What does ManyChat do?
ManyChat is a chat automation tool for Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, TikTok, SMS and email. It auto-replies to comments, DMs and Story mentions, collects leads and runs AI-powered conversations on Pro and up. A free plan covers 25 active contacts; Essential starts at $14/mo billed yearly. Built for creators and marketers rather than ticket-based support teams.
- Comment and DM auto-replies. Replies to comments, DMs and Story mentions, and moves commenters into a DM conversation.
- Flow Builder and Quick Automations. Guided setups for beginners and a visual builder for custom flows; AI can draft flows for you.
- ManyChat AI. AI-powered conversations on Pro, Business and Advanced plans.
- Channels. Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and email, depending on plan.
- Templates. Prebuilt automations for welcome messages, FAQs, giveaways and collecting emails or phone numbers.
- Inbox. Unified inbox for live replies, with team assignments on Business and Advanced.
Who is ManyChat for?
ManyChat is a good fit if you're a business owner, a video creator or a customer support lead, and you need help answering customer questions.
How much does ManyChat cost?
ManyChat starts at $14/mo. It also has a free plan. Its pricing page lists a free trial. We checked this on Oct 22, 2026 on the official pricing page.
- Starts at
- $14/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14 days (Essential and Pro)
Essential billed yearly ($168/yr): 250 active contacts, 2 channels. Pro is $29/mo billed yearly ($348) with 2,500 contacts and AI. Extra contacts are charged per contact; the page shows no monthly-billing price. Prices exclude tax.
ManyChat plans compared
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 25 active contacts a month, 2 channels (from Instagram, TikTok, Messenger, Telegram), up to 4 active automations, 1 user, ManyChat branding |
| Essential | Not listed | $14/mo | $168 billed annually. 250 active contacts, 2 channels, unlimited custom automations, 2 users, no branding; extra contacts $0.082 each (yearly) |
| Pro | Not listed | $29/mo | $348 billed annually. 2,500 active contacts, 3 channels (adds WhatsApp, SMS, email options), AI-powered conversations, broadcasts, up to 10,000 emails a month, 3 users |
| Business | Not listed | $69/mo | $828 billed annually. 7,500 active contacts, all channels, shared team inbox with assignments, priority support, up to 30,000 emails a month, 5 users |
| Advanced | Not listed | $139/mo | $1,668 billed annually. 25,000 active contacts, all channels, up to 100,000 emails a month, 10 users |
Prices are in USD, read from a US connection on the ManyChat pricing page (Oct 22, 2026). The plan cards show the yearly price per month with the yearly total (Essential 18% off, Pro 25% off, Business and Advanced 30% off); the page does not show a monthly-billing price, so it is left blank. Prices exclude tax, and the final price depends on your billing country. You pay per Active Contact above your plan's limit, and automations keep running when you go over. Essential and Pro have a 14-day free trial; paid plans need a card.
Checked Oct 22, 2026 on ManyChat's pricing page. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.
ManyChat pros and cons
What stands out
- Free plan for up to 25 active contacts, no credit card needed
- Essential starts at $14/mo billed yearly
- Covers Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, TikTok, SMS and email in one tool
- AI conversations included from Pro ($29/mo billed yearly), with no separate AI add-on price listed
- Automations keep running if you go over your contact limit
Watch out for
- Cost grows with active contacts: extra contacts are billed per contact
- Only yearly prices are shown on the plan cards
- Free and Essential are limited to 2 channels
- Built for social DM marketing; no ticketing or knowledge base like a help desk
- Prices exclude tax and depend on billing country
Based on ManyChat's own pages, not hands-on testing.
What are the alternatives to ManyChat?
We list 3 other AI Chatbots & Customer Support tools: Help Scout, Tidio, Zendesk. Each one below shows its starting price and when you might pick it instead.
Help Scout · From $25/user/moChoose Help Scout if you'd like a second option to compare for answering customer questions.
Tidio · From $24.17/moChoose Tidio if you'd like a second option to compare for answering customer questions.
Zendesk · From $19/agent/moChoose Zendesk if you'd like a second option to compare for answering customer questions.
Compared in
ManyChat FAQ
Is ManyChat free?
Yes. The Free plan covers 25 active contacts a month, 2 channels, up to 4 active automations and 1 user, with ManyChat branding. No credit card is required.
Does ManyChat have a free trial?
Essential and Pro have a 14-day free trial. Paid plans need a credit card. No trial is listed for Business or Advanced.
What is an active contact in ManyChat?
Pricing is based on Active Contacts a month: 250 on Essential, 2,500 on Pro, 7,500 on Business and 25,000 on Advanced. Above that, you pay per extra contact, from $0.082 on Essential down to $0.0028 on Advanced (yearly rates).
Does ManyChat include AI?
AI-powered conversations are included on Pro, Business and Advanced. The Free and Essential plans list no AI features.
Can ManyChat replace a help desk?
Not fully. It automates social DMs, comments and lead capture, with a shared inbox on Business and up, but it has no ticketing or help center. Tools like Help Scout, Zendesk or Tidio cover that.
Sources and how we checked
- Official pricing page, checked Oct 22, 2026
- Official website
- ManyChat homepage: features (checked Oct 22, 2026), checked Oct 22, 2026