Short answer: a regular LinkedIn message is free but only reaches your 1st-degree connections and a few exceptions, such as shared group members. InMail reaches almost anyone, but each one uses a credit from a paid plan, refunded if the recipient responds within 90 days. Check for an Open Profile first: it is free and needs no connection.
The LinkedIn InMail vs message question comes up as soon as you try to reach someone you are not connected to. The answer affects your budget, your reply rate and how many prospects you can reach each week. This guide explains how each option works according to LinkedIn's own Help Center, where Open Profile fits in, and a simple rule for choosing between them.
What is the difference between LinkedIn InMail and a message?
A message is LinkedIn's standard chat between people who are already connected, and it costs nothing. InMail is a paid message type that lets you write to members outside your network, and it comes with a fixed monthly number of credits on Premium, Sales Navigator and Recruiter plans.
| Regular message | InMail | Open Profile message | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who you can reach | 1st-degree connections | Almost any member | Premium members with Open Profile on |
| Cost | Free | One credit per message | Free, no credit used |
| Paid plan needed to send | No | Yes | No, but free accounts get a limited monthly number |
| Connection needed first | Yes | No | No |
| Subject line | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Ongoing conversations | A short list of high-value prospects | Cold outreach at no cost |
There is also a separate, paid product: Sponsored Messaging, which includes Message Ads and Conversation Ads bought through LinkedIn Campaign Manager. Those are advertising, billed like other ads, and are not covered in detail here.
Who can you send a regular LinkedIn message to?
You can message your 1st-degree connections and LinkedIn Pages for free. LinkedIn's Help Center lists a few more cases where you can reach someone you are not connected to without InMail.
- Members of a shared LinkedIn Group: you can send a message request, which the recipient accepts or ignores.
- Current coworkers: message requests also work between people at the same company.
- Open Profile members: Premium subscribers who have switched on Open Profile can be messaged by anyone, connected or not.
Everyone else needs either an accepted connection request or an InMail. LinkedIn also says it limits how many messages a member can send in a given period without publishing the number. Automation tools commonly cap messages to connections at about 150 per day; treat that as an observed figure, not an official limit.
How do LinkedIn InMail credits work?
Each paid plan comes with a monthly allowance of InMail credits, and unused credits build up only to a cap. One InMail uses one credit, and LinkedIn credits it back if the recipient responds within 90 days of sending.
| Plan | Credits per month | Maximum you can hold |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | 5 | 15 |
| Premium Business | 15 | 45 |
| Recruiter Lite | 30 | 120 |
| Sales Navigator Core | 50 | 150 |
A few details trip people up. A response includes accepting or declining with LinkedIn's quick reply options, so even a polite "no thanks" returns the credit. Pending InMails count as neither. If you cancel Premium, your remaining InMail balance drops to zero. Premium credits renew at the start of your billing cycle, while Sales Navigator credits renew on the first of each month. Our explainer on LinkedIn InMail credits walks through the edge cases.
The refund rule changes the economics. A well-targeted InMail that gets any response costs nothing, while a sprayed one burns a credit every time. That is why InMail rewards precision far more than volume.
What is an Open Profile, and why does it matter here?
An Open Profile is a setting that Premium subscribers can switch on so that any LinkedIn member can message them for free, without a connection or an InMail credit. For outreach, it sits between the two options: the reach of InMail at the cost of a regular message.
Two limits apply. Only Premium members can turn it on, so it covers part of your list, not all of it. And LinkedIn says members with free or basic accounts can send only a limited number of Open Profile messages each month, without stating the number. Senders with Premium or Sales Navigator are not described as capped in the same way, though normal messaging limits still apply.
The practical problem is finding Open Profiles: you have to open each profile and check whether a free message option appears. Quicklead's Open Profile InMail feature detects them automatically while a campaign runs and messages those prospects directly, so they never use one of your weekly invitations. For the manual method, see how to find LinkedIn Open Profiles.
When should you use InMail instead of a connection request?
Use a connection request by default, an Open Profile message whenever one is available, and paid InMail only for prospects who matter enough to justify a credit and are unlikely to accept an invitation. Work through the options in this order for each prospect:
- 1
Already connected?
Send a regular message. It is free and lands in a thread they already know.
- 2
Open Profile on?
Send an Open Profile message. You skip the wait for acceptance and keep your invitation allowance for others.
- 3
Shared group or coworker?
A message request is free, though less visible than a direct message.
- 4
Everyone else
Send a connection request, with or without a short note. LinkedIn does not publish its invitation limit; about 100 per week is the widely observed figure.
- 5
High-value and not accepting?
After a week or two with no acceptance, an InMail is worth the credit for a target account or senior buyer.
InMail also earns its place when timing matters, such as reaching a buyer the week their company announces a relevant change, because you do not have to wait for an invitation to be accepted.
How should you write an InMail differently from a message?
Write an InMail like a short email with a clear subject line, and a direct message like a chat. The recipient of an InMail does not know you, so it needs context up front; a message to a connection can be shorter and more casual.
I saw {CURRENT_COMPANY} is hiring six account executives in Austin. We help sales leaders get new reps a full calendar in their first month, mostly by building their prospect lists before day one.
Would it be useful if I sent over how that setup looks? Either way, good luck with the build-out.
Keep the InMail body short even though LinkedIn allows a long one. A specific subject line that names their situation tends to get opened; a vague one like "Quick question" reads as a template.
Can you automate InMail and LinkedIn messages safely?
You can, with care. LinkedIn's User Agreement restricts third-party automation, so any tool carries some risk; you reduce it by keeping volumes close to what a person would do and by stopping a sequence as soon as someone replies.
For InMail, the credit system already limits volume, so the risk comes mostly from badly targeted messages that get reported. For messages to connections and Open Profiles, use daily caps, working-hours scheduling and gradual warm-up on new accounts. Our guide to LinkedIn automation limits lists the figures most teams work within, and the Sales Navigator automation guide covers sending InMail from Sales Navigator at a steady pace.
Frequently asked questions
- Is InMail better than a regular LinkedIn message? Not by default. A message to a connection or an Open Profile is free and lands with someone who has accepted you or opted in. InMail is better only when you cannot reach the person any other way and they are worth the credit.
- Do I get my InMail credit back if there is no reply? No. LinkedIn returns the credit when the recipient responds within 90 days, which includes accepting or declining. If they never respond, the credit is used.
- Can I send InMail with a free LinkedIn account? No. InMail requires a paid product such as Premium, Sales Navigator or Recruiter. Free accounts can still message connections and send a limited number of Open Profile messages each month.
- How do I know if someone has an Open Profile? Open their profile and click Message. If LinkedIn lets you write to them without connecting or spending a credit, the profile is open. Tools can check this across a whole list automatically.
- Does an InMail count toward my weekly connection request limit? No. InMail and connection requests are separate. InMail is limited by your credits, while invitations are limited by LinkedIn's weekly cap.
Sources
- LinkedIn Help: Send messages on LinkedIn
- LinkedIn Help: InMail message credits and renewal process
- LinkedIn Help: Manage your Open Profile settings as a Premium subscriber
- LinkedIn Help: Understand InMail credits in Sales Navigator
- LinkedIn User Agreement