LinkedIn InMail credits allow users to directly contact other members on LinkedIn, even if they are not connected. Having more InMail credits means you can reach out to more potential customers, partners, or employees. However, LinkedIn limits the maximum number of credits available to prevent spam and abuse. Let’s take a closer look at the InMail credit system and the current maximum credits allowed.
What are InMail Credits?
InMail credits are a form of digital currency within LinkedIn that allow you to send direct messages to members outside of your network. Normally, you can only message people who are 1st-degree connections on LinkedIn. With InMail credits, you can message 2nd and 3rd-degree connections or members you are not connected to at all. Each credit lets you send one InMail message.
The key benefits of InMail credits include:
- Reaching members outside your current network
- Making new professional connections
- Introducing yourself or your business
- Following up after meeting someone
- Reaching decision makers and influencers
InMail credits essentially act as a currency to let you bypass LinkedIn’s normal messaging restrictions. You purchase a package of credits upfront and then spend them to send InMail messages as needed. It provides more messaging flexibility but requires an extra investment.
What is the Standard InMail Credit Allowance?
The number of InMail credits you get by default depends on your LinkedIn account type:
- Basic account – 0 InMail credits
- Business Plus account – 15 InMail credits per month
- Sales Navigator Professional – 25 InMail credits per month
- Sales Navigator Team – 25 InMail credits per month per user
- Recruiter Lite – 25 InMail credits per month
- Recruiter – 175 InMail credits per month
- Job Seeker – 0 InMail credits
As you can see above, having a premium LinkedIn account grants you a regular monthly supply of InMail credits automatically. The number ranges from 15-175 credits depending on the account type. Basic and Job Seeker accounts do not include any.
What is the Maximum InMail Credits You Can Have?
While premium accounts get an ongoing supply of credits, there are limits in place. LinkedIn caps the maximum number of credits you can accumulate at any one time:
- Personal accounts – 500 credits
- Company pages – 750 credits
For personal LinkedIn accounts, the limit is 500 InMail credits. This applies to all individual premium account types. Once you reach 500 credits, any monthly credits you are granted will only accumulate after you spend some credits to drop below the limit again.
The cap is higher at 750 credits for company pages. Company pages operate a bit differently than individual accounts when it comes to InMail. But essentially, company pages cannot exceed 750 unused credits at any point in time.
Why Does LinkedIn Limit Maximum InMail Credits?
LinkedIn has a few key reasons for limiting the maximum unused InMail credits:
- Prevent spam – Too many credits could enable spam and abuse.
- Encourage use – Forces periodic use rather than hoarding credits indefinitely.
- Revenue generation – Encourages purchases of credit packages when you run low.
The main motivation is likely preventing spam and abuse of the InMail system. If accounts could stockpile unlimited credits, bad actors could automate sending huge volumes of messages. By capping balances, LinkedIn limits the potential damage from any single account owner.
It also encourages periodic use rather than long-term credit hoarding. You have to actively spend credits to drop below the limits and start accumulating again. This results in a healthier flow and exchange.
Finally, requiring periodic purchases of credit packs when balances run low is an ongoing revenue stream for LinkedIn.
How to Check Your Current InMail Credit Balance
You can check your current InMail credit balance directly within LinkedIn. Here are two ways to view it:
Option 1
- Click on the “My Network” icon in the top toolbar
- Select “Manage my network” from the dropdown menu
- Go to the “Account” tab
- Scroll down to see your “InMail Credits Remaining” count
Option 2
- Click on the “Me” icon in the top toolbar (user profile circle)
- Select “Settings & Privacy”
- Go to the “Communications” tab
- Scroll down to see your “InMail Credits Remaining” count
Following either of those sets of steps will take you to screens showing your current InMail credit balance. It will also display the monthly credit allowance for your account type.
What Happens if You Exceed the Maximum Credits?
If you try to accumulate more credits beyond the 500 or 750 limit, here is what happens:
- Monthly credit grants stop accumulating
- You must manually spend credits to drop below the limit
- Once below the limit, monthly credits will accumulate again
- Manual credit purchases can exceed the limit
You essentially enter a “maxed out” state where any automatic monthly credits no longer add to your balance until you spend some credits. Credit packs purchased manually can still exceed the limit.
