respond.io Alternatives (2026): 6 Options Compared by Price, Contacts and AI
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respond.io is a shared inbox for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, email and calls, priced by monthly active contacts. Starter costs $79/mo billed yearly, but AI Agents, workflows and broadcasts start on Growth at $159/mo. Here are six respond.io alternatives, grouped by the channel you sell on and how you want to pay.
The short answer
For the closest match with a lower entry price, pick SleekFlow. For WhatsApp-only teams with big contact lists, pick Wati. For Instagram and Facebook DMs, choose ManyChat. For no-code bots, try Landbot. For website chat, choose Tidio; for AI-first support, Intercom.
What respond.io costs today
A monthly active contact is anyone you message or call in a billing month. respond.io sells plans in contact tiers (1,000, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000 and up); the prices below are for the 1,000-contact tier. The page says yearly billing saves up to 20%.
| respond.io plan | Price (billed yearly) | Users included | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $79/mo ($99 monthly) | 5 (+$12/mo each) | Inbox, AI Assist and AI Prompt; no AI Agents, workflows or broadcasts |
| Growth | $159/mo ($199 monthly) | 10 (+$20/mo each) | Adds AI Agents, workflows and broadcasts; over-tier contacts $12 per 100 |
| Advanced | $279/mo ($349 monthly) | 10 (+$24/mo each) | Adds webhooks, SSO, custom channels; over-tier contacts $15 per 100 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | Higher API limits, more workspaces |
From the respond.io pricing page (US, November 14, 2026). Yearly totals: $948, $1,908 and $3,348. Monthly-billing prices were read with the page toggle on October 22, 2026; today the page also shows $1,188, $2,388 and $4,188 totals, which equal 12 × those monthly prices. Higher contact tiers cost more, but the page didn’t show per-tier prices to our check. 7-day trial, no credit card. WhatsApp fees are not included in any plan.
Why teams look for a respond.io alternative
- AI and automation sit on the second plan. AI Agents, workflows and broadcasts start on Growth, which costs about twice as much as Starter ($159 vs $79 a month, billed yearly).
- Price follows your audience. Plans are tiered by monthly active contacts, and going over costs $12 per 100 contacts on Growth. A big broadcast list can push you up a tier.
- WhatsApp fees come on top. Meta’s message charges are paid separately through a WhatsApp credit balance.
- No free plan. You get a 7-day trial, then Starter at $79/mo yearly or $99 monthly.
None of this makes respond.io a poor pick. It lists more channels in one inbox than most tools here, including calls and email.
respond.io vs the alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starts at | You pay for | Main channels | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 respond.io | Teams that need every chat channel plus calls in one inbox | $79/mo billed yearly | Monthly active contacts + users | WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, email, calls | 7-day trial |
 SleekFlow | The closest like-for-like omnichannel inbox | $49/mo billed yearly | Plan + monthly active contacts + seats | WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, WeChat, LINE, Telegram, SMS | 7-day Pro trial, no credit card |
 Wati | WhatsApp-first teams that don’t want to pay per contact | $59/mo billed annually | Plan + users (not contacts) | WhatsApp, plus Instagram, Facebook and TikTok messages | 7-day trial, no credit card |
 ManyChat | Instagram and Facebook DM automation | Free plan paid plans priced by contacts | Contacts | Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, SMS, email (WhatsApp per earlier checks) | Free plan |
 Landbot | Building WhatsApp and website bots without code | €32/mo billed annually | Chats + AI chats + seats | Website chat, WhatsApp | Free plan (100 chats/mo); 14-day trial |
 Tidio | Website chat with WhatsApp on a small budget | $24.17/mo billed yearly | Billable conversations + Lyro AI add-on | Website chat, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, email | Free plan (50 conversations); 7-day trial |
 Intercom | An AI agent in front of a full help desk | $29/seat/mo billed annually | Seats + Fin AI outcomes | Website Messenger, email, in-app chat; WhatsApp, SMS and phone pay-as-you-go | 14-day trial; no free plan |
List prices before tax, from each vendor’s pricing page (US check, November 14, 2026; Wati figures from October 29, 2026). Landbot shows euros. WhatsApp message fees from Meta are extra on every tool that offers WhatsApp.
