You've just signed up for LinkedIn Premium, excited to start reaching out to potential mentors, hiring managers, or industry connections. You're ready to send that first professional message when suddenly you see it: "You have 5 InMail credits remaining this month."

Wait, what? Only 5 messages per month? As one frustrated student put it: "How on earth you only have 5 'Inmail credits' per month?! They didn't specify that. Like, I bought it because I'm a first year student looking for a summer internship and I wanted to start networking but... by just reaching out 5 people? What is this..."

If you're feeling confused or even scammed by LinkedIn's InMail credit system, you're not alone. The reality is that LinkedIn's messaging limits are more complex than they initially appear, and understanding these limitations is crucial for anyone serious about professional networking on the platform.

The frustration runs deeper when you realize that many recipients treat InMails like spam anyway. As one sales professional noted: "Inmails are looked at and treated like spam. Only send linked in messages to people that connect with you first. Otherwise send email." This creates a perfect storm of limited credits and low response rates that can make LinkedIn Premium feel like a waste of money.

Understanding LinkedIn's InMail Credit System

The good news is that once you understand how LinkedIn's messaging system actually works, you can develop strategies to maximize your outreach without burning through your precious credits.

LinkedIn's InMail credits are essentially a special currency that allows you to message people who aren't in your direct network - those 2nd and 3rd degree connections who might otherwise be unreachable. But here's where it gets interesting: the number of credits you receive depends entirely on which LinkedIn subscription you have.

Monthly InMail Credit Allocation by Plan

According to LinkedIn's official documentation and industry research, here's what you get with each plan:

• Premium Career: 5 credits per month

• Premium Business: 15 credits per month

• Sales Navigator Core: 50 credits per month

• Recruiter Lite: 30 credits per month

• Recruiter: 150 credits per month

Those 5 credits that shocked our student friend? That's the standard allowance for Premium Career - LinkedIn's entry-level paid plan that most job seekers and early-career professionals choose.

Credit Rollover and Accumulation

Here's a detail that LinkedIn doesn't advertise prominently: unused credits don't just disappear. You can actually accumulate them up to certain limits:

• Premium Career: Maximum 15 credits total

• Premium Business: Maximum 45 credits total

• Sales Navigator: Maximum 150 credits total

• Recruiter Lite: Maximum 120 credits total

This means if you don't use all your credits one month, they'll roll over to help you in future months - but only up to these caps.

Key InMail Restrictions You Need to Know

LinkedIn has some important rules that can catch users off guard:

1. No Double-Messaging: You cannot send a new InMail to the same person until they respond to your previous message. This prevents spam but also means you can't follow up if someone doesn't respond.

2. Character Limits: Subject lines are capped at 200 characters, while message bodies can be up to 1,900 characters (LinkedIn Help).

3. Credit Refunds: If someone responds to your InMail within 90 days, you get your credit back. This is LinkedIn's way of encouraging quality, engaging messages.

How to Send Messages Without Using InMail Credits

Here's where things get interesting - and where most LinkedIn users are missing out on huge opportunities. You can actually send hundreds of messages per month without touching your precious InMail credits.

The Open Profile Loophole

LinkedIn Premium users often set their profiles to "open," meaning anyone can message them directly without using credits. These profiles are marked with a golden LinkedIn icon next to the person's name. According to SalesRobot's research, you can send up to 800 InMails to open profiles each month without consuming any credits.

This is a game-changer for networking. Instead of limiting yourself to 5-15 messages per month, you could potentially reach 800+ Premium users who have explicitly indicated they're open to receiving messages.

Regular LinkedIn Messaging Limits

For standard LinkedIn messages (not InMails), the limits are much more generous:

• Free accounts: Up to 100 messages per week to your connections

• Premium accounts: Up to 150 messages per week to your connections

The key here is that these are messages to people who are already in your network - your 1st-degree connections. This is why building a strong network of connections is so crucial for LinkedIn success.

Connection Request Strategy

Speaking of connections, this is where many users find a better path than InMails altogether. As one experienced networker recommended: "Look up people and ask to connect. If no one accepts your invitations, find their email and send them a brief email."

With a free LinkedIn account, you can send approximately 40-50 connection requests per week. That's potentially 200 new connections per month - far more reach than you'd get with even the highest-tier InMail allowance.

Maximizing Your LinkedIn Outreach Strategy

Given these limitations and opportunities, here's how to build an effective LinkedIn outreach strategy that doesn't rely heavily on InMail credits:

1. Prioritize Connection Requests

Instead of immediately jumping to InMails, start by sending personalized connection requests. As one user noted: "People who don't mind being contacted will accept the invitation to connect, just add a note with connect request clearly stating why are you writing to this person."

Your connection request note can be up to 300 characters, which is often enough to make a compelling case for why someone should connect with you.

2. Target Open Profiles First

When you do want to send direct messages, prioritize those golden-icon Premium users who have open profiles. These messages don't count against your InMail credits and often have higher response rates since the recipients have explicitly opted into receiving messages.

3. Follow Companies and Engage

One networking strategy that doesn't require any credits at all: "Start following all the companies in your area especially ones you're really interested in. Follow or connect with their CEOs, founders, managers. Find recruiters."

By engaging with content from people you want to connect with - liking, commenting thoughtfully, and sharing their posts - you can get on their radar before ever sending a message.

4. Leverage Email When LinkedIn Fails

Many experienced networkers skip LinkedIn messaging altogether once they've identified their targets. As suggested in discussions: "Just look at contact info and then email whoever you want to contact with. Don't message them on LinkedIn."

