LinkedIn InMail: How Credits Work and When It Beats a Connection Request
What InMail is, how many credits each plan includes, how to earn credits back, Open Profile messages, and when to use InMail instead of a connection request.
By Mehran Iqbal, Co-Founder & CEO of GrabProspect3 min read
Short answer
InMail lets you message people you're not connected to, using monthly credits from Premium or Sales Navigator (Sales Navigator plans include 50 a month). LinkedIn returns the credit when the person responds within 90 days, so well-targeted InMails cost little. Use connection requests for most outreach, and save InMail for high-value people who don't accept, or for Open Profiles, which you can message free.
Connection requests are the backbone of LinkedIn outreach, but they have limits: about 100 a week, and some people never accept. InMail is LinkedIn's way to message people directly without being connected. Used well, it's a precise tool for the people who matter most.
How InMail credits work
| Plan | InMail credits per month |
|---|---|
| Free LinkedIn | None (Open Profile messages only, limited) |
| Premium (Career, Business) | A small monthly allowance, varies by plan |
| Sales Navigator Core, Advanced, Advanced Plus | 50 |
Credits arrive monthly, and unused credits don't last forever, so use them.
Getting credits back
LinkedIn returns an InMail credit when the recipient responds within 90 days, whether they accept, decline or answer. That changes the economics: a well-targeted InMail that gets a "not right now" costs you nothing. A batch of generic InMails that nobody answers uses up your allowance.
Open Profile: free InMail
Premium members can turn on Open Profile, which lets anyone message them without spending a credit. In Sales Navigator, Open Profile members are marked in search results, and the message box says the message is free.
Open Profiles are worth checking first in any list: you can reach them directly, free, with no connection request and no weekly limit involved.
InMail or connection request?
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most prospects | Connection request | Free, builds a lasting connection, and they see your updates |
| High-value person who didn't accept | InMail | A second, more detailed approach |
| Open Profile | InMail | Free and direct |
| You need to say more than 300 characters | InMail | Longer message with a subject line |
| You're near the weekly invitation limit | InMail | Doesn't count toward it |
| Large volume | Connection requests | Credits are limited |
A good pattern: invite first, and use InMail for the people who matter but haven't accepted after two to three weeks. Withdraw the old invite first so you can re-invite later.
Writing an InMail that gets answered
InMail has a subject line and more space, which tempts people into writing essays. Don't.
- Subject: short and specific to them. "Question about [company]'s SDR team" beats "Quick question".
- First line: why them, why now. Reference something real: a post, a new role, a company announcement.
- Body: two to four sentences. One problem you solve for people like them, one proof point.
- Ask: one easy question, not a calendar link.
Example:
Do this on autopilot with GrabProspect
Scrape Sales Navigator (even searches over 2,500), send personal invites, follow up until people reply and answer every reply from one inbox. Try it free for 7 days with your own LinkedIn account.
InMail and automation
Most outreach tools, GrabProspect included, focus on connection requests and messages to connections, where volume and follow-ups matter most. InMail works best sent by hand, to a short list of people you've researched, which is exactly what makes it effective.
Use GrabProspect to scrape the list, run connection invites and follow-ups at scale, and spend your InMail credits on the handful of accounts that deserve a personal note.
Frequently asked questions
How many InMail credits does Sales Navigator include?
Sales Navigator Core, Advanced and Advanced Plus include 50 InMail credits a month.
Do I get InMail credits back?
Yes. LinkedIn credits back an InMail when the recipient responds within 90 days, including a decline.
What is a LinkedIn Open Profile?
An option for Premium members that lets anyone message them free, without spending InMail credits. Sales Navigator marks Open Profile members in search results.
Does InMail count toward the weekly invitation limit?
No. InMail uses separate credits, so it's a way to reach people when you're near your weekly invitation limit.
Is InMail better than a connection request?
For most outreach, no: connection requests are free and build a lasting connection. InMail is best for high-value people who didn't accept, Open Profiles, and messages that need more than 300 characters.
Written by Mehran Iqbal, Co-Founder & CEO of GrabProspect, who builds LinkedIn outreach software and runs outreach with it. Facts checked on 2026-10-14. Spotted something out of date? Email contact@grabprospect.com.