LinkedIn InMail credits refresh on a monthly cycle, not a calendar month

Your LinkedIn InMail credits reset on the same day each month that your subscription renews, not on the first of the month. If you subscribed on the 15th, your credits refresh on the 15th of every month going forward. This matters because unused credits do not carry over — if you have 5 credits on the 14th and do not use them, they disappear when the clock hits your renewal date.

The exact number of credits you receive each month depends on which LinkedIn subscription tier you hold. LinkedIn Premium Career, Premium Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite each come with different monthly InMail allowances. You can find your current credit count and renewal date by opening LinkedIn, clicking your profile photo, selecting "Settings and privacy," then "Account preferences," and looking for the "Subscriptions" section.

LinkedIn does not notify you before credits expire. Many users lose unused credits without realizing it happened. Setting a phone reminder for two days before your renewal date helps you remember to check your balance and use any remaining credits before they reset.

Key Takeaways

  • InMail credits refresh monthly on your subscription renewal date, not on the first of the month, and unused credits do not roll over to the next month.
  • The number of credits you receive each month depends on your subscription tier — Premium Career, Premium Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite each have different allowances.
  • You can see your current credit balance and exact renewal date in your LinkedIn Settings under Subscriptions.
  • Setting a calendar reminder before your renewal date prevents you from losing credits you forgot to use.

How to find your renewal date and current credit balance

Open LinkedIn and click your profile photo in the top right corner. Select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown menu, then click "Settings." On the left side, find and click "Account preferences." Scroll down until you see "Subscriptions" — this section shows your active subscription, the date it renews, and how many InMail credits you have remaining this month.

If you have multiple subscriptions (for example, both Premium Career and Sales Navigator), each one has its own renewal date and its own InMail credit pool. The credits do not combine. A message sent through one subscription uses credits from that subscription only.

Some users confuse InMail credits with connection request limits. These are separate. InMail credits let you message anyone on LinkedIn directly. Connection requests are the standard way to connect with people, and they have their own monthly limit that is not affected by InMail credits.

What happens when your credits reset

On your renewal date, your InMail credit count returns to the full monthly amount for your subscription tier. If you had 2 credits left and your tier includes 15 credits per month, you will see 15 credits available the moment your subscription renews. The old credits vanish — there is no carryover, no rollover pool, and no way to save them for a heavier month.

This reset happens automatically. You do not need to do anything. However, the exact time of day the reset occurs can vary. Some users report their credits refreshing at midnight in their local time zone, while others see the refresh happen at a different hour. If you are trying to use your last credit before the reset, aim to send the message several hours before your renewal time to be safe.

If your subscription lapses or you downgrade to a free account, you lose all remaining InMail credits. If you later resubscribe, you start fresh with a new credit count — the old credits are not restored.

Monthly InMail credit amounts by subscription type

LinkedIn Premium Career includes 5 InMail credits per month. LinkedIn Premium Business includes 10 InMail credits per month. Sales Navigator includes 50 InMail credits per month. Recruiter Lite includes 150 InMail credits per month. These amounts can change, so check your subscription details in Settings to confirm your current tier's allowance.

The higher-tier subscriptions are designed for recruiters and sales professionals who need to reach many people outside their network. If you send fewer than 5 messages per month, Premium Career may be the right fit. If you regularly hit your monthly limit, you might consider upgrading to a tier with more credits.

Some LinkedIn users purchase additional InMail credits beyond their monthly allowance. These purchased credits also expire at the end of the month and do not roll over. LinkedIn does not offer a way to buy a permanent credit balance — all credits, whether included in your subscription or purchased separately, follow the same monthly reset cycle.

Why LinkedIn does not let credits carry over

LinkedIn's monthly reset structure encourages consistent use of the platform. If credits carried over indefinitely, some users would accumulate a large stockpile and then send many messages all at once, which could look like spam. The monthly limit keeps messaging activity spread out and helps LinkedIn monitor for abuse.

From a business perspective, the monthly reset also creates a reason for users to keep their subscriptions active. If you knew your credits would never expire, you might pause your subscription for a few months and still have credits waiting. The reset cycle makes each month feel like a fresh opportunity, which encourages ongoing subscription renewal.

Common mistakes that cost you credits

The most common mistake is forgetting to check your balance before your renewal date. Users often discover they had 3 or 4 unused credits only after they have already reset. Set a phone reminder for the 25th or 26th of your month (a few days before your renewal) to check your balance and use any remaining credits.

Another mistake is confusing InMail with regular messages. If someone is already in your network, you can message them for free through LinkedIn's standard messaging feature. InMail credits are only needed for people who are not yet your connections. Sending a connection request first, waiting for them to accept, and then messaging them for free is often faster than using an InMail credit.

Some users also do not realize that a failed or bounced InMail still costs a credit. If you send an InMail to someone and LinkedIn later determines the account is inactive or the message could not be delivered, the credit is still deducted. You cannot get it back or reuse it.

What to do if you run out of credits mid-month

If you use all your InMail credits before your renewal date, you have two options. First, you can wait until your renewal date and use your fresh credits then. Second, you can purchase additional InMail credits through LinkedIn. The cost varies, but LinkedIn typically offers packages of 5, 10, or 20 additional credits that you can buy on demand.

Purchasing extra credits is useful if you have an urgent need to reach someone outside your network, but it is not cost-effective for regular use. If you find yourself buying extra credits every month, upgrading to a higher subscription tier would likely save you money over time.

You cannot borrow credits from next month or request an extension. Once your monthly allotment is gone, the only way to send more InMails is to purchase them or wait for the reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save InMail credits from one month to the next?

No. Unused InMail credits expire on your subscription renewal date and do not carry over. If you have 3 credits left on the 14th and your renewal is the 15th, those 3 credits disappear at midnight. Plan to use all your credits before your renewal date or accept that they will be lost.

Do purchased InMail credits expire at a different time than subscription credits?

No. All InMail credits, whether they come with your subscription or you purchase them separately, expire on the same monthly renewal date. There is no separate expiration for add-on credits.

What time of day do my credits refresh?

The exact time varies and is not published by LinkedIn. Most users report the refresh happening around midnight in their local time zone, but it can occur at other times. To be safe, use your last credits several hours before your renewal date rather than waiting until the last minute.

If I downgrade my subscription, do I lose my remaining credits?

Yes. Downgrading to a free account or to a lower tier immediately forfeits any unused InMail credits. If you later resubscribe, you start with a fresh credit count for that month.

Can I use InMail to message someone who is already my connection?

You can, but it wastes a credit. Once someone accepts your connection request, you can message them through LinkedIn's standard messaging feature for free. Save your InMail credits for people outside your network.