Tools like Hunter.io, Apollo, or even simple Google searches can often turn up email addresses for the people you want to reach, bypassing LinkedIn's limitations entirely.

When InMails Make Sense (And When They Don't)

Given all these alternatives, when should you actually use your precious InMail credits?

Use InMails when:

• You've identified a high-value target who hasn't accepted your connection request

• The person doesn't have an open profile

• You can't find their email address

• You have a highly personalized, compelling message that's likely to get a response

Skip InMails when:

• You could achieve the same result with a connection request

• The person has an open profile (use the free messaging option instead)

• You can easily find their email address

• Your message is generic or could be seen as spam

Improving Your LinkedIn Messaging Strategy

Whether you're using InMails, connection requests, or direct messages, the quality of your outreach matters enormously. Research from WebFX shows that personalized messages have significantly higher response rates than generic ones.

Here are the key principles for effective LinkedIn messaging:

1. Keep it concise: Messages under 400 characters have 22% higher response rates

2. Personalize every message: Reference something specific from their profile or recent activity

3. Avoid weekend sends: Friday and Saturday messages have the lowest response rates

4. Include a clear call to action: Be specific about what you want and make it easy to respond

5. Test and iterate: Track your response rates and adjust your approach based on what works

Managing Your LinkedIn Inbox Efficiently

As your LinkedIn networking scales up, managing all these conversations becomes crucial. This is where many professionals struggle - LinkedIn's native messaging interface can quickly become overwhelming when you're actively networking.

When appropriate, tools like Kondo can help transform your LinkedIn messaging experience from chaotic to organized. Features like conversation labeling (marking prospects as "Hot Lead" or "Follow-up Needed"), message snoozing for timely follow-ups, and keyboard shortcuts for rapid message processing can save hours each week for active networkers.

For professionals sending dozens of messages daily - whether through InMails, connection requests, or direct messages - having an organized system for tracking and following up on conversations becomes essential for capitalizing on networking opportunities.

The Bottom Line on LinkedIn Messaging Limits

LinkedIn's InMail credit system can feel restrictive, especially when you're paying for Premium and discovering you only get 5-15 messages per month. But understanding the full scope of LinkedIn's messaging options reveals much more opportunity than those credit limits suggest.

With up to 800 free messages to open profiles, 200+ connection requests per month, and unlimited messaging to your existing network, the real limitation isn't LinkedIn's system - it's developing an effective strategy for building and nurturing professional relationships.

The most successful LinkedIn networkers rarely rely heavily on InMail credits. Instead, they use a combination of strategic connection requests, thoughtful engagement with content, direct email outreach, and systematic follow-up to build meaningful professional networks.

Remember: networking isn't about sending as many messages as possible. It's about making genuine connections with the right people. Whether you have 5 InMail credits or 150, the quality of your outreach will always matter more than the quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are LinkedIn InMail credits?

LinkedIn InMail credits are a special allowance that lets you send direct messages to LinkedIn members who are not in your immediate network (i.e., 2nd or 3rd-degree connections). Think of them as a premium feature for reaching out beyond your existing connections. The number of credits you receive varies based on your LinkedIn subscription type, and using a credit is necessary when you want to contact someone you're not connected with and who doesn't have an "Open Profile."

How many InMail credits do I get with my LinkedIn plan?

The number of InMail credits you receive monthly depends on your specific LinkedIn subscription. For example, the Premium Career plan typically offers 5 credits per month, Premium Business provides 15, Sales Navigator Core gives 50, and Recruiter Lite includes 30 credits monthly. It's crucial to check the details of your specific plan, as this allocation directly impacts your capacity for outreach to non-connections.

Can I send messages on LinkedIn without using InMail credits?

Yes, there are several effective ways to send messages on LinkedIn without using your valuable InMail credits. You can send unlimited messages to your 1st-degree connections (people you are already connected with). Additionally, many LinkedIn Premium users enable "Open Profiles," which allows anyone on LinkedIn to message them for free; you can send up to 800 such messages to Open Profiles each month. Sending personalized connection requests is another excellent method to initiate contact without depleting your InMail credits.

Why are my InMails not getting responses?

Low InMail response rates often occur because messages are perceived as generic, irrelevant, or too sales-oriented by the recipient. Many users are wary of unsolicited InMails. To significantly improve your chances of getting a response, always personalize your message by referencing something specific about the recipient, keep it concise (messages under 400 characters often see better engagement), clearly state your purpose, and include a specific, easy-to-respond-to call to action. Sending InMails on weekdays, rather than on weekends, can also yield better results.

What is the best way to network on LinkedIn if I have limited InMail credits?

The most effective way to network on LinkedIn, especially with limited InMail credits, is to prioritize sending personalized connection requests and messaging users who have "Open Profiles." Focus on strategically building your 1st-degree network, as you can message these connections freely and without limit. Actively engage with the content shared by people and companies you are interested in by liking, commenting thoughtfully, and sharing their posts. If direct LinkedIn messaging proves challenging, consider researching their professional email address for an alternative outreach method.

Do unused LinkedIn InMail credits roll over to the next month?

Yes, unused InMail credits generally roll over to the following month, but there is a maximum cap on how many credits you can accumulate. For instance, Premium Career users can typically accumulate up to 15 credits, while Premium Business users might accumulate up to 45. This means if you don't use all your credits in one month, they aren't immediately lost, but you cannot hoard them indefinitely beyond your specific plan's accumulation limit.