Chatfuel
AI chatbots for WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook with a usage wallet
Our verdict
Second of our top three SMS and chat marketing tools
For: Businesses whose customers write on WhatsApp and Instagram
Chatfuel runs AI chatbots and broadcasts on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and website chat: an AI agent answers from your knowledge base and qualifies leads, comment auto-replies pull people into a chat, and bookings and payments happen in the conversation. Business is $18 a month billed yearly ($20 monthly) for 1 bot, unlimited contacts and teammates and $20 of credits a month, after a 7-day trial with no card. It is second because it reaches only people who message on those channels. Meta's WhatsApp charges come out of the wallet, credits do not roll over, it has no phone app, and the help center says Zapier is not supported.
See all three and how we rankChatfuel report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 18, 2026
Best for AI chatbots for WhatsApp and Instagram on a budget
Chatfuel builds AI chatbots for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and website chat that answer from your own knowledge base, book meetings and take orders. Business is $18 a month billed yearly with unlimited contacts and $20 of credits a month. Just watch the wallet: when it runs dry, messages stop unless auto top-up is on.
Who Chatfuel is for
- Great if you want an AI agent answering Instagram and WhatsApp messages around the clock
- Handy when ad clicks and post comments should turn into chats
- Good for agencies running chatbots for several clients from one wallet
Who Chatfuel is not for
- Tight if your bot is busy, as credits don't roll over and messages stop when the wallet hits zero
- Skip it if you rely on Zapier, which the help center says isn't supported
- Not for you if you like a long cooling-off period, as monthly plans are refunded only within 3 days
Why Chatfuel gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for moneyBusiness is $18 a month billed yearly ($20 monthly), with unlimited contacts and teammates and $20 of credits a month for AI replies and WhatsApp messages. That's the cheaper quarter of this category. Meta's WhatsApp charges come out of the wallet at its own rates, and no US figure is given.
- CFree plan and trialNo free plan, but a 7-day trial with full access, $15 in credits and no credit card. Enough to set up the AI agent and watch it answer.
- BFeaturesThe whole chat-marketing job: an AI agent that answers and qualifies leads, Instagram and Facebook comment auto-replies, WhatsApp broadcasts, bookings and payments in the chat, a shared inbox and a simple CRM. Business gives you 1 bot.
- CEase of useNo App Store rating on record. You'll connect each channel, feed the AI agent your knowledge base and keep an eye on the wallet, since heavy AI use can pause the bot.
- BPlatforms and integrationsRuns on the web, with Google Sheets, Stripe, Meta Pixel, a JSON API and an MCP server for AI assistants. Thin on ready-made integrations, though: the help center says Zapier isn't supported. No apps.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Chatfuel's own pages on 18 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/chatfuel#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/chatfuel.svg" alt="Chatfuel: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Chatfuel stands among SMS and chat marketing tools
Chatfuel's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 14 other SMS and chat marketing tools we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 10 of 14) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $18 a month, against a middle price of $26.59 for the category: 3 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 SMS and chat marketing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Chatfuel’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 10 of 14, level with 4
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 14, level with 13
- BFeaturesAbove 9 of 14, level with 5
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 14, level with 12
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 14, level with 13
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 14 SMS and chat marketing tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Chatfuel, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Chatfuel you would be making the WhatsApp Business API, which Meta opens only through approved partners. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 14 other SMS and chat marketing tools we grade. It costs $216 a year.
What you could not
- The WhatsApp Business API, which Meta opens only through approved partners.
- An AI model answering your customers from your own help articles.
- Email sent in volume that still reaches the inbox.
- A chatbot builder hooked into the messaging apps.
- A chat box on your site that reaches you the moment a customer types.
- It plugs into other products, Google Sheets, Stripe and Meta Pixel among them, and has an API.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Chatfuel’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Chatfuel?
Chatfuel is an AI chatbot platform for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and website chat. Its AI agent answers from a knowledge base, books meetings and qualifies leads, and the platform adds broadcasts, comment auto-replies, a shared inbox and a simple CRM. Each plan is a subscription plus a dollar wallet that pays for AI replies and Meta's WhatsApp charges.
Chatfuel is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $18 per month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly). See every plan
Good for
- Small businesses answering Instagram and WhatsApp messages around the clock
- Agencies running chatbots for several clients from one wallet
- Shops turning ad clicks and comments into chats
Worth knowing
- Meta's WhatsApp charges, including service replies since 1 October 2026, come out of the wallet at Meta's rates by country; no US figure is given.