What a 5-person team pays at 1,000 contacts
This example assumes 5 people answering chats and about 1,000 monthly active contacts, on the plans named, billed yearly. It leaves out Meta’s WhatsApp message fees, which you pay on every tool.
| Setup | How it adds up | Per month | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| respond.io Starter | $79 plan (5 users, 1,000-contact tier) | $79 | No AI Agents, workflows or broadcasts |
| respond.io Growth | $159 plan (10 users, 1,000-contact tier) | $159 | AI Agents, workflows and broadcasts included |
| SleekFlow Essential | $49 + 2 extra seats × $15 + 500 extra contacts ($100) + $15 WhatsApp hosting | $194 | No AI agents or broadcasts |
| SleekFlow Pro | $109 (10 seats) + 500 extra contacts ($100) + $15 WhatsApp hosting | $224 | AI agents and broadcasts included |
| Wati Pro | $119 plan (5 users; not priced by contacts) | $119 | Oct 29 price; page showed no prices on Nov 14 |
| Landbot Professional WA | €160 (3 seats) + 2 extra seats × €25 | €210 | Capped at 2,500 chats and 500 AI chats; billing period not stated |
| Intercom Essential | 5 seats × $29, plus $0.99 per Fin outcome | $145 + Fin ($95 + Fin at $19) | WhatsApp billed pay-as-you-go |
Our arithmetic from published list prices, before tax, Meta fees and any volume discount. SleekFlow Essential and Pro start with 500 contacts, so 500 more cost 5 × $20. Wati Growth ($59) only fits teams of 3 or fewer, since it allows no extra users. ManyChat and Tidio are left out because they don’t price by these units (and ManyChat’s page showed conflicting plans).
At 5,000 contacts the gap widens. SleekFlow Pro at its list add-on price would be $109 + 45 × $20 = $1,009 a month before hosting. respond.io moves you to a higher contact tier whose price the page didn’t show to our check. Wati and Intercom don’t charge by contacts, so their price stays the same as your list grows.
How we chose
We picked tools that cover at least one of respond.io’s main jobs: a shared inbox for WhatsApp and social messages, broadcasts, or an AI agent that answers customers. All six are listed on our site with prices from their official pricing pages, re-read on November 14, 2026 from a US connection. We compared published prices, pricing units, channels and AI features. We haven’t tested these tools hands-on, so we don’t claim any AI agent answers better than respond.io’s.
Other names that come up in searches, such as Gorgias, aren’t covered here: its pricing page showed no plan prices when we checked.
SleekFlow: best for the closest like-for-like omnichannel inbox
Omnichannel team inbox for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, WeChat, LINE, Telegram and SMS, with a flow builder, broadcasts, payment links and AI agents on Pro and above.
- Starts at
- $49/mo billed yearly ($588/yr), Essential
- You pay for
- Plan + monthly active contacts + seats
- Channels
- WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, WeChat, LINE, Telegram, SMS
- Free option
- 7-day Pro trial, no credit card
Compared with respond.io: SleekFlow works much like respond.io: a shared inbox for chat apps, priced by monthly active contacts, with AI agents and broadcasts on the middle plan. Its Pro plan ($109/mo billed yearly, 10 seats, 3,000 advanced AI credits a month) is $50 a month cheaper than respond.io Growth at list price, but it starts with 500 contacts instead of 1,000, and extra contacts cost $20 per 100. WhatsApp number hosting is $15/mo on top of Meta’s message fees, and SleekFlow says plans and prices vary by country.
Who it’s for: You sell through several chat apps, including WeChat or LINE, and want catalogs and payment links inside the conversation.
Skip it if: You expect thousands of contacts a month. At the list add-on price, contacts above the plan’s starting allowance add up quickly (see the cost section).
Visit SleekFlowRead the SleekFlow profile
Source: sleekflow.io, checked November 14, 2026
Wati: best for whatsApp-first teams that don’t want to pay per contact
WhatsApp Business API platform with a shared team inbox, broadcasts, no-code chatbots and AI agents, which also brings in Instagram, Facebook and TikTok messages.
- Starts at
- $59/mo billed annually, Growth (as listed on Oct 29, 2026)
- You pay for
- Plan + users (not contacts)
- Channels
- WhatsApp, plus Instagram, Facebook and TikTok messages
- Free option
- 7-day trial, no credit card
Compared with respond.io: Wati is built around the official WhatsApp Business API: shared inbox, broadcasts, no-code chatbots and Astra AI Agents. Its plans are limited by users, broadcasts and automation triggers rather than by monthly active contacts. Growth includes 3 users with no extra seats; Pro ($119/mo) includes 5 users and adds AI lead qualification and advanced chatbots. On November 14, 2026 Wati’s pricing page showed no plan prices to our US check, so confirm the current price before you buy.
