead.
Staying aware of your limits, tracking your usage, and planning the timing of your InMails can help maximize their impact.
Conclusion
Understanding LinkedIn’s InMail restrictions is key to using this important messaging feature effectively. As a free member, you get 15 InMails per 30-day period. For paid members, the allowance ranges from 25-175 per 7-day period depending on account type. New and inactive accounts also have special limits to be aware of. Following best practices around tracking your usage, account type, timing, and recipient targeting can help you stay within your InMail limits while still connecting with your desired professional contacts.