Manychat
Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger DM automation for creators and shops
Manychat report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 18, 2026
Best for auto-replies to Instagram comments and DMs
Manychat is built around one very popular trick: someone comments a keyword on your post and gets a link, a code or a freebie in their DMs. It covers Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok and Telegram, with a shared inbox and phone apps. Essential is $169 a year in the US App Store, but its contact limits aren't shown there, so check what your list size really costs.
Who Manychat is for
- Great if you post on Instagram and want a link sent to everyone who comments a keyword
- Handy when DMs from Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp need answering from one inbox
- Good for creators collecting emails and phone numbers from their followers
Who Manychat is not for
- Skip it if you want to know what 1,000 contacts will cost before signing up, as the limits weren't readable on Manychat's pages
- Not for you if your customers expect plain texts, as SMS isn't one of its channels
- Tight if WhatsApp is your main channel, as Meta's per-message charges come on top of the plan
Why Manychat gets a 2.4
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for moneyEssential is $169 a year as a US App Store purchase ($17 billed monthly), which sits in the cheaper quarter of this category. The catch: the App Store doesn't say how many contacts that covers, so we can't confirm it stretches to 1,000 customers, and Meta's WhatsApp charges come on top.
- CFree plan and trialThere's a free plan you can start with just a social handle or an email. But its contact and feature limits sit on a pricing page that turned automated readers away, so we can't say how far it gets you, and we won't credit it for more than that.
- CFeaturesComment and story auto-replies, keyword triggers that drop links and codes into DMs, lead capture in the chat and one inbox for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. But the listing shows no broadcasts and no integrations, so it's the DM slice of this job.
- CEase of use4.3 from 2,142 App Store ratings, which is fine but not great. The prebuilt automations help, though you still have to hook each one up to the right post, story or keyword.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb, iPhone and Android, so you can answer DMs from your phone with push alerts. No desktop app, which an A needs, and the listing names no integrations at all.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Manychat's App Store and Google Play listings on 18 October 2026, since its own site turned automated readers away, and its App Store rating. 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/manychat#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/manychat.svg" alt="Manychat: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Manychat stands among SMS and chat marketing tools
Manychat's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 9 of the 14 other SMS and chat marketing tools we grade, and level with 3.
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 $14.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $26.59 for the category: 1 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 15 SMS and chat marketing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Manychat’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 10 of 14, level with 4
- CFree plan and trialAbove 1 of 14, level with 13
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 14, level with 7
- 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 Manychat, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Manychat 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 costs $169 a year.
What you could not
- The WhatsApp Business API, which Meta opens only through approved partners.
- 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.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Manychat’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 Manychat?
Manychat automates direct messages on Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, TikTok and Telegram. It replies to comments, story mentions and DMs with prebuilt flows, collects emails and phone numbers in the chat, and sends links, discount codes and offers, with a live chat inbox for the team. Paid plans include Essential and Pro, billed monthly or yearly.
Manychat has a free plan. Paid plans start at $169 per year as an App Store purchase ($17 billed monthly). See every plan
Good for
- Creators who send links or freebies when followers comment a keyword
- Small shops answering Instagram and WhatsApp DMs from one inbox
- Marketers collecting emails and phone numbers from social traffic
Worth knowing
- Manychat's web pricing page and help center turned away automated readers, so plan limits and web prices could not be checked; App Store prices may differ.
- WhatsApp messages carry Meta's per-message charges on top of the plan; Manychat's own figures could not be read.
- The App Store listing names only Essential and Pro as purchases; contact allowances and any larger plans are not shown there.
Key features
- Comment and story auto-replies
- Prebuilt automations that answer post comments, Reels replies, story mentions and DMs, so engagement turns into a conversation.
- One inbox for social DMs
- Messages from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram in one live chat, where replies can be assigned to teammates.
- Lead capture in chat
- Flows that ask for emails, phone numbers or other details inside the conversation and store them on the contact.
- Links, codes and offers
- Automations that drop affiliate links, discount codes and freebies into a DM when someone comments or replies.
- Mobile apps with tracking
- iOS and Android apps for replying on the go, with push notifications, message templates and click, open and conversion stats.
Manychat pricing
- Starts at
- $169 per year as an App Store purchase ($17 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- You can start free with a social handle or email; the free plan's limits are on Manychat's pricing page, which could not be read.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Start free with a social handle or email. Its contact and feature limits could not be read on Manychat's own pages. |
| Essential | $169per year as an App Store purchase ($17 billed monthly) | Price as listed for the in-app purchase in the US App Store. Contact limits are not shown there. |
| Pro | $349per year as an App Store purchase ($39 billed monthly) | Price as listed for the in-app purchase in the US App Store. Contact limits are not shown there. |
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Manychat before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountYearly plans cost less than 12 monthly payments
In the US App Store, Essential is $169 a year against $17 a month and Pro $349 a year against $39 a month.
Stated on apps.apple.com
How people rate the Manychat app
4.3
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
2,142 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 18, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Manychat alternatives
- Manychat vs Chatfuel
Free trial · from $18/mo
- Manychat vs Landbot
Free plan · from $36/mo
- Manychat vs Wati
Free trial · from $59/mo
- Manychat vs respond.io
Free trial · from $79/mo
- Manychat vs SleekFlow
Free trial · from $49/mo
Common questions
Is Manychat free?
Manychat has a free plan. You can start free with a social handle or email; the free plan's limits are on Manychat's pricing page, which could not be read. Paid plans start at $169 per year as an App Store purchase ($17 billed monthly).
How much does Manychat cost?
Manychat lists 3 plans. Free: $0. Essential: $169 per year as an App Store purchase ($17 billed monthly). Pro: $349 per year as an App Store purchase ($39 billed monthly). Prices were read from apps.apple.com on Oct 18, 2026.
What platforms does Manychat work on?
Manychat is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Manychat offer any discounts?
Manychat publicly lists the following: Yearly plans cost less than 12 monthly payments.
How is Manychat rated?
Manychat's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.3 out of 5 from 2,142 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 18, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Does Manychat have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Manychat is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Manychat have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Manychat is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Manychat open source?
Manychat is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Who makes Manychat?
Manychat is made by Manychat, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Manychat?
The closest alternatives to Manychat in our directory are Chatfuel, Landbot, Wati, respond.io and SleekFlow. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Manychat.
How does Manychat compare with other SMS and chat marketing tools?
Manychat's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 9 of the 14 other SMS and chat marketing tools we grade, and level with 3. It stands best on value for money (B, above 10 of 14) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
Is Manychat good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Manychat B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $14.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $26.59 for the category: 1 of the 13 others that charge start lower. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Could I make my own version of Manychat?
To replace Manychat 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 costs $169 a year. What you could not make: The WhatsApp Business API, which Meta opens only through approved partners. 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. 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. What people say is linked where it appears.