However, the credits over the limit will not become active and available to use until you spend enough credits to drop below the cap again. So you have to manually use credits periodically to continue accumulating your monthly allowance.
Tips for Managing InMail Credits
Here are some tips for effectively managing your supply of InMail credits:
- Track your balance – Check it routinely to know when you are getting low.
- Use credits regularly – Don’t hoard too many credits unused.
- Plan purchases – Buy additional credit packs strategically when needed.
- Review analytics – See which messages get the best response rates.
- Segment targets – Identify your most valuable outreach targets.
Staying on top of your credit usage and tendencies can help maximize your investment. For example, reviewing InMail analytics may reveal that senior titles have a much higher open and response rate vs. junior titles. You can tailor your outreach approach and targets accordingly.
Purchasing Additional InMail Credit Packs
If you want to accumulate credits beyond the monthly limit, you can purchase additional credit packs. Here are the options for purchasing extra credits:
Credit Pack | # of Credits | Price |
---|---|---|
Starter | 25 | $40 |
Classic | 100 | $122 |
Premium | 500 | $522 |
Ultimate | 1000 | $927 |
Credit packs range from 25 credits up to 1000 credits. As you can see, buying in bulk provides a lower per-credit price. For maximum value, purchase a larger pack that gives you enough credits to use over an extended period.
To purchase credit packs:
- Go to the “Me” icon in the top toolbar
- Select “Settings & Privacy”
- Go to the “Communications” tab
- Click “Buy additional credits”
- Select your desired credit pack
- Complete the purchase through the checkout process
The purchased credits will be added to your current balance, even if it exceeds your account limit. However, you still won’t be able to use the credits above the limit until your balance drops below the cap again.
Best Practices for Using InMail Credits
To get the most value from your InMail credits, follow these best practices:
- Personalize each message – No copy/paste or spamming.
- Craft a strong subject – Compel them to open and read your note.
- Highlight shared connections – Build trust and credibility.
- Provide value – Offer useful advice, resources, or insights.
- Follow up persistently – It often takes multiple touches to connect.
- Review your analytics – Continuously optimize your approach.
With a finite number of credits, you want to maximize the impact of each InMail you send. Taking the time to individualize messages and offer genuine value rather than canned sales pitches can dramatically improve your InMail open and response rates.
InMail Credit Alternatives
If you want to conserve your InMail credits or need to message beyond your credit limit, here are some alternative options:
- Group InMail – Pay per message sent to multiple people.
- OpenInvite – Enable 1-click InMail from recipients.
- LinkedIn Elevate – Schedule posts to share with followers.
- Search alerts – Get notified when someone meets your criteria.
- Profile views – View who’s looked at your profile.
Group InMail allows bulk sending of the same InMail to up to 50 recipients at once. With OpenInvite, you include a special link that lets recipients instantly send you an InMail reply with one click.
LinkedIn Elevate allows posting Timeline updates that reach all your followers. You can highlight key content or offers to your network. Search alerts notify you when new members match your criteria. And you can see who has viewed your profile recently to identify prospects.
InMail Credit Restrictions
While InMail credits provide more messaging flexibility, there are some restrictions to be aware of:
- Only paid LinkedIn members can send InMails
- Recipients can block InMails from non-connections
- Accounts with misuse flags often cannot send InMails
- Suspended accounts lose InMail abilities
- Spam complaints may trigger restrictions
So while credits provide wider access, LinkedIn still regulates usage to maintain quality. Recipients can screen out messages from unfamiliar senders. Abuse can lead to limits or suspension of your account.
Generally, building genuine relationships and avoiding spam techniques will keep your account in good standing. But LinkedIn maintains discretion to block any accounts seen as abusing InMail privileges.
Conclusion
InMail credits allow sending direct messages to any LinkedIn member without connecting first. Personal accounts max out at 500 unused credits, while company pages can accumulate up to 750.
Exceeding the credit limit prevents accumulating any additional automatic monthly credits until you spend some down. You can still purchase credit packs beyond the limit. But you can only use credits above the cap after spending enough to drop your balance back below the threshold.
Using InMail selectively and thoughtfully will drive the best results. Personalized value-driven messages see much higher engagement than spammy sales pitches. With the right approach, your limited credits can go a long way in building new relationships.