Who it’s for: Almost all of your conversations happen on WhatsApp and your contact list is large, so per-contact pricing would hurt.
Skip it if: You need email or calls in the same inbox. Wati’s plans center on WhatsApp.
Visit WatiRead the Wati profile
Source: wati.io, checked October 29 and November 14, 2026
ManyChat: best for instagram and Facebook DM automation
Chat automation for Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, TikTok, SMS and email: auto-replies to comments and DMs, lead capture flows and AI-powered conversations.
- Starts at
- Free plan paid plans priced by contacts (see note)
- You pay for
- Contacts
- Channels
- Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, SMS, email (WhatsApp per earlier checks)
- Free option
- Free plan
Compared with respond.io: ManyChat is a flow builder for social DMs: it turns Instagram comments into DMs, captures leads and sends broadcasts. It isn’t a shared support inbox in the way respond.io is. Pricing is in flux: on October 22, 2026 the page listed Essential at $14/mo and Pro (with AI) at $29/mo billed yearly, but on November 14 our US check returned an older layout with Pro “from $15/mo” by list size. Check the live page before you compare.
Who it’s for: Your leads come from Instagram or Facebook and you mostly need automated replies, not a team inbox.
Skip it if: Several agents need to share WhatsApp conversations with assignment and reports. See our ManyChat alternatives for tools built for that.
Visit ManyChatRead the ManyChat profile
Source: manychat.com, checked November 14, 2026
Landbot: best for building WhatsApp and website bots without code
No-code builder for website and WhatsApp chatbots that qualify leads, book meetings and answer FAQs, mixing button-based flows with AI grounded in your knowledge base.
- Starts at
- €32/mo billed annually (€40 monthly), Starter
- You pay for
- Chats + AI chats + seats
- Channels
- Website chat, WhatsApp
- Free option
- Free plan (100 chats/mo); 14-day trial
Compared with respond.io: Landbot is a drag-and-drop bot builder first, with human takeover in a shared inbox. It charges by chats per month, with AI chats counted separately. A WhatsApp number isn’t included on Starter: Professional WA (listed at €160/mo, 2,500 chats, 500 AI chats, 3 seats) includes one. Prices are shown in euros on the vendor’s page; the page also lists $36/mo billed yearly for Starter outside the EU.
Who it’s for: You want a guided, button-based bot that qualifies leads or books meetings, on your site and on WhatsApp.
Skip it if: Your team spends the day answering conversations by hand. A bot builder with 2–3 seats is a thin inbox for that.
Visit LandbotRead the Landbot profile
Source: landbot.io, checked November 14, 2026
Tidio: best for website chat with WhatsApp on a small budget
Live chat and help desk for small businesses and online stores, with the Lyro AI agent for common questions and Flows for no-code chat automation.
- Starts at
- $24.17/mo billed yearly, Starter
- You pay for
- Billable conversations + Lyro AI add-on
- Channels
- Website chat, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, email
- Free option
- Free plan (50 conversations); 7-day trial
Compared with respond.io: Tidio starts with a chat widget on your website and adds Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and email to the same inbox on every plan, including Free. Starter covers 100 billable conversations (threads a person answered) and 10 seats. The Lyro AI Agent is an add-on from $32.50/mo for 50 AI conversations. Flows automation is a separate add-on too, from $24.17/mo.
Who it’s for: Most chats start on your website or store, and WhatsApp is one channel among several.
Skip it if: WhatsApp is your main sales channel with high volume. Conversation caps and the add-on model make Tidio a weaker fit there.
Visit TidioRead the Tidio profile
Source: tidio.com, checked November 14, 2026
Intercom: best for an AI agent in front of a full help desk
Helpdesk with a shared inbox, ticketing, Messenger live chat and help center, built around the Fin AI Agent, which is billed per successful outcome.
- Starts at
- $29/seat/mo billed annually, Essential ($19 for new customers on Nov 14, 2026)
- You pay for
- Seats + Fin AI outcomes
- Channels
- Website Messenger, email, in-app chat; WhatsApp, SMS and phone pay-as-you-go
- Free option
- 14-day trial; no free plan
Compared with respond.io: Intercom is a help desk with tickets, a help center and the Fin AI Agent, billed at $0.99 per outcome on every plan. It charges per seat rather than per contact, and lists WhatsApp as a pay-as-you-go channel. That suits support teams that want AI to take the first reply, less so sales teams running WhatsApp broadcasts.
