LinkedIn InMail credits refresh on a monthly cycle tied to your subscription billing date

Your LinkedIn InMail credits reset once per month, but the exact date depends on when your subscription renews. If you pay for LinkedIn Premium on the 15th of each month, your InMail credits refresh on the 15th. The number of credits you receive each month is set by your subscription tier — Premium members get three InMail credits, while Sales Navigator and Recruiter subscribers get more.

Credits that you do not use in a given month do not carry over to the next month. If you have two credits left on the 14th and your billing date is the 15th, those two credits disappear when your account refreshes. This is why many users find themselves with unused credits at the end of a billing cycle — the platform does not reward you for restraint.

The refresh happens automatically at the moment your subscription renews. You do not need to do anything to trigger it. LinkedIn does not send a notification when credits refresh, so you may not notice the change unless you check your InMail section directly.

Key Takeaways

  • InMail credits refresh once per month on your subscription billing date, not on a calendar date like the first or last day of the month.
  • Unused credits from the previous month do not roll forward — they expire when your billing cycle renews.
  • Premium members receive three InMail credits per month, while Sales Navigator and Recruiter tiers receive higher amounts.
  • The refresh is automatic and happens without notification, so you should check your InMail balance before your billing date if you want to use remaining credits.

How to find your billing date and credit balance

To see when your credits will refresh, log into LinkedIn and go to your account settings. Click Premium in the left menu, then look for the section labeled Billing and payments. This page shows your next billing date in plain text — for example, "Your next billing date is March 15, 2025." Your InMail credits will refresh on that exact date.

To check how many InMail credits you currently have, click the Messaging icon (the envelope) at the top of your LinkedIn home page. Look for the InMail tab. The number of available credits appears near the top of that section. If you have used all your credits for the month, you will see "0 available" or a message saying you have no credits left.

Some users miss their refresh date because they do not check these pages regularly. If you want a reminder, write your billing date on a calendar or set a phone alarm for a few days before — this gives you time to send any remaining InMails before they expire.

What happens if you run out of credits before the month ends

If you send all your InMail messages before your billing date arrives, you cannot send more InMails until your credits refresh. LinkedIn does not offer a way to buy extra credits mid-month or to borrow credits from next month. You have two options: wait for the refresh, or upgrade to a higher subscription tier that includes more credits.

Some LinkedIn users upgrade temporarily to Sales Navigator or Recruiter if they need more InMail capacity for a specific project or hiring push. These tiers come with 50 or more InMail credits per month. You can downgrade back to Premium after the project ends, though you should check LinkedIn's policy on downgrading mid-cycle, as some changes take effect on your next billing date rather than when ready.

If you frequently run out of credits, that is a sign you may benefit from a higher tier. Calculate how many InMails you typically send per month — if it is consistently more than three, the cost of upgrading may be worth it.

Why LinkedIn does not let credits roll over

LinkedIn's no-rollover policy is a business decision designed to encourage regular platform use and to simplify billing. If credits carried over, some users would accumulate months of unused credits and then send a large batch of messages all at once. By expiring credits monthly, LinkedIn ensures that users either send messages consistently or lose the benefit.

From a data perspective, this also means LinkedIn knows roughly how many InMails are sent each month — the number of credits issued minus the number used. This helps the company track engagement and adjust pricing or credit amounts if needed.

The policy can feel frustrating if you are a light user or if you have a busy month and cannot send all your messages. However, it is consistent across all subscription tiers and all regions where LinkedIn operates.

How InMail credits differ from connection requests and regular messages

InMail is different from a regular LinkedIn message. A regular message goes to someone you are already connected with, and you can send unlimited regular messages to your connections. An InMail goes to someone you are not connected with, and it appears in their inbox with higher visibility than a connection request.

Connection requests are also different — you can send a limited number of connection requests per week (usually around 100), but they do not use InMail credits. If someone accepts your connection request, you can then message them for free using regular messaging.

Many users confuse these three tools. If you want to reach someone and you are not connected, you have three paths: send a connection request (free, but lower visibility), send an InMail (uses one credit, higher visibility), or find another way to connect with them first and then message them for free. InMail credits only explore to the InMail tool itself.

Tracking your InMail use across the month

LinkedIn does not show a detailed history of which InMails you sent or when, but you can see your remaining balance at any time. If you want to track your own use, keep a straightforward note of how many credits you start with and how many you have left after each InMail you send.

Some users set a personal limit — for example, "I will send no more than two InMails per week" — to make sure they do not run out before the month ends. This is especially useful if you are recruiting or job searching and want to spread your outreach across the full month rather than exhausting your credits in the first week.

If you are part of a team using LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator, your manager may have access to a team dashboard that shows aggregate InMail use across all team members. Check with your account administrator to see what reporting is available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy more InMail credits if I run out?

No, LinkedIn does not sell additional InMail credits outside of upgrading your subscription tier. Your only option is to wait for your monthly refresh or upgrade to Sales Navigator or Recruiter, which include more credits per month.

Do InMail credits expire if I cancel my subscription?

Yes, if you cancel your LinkedIn Premium subscription, any remaining InMail credits are lost when ready. If you plan to cancel, use your remaining credits before you do.

What if my billing date changes?

If you change your payment method or update your billing information, your billing date may shift. Check your Premium settings after any change to confirm your new refresh date.

Can I send an InMail to someone I am already connected with?

Technically you can, but it is not necessary — you can message connections for free using regular LinkedIn messaging. InMails are designed for people outside your network, so sending one to a connection wastes a credit.

How many InMail credits do Sales Navigator and Recruiter users get?

Sales Navigator includes 50 InMail credits per month. LinkedIn Recruiter includes 75 or more depending on the specific plan. Check your subscription details in your Premium settings to see your exact amount.