LinkedIn InMail vs Messages vs Open Profile (2026)
By Wingflow team · Updated · 2 min read
Messages, InMail and Open Profile at a glance
| Who you can reach | Cost | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Message | 1st-degree connections, group members, coworkers | Free | Unpublished rate limit |
| InMail | Anyone you're not connected to | Monthly credits (Premium or Sales Navigator) | 5–50 credits a month |
| Open Profile | Premium members who turned it on | Free for Premium senders | Free senders get a limited number a month |
| Message request | Group members, current coworkers | Free | They accept or decline |
What is LinkedIn InMail?
InMail "allows you to directly message another LinkedIn member that you're not connected to", and you need a paid plan to send it (LinkedIn Help). It's the only way to reach most 2nd and 3rd-degree people without connecting first.
How many InMail credits does each plan get?
| Plan | Credits per month | Maximum you can hold |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Career | 5 | 15 |
| Premium Business | 15 | 45 |
| Premium All-in-One | 30 | 90 |
| Recruiter Lite | 30 | 120 |
| Sales Navigator (all plans) | 50 | 150 |
From LinkedIn Help and Sales Navigator Help.
A few rules worth knowing:
- You get a credit back for every InMail that's accepted, declined or replied to within 90 days.
- Credits expire after 90 days.
- You can't buy extra credits outside your monthly allowance (some old pages say otherwise; the current ones don't).
- Credits don't transfer between Premium, Sales Navigator and Recruiter, and drop to zero if you cancel.
InMail character limits
Up to 200 characters in the subject line (optional) and 2,000 in the body (LinkedIn Help). Shorter works better: LinkedIn itself advises keeping outreach "short and specific."
What is an Open Profile?
A setting that "allows anyone on LinkedIn to contact a Premium member for free, even if they're not in the sender's network" (LinkedIn Help). Only Premium members can turn it on. Free accounts can send a limited number of Open Profile messages each month, though LinkedIn doesn't say how many.
Message requests
Group members and current coworkers can get a message request from you without being connected. They can accept or privately decline, and attachments can't be included (LinkedIn Help).
Which should you use for outreach?
- Connect first where you can. Invitations are free and a connection lets you follow up forever.
- Use InMail for people you can't invite, like 3rd-degree and out-of-network prospects, or senior people who rarely accept invitations.
- Check for Open Profile before spending a credit.
- Write InMail like a message, not an email: one reason you're reaching out, one question, no attachment-style pitch.
Questions
How many InMail credits do I get?
Premium Career 5 a month, Premium Business 15, Premium All-in-One 30, Recruiter Lite 30 and every Sales Navigator plan 50, according to LinkedIn Help.
Can I buy more InMail credits?
No. LinkedIn's current Help pages say you can't buy InMail credits outside your monthly allowance.
Do InMail credits expire?
Yes, after 90 days. You also get a credit back for every InMail that gets a response within 90 days.
What's the InMail character limit?
Up to 200 characters in the optional subject line and up to 2,000 in the body.
What is a LinkedIn Open Profile?
A setting Premium members can turn on so anyone on LinkedIn can message them for free, even outside their network.