Who it’s for: Support is the main job, you want an AI agent paid per resolved conversation, and WhatsApp is a secondary channel.
Skip it if: You mainly send WhatsApp marketing broadcasts to a big list. Intercom’s plans are built around support seats and per-outcome AI, with WhatsApp billed as a pay-as-you-go extra.
Visit IntercomRead the Intercom profile
Source: intercom.com, checked November 14, 2026
Which respond.io alternative fits your business
| If you are… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A sales team selling on WhatsApp, WeChat or LINE | SleekFlow | Omnichannel inbox, AI agents and payment links from $109/mo yearly |
| A WhatsApp-only business with a large list | Wati | Priced by users and broadcasts, not contacts |
| A creator or brand selling through Instagram | ManyChat | Comment-to-DM flows and lead capture, with a free plan |
| A team that wants a guided bot, not an inbox | Landbot | No-code builder for website and WhatsApp bots |
| A small store where chats start on the website | Tidio | Website widget plus WhatsApp and social from $24.17/mo |
| A support team that wants AI on the first reply | Intercom | Help desk plus Fin AI at $0.99 per outcome |
For more options, see our guide to the best AI customer service software, our lists of Tidio alternatives and ManyChat alternatives, or browse all AI chatbots and customer support tools.
When respond.io is still the right pick
- You need WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, email and calls in one inbox, with conversations assigned across a team.
- Your team has 6–10 people: Growth includes 10 users and 1,000 contacts for $159/mo billed yearly, while SleekFlow Pro at the same size and contact count works out higher in our example.
- You want workflow automation with HTTP requests, webhooks and SSO, which respond.io lists on Advanced.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to respond.io?
It depends on the job. Based on published plans checked November 14, 2026: SleekFlow is the closest match (omnichannel inbox, contact-based pricing, AI agents on Pro), Wati suits WhatsApp-only teams with big contact lists, ManyChat suits Instagram DM automation, Landbot suits no-code bots, Tidio suits website chat and Intercom suits AI-first support. We haven’t tested these tools hands-on.
Is Wati cheaper than respond.io?
At list price, usually yes. On October 29, 2026 Wati listed Growth at $59/mo and Pro at $119/mo billed annually, and its plans aren’t limited by monthly active contacts. respond.io Growth, the first plan with AI Agents and broadcasts, is $159/mo billed yearly at 1,000 contacts. Wati’s page showed no prices on November 14, so confirm before buying.
respond.io vs SleekFlow: which is better?
They cover similar ground. SleekFlow Pro is $109/mo billed yearly against $159 for respond.io Growth, and it adds WeChat, LINE and Telegram plus payment links. respond.io Growth includes 1,000 contacts to SleekFlow Pro’s 500 and lists calling and email in the same inbox. At about 1,000 contacts, SleekFlow Pro works out higher in our example ($209 plus $15 WhatsApp hosting vs $159).
Do these tools include WhatsApp message fees from Meta?
No. respond.io says WhatsApp fees aren’t included in any subscription. SleekFlow, Wati and Intercom also list WhatsApp message charges as extra, and SleekFlow adds $15/mo to host a WhatsApp Business API number. Meta’s rates depend on the customer’s country and the message type, such as marketing, utility or authentication templates.
Which respond.io alternative has a free plan?
Tidio (50 billable conversations a month, 10 seats), Landbot (100 chats a month, no AI chats, 1 seat) and ManyChat have free plans. respond.io, SleekFlow and Wati offer 7-day trials instead, and Intercom has a 14-day trial.
What is a monthly active contact?
On respond.io it is anyone you messaged or called during the billing month. Your plan includes a contact tier (from 1,000 on respond.io, from 500 on SleekFlow Essential and Pro), and going over it costs extra: $12 per 100 contacts on respond.io Growth, $15 on Advanced and $20 per 100 on SleekFlow.
Does respond.io have a free plan?
No. respond.io offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card, which includes Growth features for 5 users and 1,000 contacts but not broadcasts. After that, Starter is the cheapest plan at $79/mo billed yearly or $99 billed monthly.
Which alternative is best for Instagram and Facebook messages?
For automated replies and comment-to-DM flows, ManyChat is the specialist. If several people need to answer Instagram and Messenger conversations in one inbox, SleekFlow, Tidio and respond.io itself all include those channels, and Wati brings Instagram and Facebook messages into its WhatsApp inbox.
Sources
Pricing pages re-read November 14, 2026 from a US connection. Wati plan prices are from October 29, 2026; respond.io monthly-billing prices from October 22, 2026.