- Plan credits do not roll over, and messages stop when the wallet reaches zero unless auto top-up is on; heavy AI use can pause the bot until the limit resets.
- Refunds are given only if you cancel within 3 days on monthly billing or 30 days on annual billing.
- The pricing page names Zapier among integrations, but the help center says Zapier is not supported; other tools connect through the JSON API.
Key features
- AI agent
- Replies from your knowledge base and instructions, qualifies and scores leads, follows up and hands a chat to a person when needed.
- Instagram and Facebook automation
- Automatic replies to post and Reels comments, story replies and keyword triggers, which lead people into a chat.
- WhatsApp broadcasts
- Bulk WhatsApp campaigns to segments, with click-to-chat ads and conversions sent back to Meta Pixel.
- Bookings and sales in chat
- Books meetings inside WhatsApp, shows a product catalog, takes orders and collects payments in the conversation.
- Shared inbox and CRM
- Teammates take over live conversations, and leads are tracked in a built-in CRM with unlimited contacts.
- JSON API and MCP
- A JSON API plugin connects bots to outside systems, and an MCP server lets AI assistants such as Claude run your bots.
Chatfuel pricing
- Starts at
- $18 per month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial with full access and $15 in credits, no credit card required
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Business | $18per month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly) | 1 bot, every channel, unlimited contacts and teammates, and $20 of credits a month for AI replies and WhatsApp messages. |
| Agency S | $90per month for up to 3 companies, billed annually ($100 monthly) | $100 of credits a month, an agency dashboard and an account manager. Larger agency tiers in the help center run up to $2,050 a month. |
Read from chatfuel.com on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Chatfuel before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountSave 10% with yearly billing
Chatfuel's pricing page takes 10% off for yearly billing: Business is $216 a year, against $20 a month billed monthly.
Stated on chatfuel.com
Works with
Chatfuel alternatives
- Chatfuel vs Manychat
Free plan · from $169/yr
- Chatfuel vs Landbot
Free plan · from $36/mo
- Chatfuel vs Wati
Free trial · from $59/mo
- Chatfuel vs respond.io
Free trial · from $79/mo
- Chatfuel vs SleekFlow
Free trial · from $49/mo
Common questions
Is Chatfuel free?
No, Chatfuel is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial with full access and $15 in credits, no credit card required.
How much does Chatfuel cost?
Chatfuel lists 2 plans. Business: $18 per month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly). Agency S: $90 per month for up to 3 companies, billed annually ($100 monthly). Prices were read from chatfuel.com on Oct 18, 2026.
What platforms does Chatfuel work on?
Chatfuel is available on Web.
Does Chatfuel offer any discounts?
Chatfuel publicly lists the following: Save 10% with yearly billing.
Does Chatfuel have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Chatfuel is listed for Web.
Does Chatfuel have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Chatfuel is listed for Web.
Is Chatfuel open source?
Chatfuel is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Does Chatfuel have an API?
Yes. Chatfuel offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Chatfuel integrate with?
Chatfuel's listing names Google Sheets, Stripe and Meta Pixel. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Chatfuel?
Chatfuel is made by Chatfuel. It dates from 2015.
What are the alternatives to Chatfuel?
The closest alternatives to Chatfuel in our directory are Manychat, Landbot, Wati, respond.io and SleekFlow. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Chatfuel.
How does Chatfuel compare with other SMS and chat marketing tools?
Chatfuel's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 14 other SMS and chat marketing tools we grade, and level with 1. It stands best on value for money (B, above 10 of 14) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Is Chatfuel good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Chatfuel B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $18 a month, against a middle price of $26.59 for the category: 3 of the 13 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Could I make my own version of Chatfuel?
To replace Chatfuel you would be making the WhatsApp Business API, which Meta opens only through approved partners. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 13 of the 14 other SMS and chat marketing tools we grade. It costs $216 a year. What you could not make: The WhatsApp Business API, which Meta opens only through approved partners. An AI model answering your customers from your own help articles. Email sent in volume that still reaches the inbox. A chatbot builder hooked into the messaging apps. This is a judgement from its listing. We have not built one.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 18, 2026.