LinkedIn InMail lets you message any LinkedIn member without being connected — it's the feature that makes Premium worth paying for, but only if your messages are personalized and relevant. Generic InMail blasts get ignored; specific, well-targeted messages get replies. Here's how InMail works, how many credits you get, and how to write messages people answer.
What InMail is
InMail is LinkedIn's way of messaging someone outside your network. Normally you can only message 1st-degree connections; InMail bypasses that. LinkedIn members with "Open Profile" enabled can be messaged free by anyone — InMail is for everyone else. Credits are limited per month and don't roll over.
InMail credits by plan (2026)
| Plan | InMail credits/month |
|---|---|
| Premium Career | 5 |
| Premium Business | 15 |
| Sales Navigator Core | 50 |
You get a credit back when someone replies to your InMail, so well-written messages effectively cost nothing.
How to write InMail that gets replies
- Personalize the subject line. Reference their role, company or something they posted — not "Opportunity" or "Quick question."
- Lead with relevance, not yourself. Why are you messaging them specifically? One sentence showing you did homework beats a paragraph about you.
- Keep it short. 3–5 sentences. Busy people skim; long messages get closed.
- Make one clear ask. A 15-minute call, a specific question, a referral to the right person. One ask, easy to say yes to.
- No attachments, no hard sell. First contact is about starting a conversation, not closing.
Common InMail mistakes
- Copy-paste templates sent to dozens of people — instantly recognizable and ignored
- Leading with your resume or a sales pitch
- Vague asks ("pick your brain," "let's connect")
- Messaging the wrong person entirely (research who actually hires/decides)
Who to message
For job hunting: hiring managers and recruiters at target companies, not generic HR inboxes. For sales: decision-makers with a specific, relevant reason. For networking: people whose work you genuinely follow. One targeted message to the right person beats twenty blasts.
The bottom line
InMail is the highest-value LinkedIn Premium feature when used with care — direct access to people you couldn't otherwise reach. Treat each credit as precious: personalize, keep it short, make one clear ask. Done right, the reply-credit system makes effective InMail essentially free. DigitalTools sells LinkedIn Premium at below-retail pricing if you want the credits without the full-rate subscription.
