Free
$0
/month
- + Up to 1,000 contacts
- + Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp
- + Basic automation flows
- + Growth tools
- + ManyChat branding
ManyChat
Chat marketing platform automating conversations on Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and SMS.
social-media
Our Score
4.4
Starting at $15 /month
Free Plan Available
Start Free with ManyChat ->
Affiliate link
4.4
RecommendedManyChat Score
Ease of Use
4.5
Features
4.3
Value
4.5
Support
4.1
Based on our editorial review across usability, features, value, support, and integrations.
Best For
Instagram creators and influencers automating DM-based lead generationE-commerce brands using Instagram and Messenger for customer engagementDigital marketers running comment-triggered giveaways and lead magnetsSmall businesses automating customer service on WhatsApp and MessengerCourse creators and coaches using chat funnels to sell programs
Best For
Instagram creators and influencers automating DM-based lead generation
Free Trial
Yes
Standout Feature
Visual flow builder for creating automated chat sequences without code
Track Record
Since 2015
What Problem It Solves
Social media engagement creates a volume problem. When a brand posts content that goes viral or runs a successful promotion, thousands of comments and DMs flood in simultaneously. Manually responding to each person is impossible, and ignoring them means losing potential customers at the peak of their interest. ManyChat solves this by automating the response layer. A comment on an Instagram post can instantly trigger a personalized DM with a link, discount, or lead magnet. A message on WhatsApp can start an automated qualification flow that asks the right questions and routes hot leads to sales. Story replies can trigger product recommendations based on user preferences. This automation converts social media from a broadcast channel into a two-way conversation channel that scales without adding headcount, turning passive followers into active buyers.
Key Features
- Visual flow builder for creating automated chat sequences without code
- Instagram DM automation triggered by comments, stories, and keywords
- WhatsApp Business automation with template messages and interactive flows
- Facebook Messenger bot building with rich media and quick replies
- SMS and email marketing channels integrated into unified flows
- Growth tools including landing pages, QR codes, and website widgets
- Shopify integration for order notifications, abandoned cart recovery, and product recommendations
Pros
- + Best-in-class Instagram DM automation for converting followers to customers
- + Generous free plan with 1,000 contacts and core automation features
- + Intuitive visual flow builder accessible to non-technical marketers
- + Multi-channel capability spanning Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, SMS, and email
- + Strong e-commerce integrations especially with Shopify for order-related flows
Cons
- - Heavily dependent on Meta platforms -- policy changes can break automations
- - WhatsApp automation has strict template and messaging window restrictions
- - Complex flows become difficult to manage and debug at scale
- - Pro plan pricing scales with contact count, which can get expensive for large audiences
Pricing
Pro
$15
/month
- + Unlimited contacts (price scales)
- + SMS and email channels
- + Advanced automation and A/B testing
- + No ManyChat branding
- + Integrations and analytics
Elite
Custom
Contact sales
- + Dedicated success manager
- + Custom automation strategy
- + Priority support
- + Advanced analytics
- + Custom integrations
Starting at $15 /month
Free Plan Available
Start Free with ManyChat ->
Affiliate link
Our Verdict
ManyChat — Recommended
ManyChat has evolved from a simple Messenger bot builder into the leading platform for chat-based marketing across multiple channels. Its killer feature is Instagram DM automation, which has become essential for creators and e-commerce brands. The typical use case: a brand posts a Reel, comments mention a keyword, and ManyChat automatically sends a DM with a link, discount code, or lead magnet. This converts passive social engagement into active conversations at a scale that manual DM management cannot match.
The visual flow builder is genuinely intuitive. Non-technical users can create sophisticated multi-step automations with conditional logic, delays, A/B testing, and integration triggers without touching code. The free plan is generous for getting started, supporting up to 1,000 contacts with basic automation on Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The Pro plan at $15/month unlocks unlimited contacts, advanced automation, SMS, email, and removes ManyChat branding.
The main limitations are around platform dependency and complexity ceilings. ManyChat is fundamentally tied to Meta's platforms (Instagram and Messenger), and policy changes by Meta can break automations overnight. WhatsApp automation requires a verified business account and has message template restrictions. The platform can also become complex to manage at scale -- brands with dozens of flows, multiple team members, and thousands of active conversations need careful organization to avoid creating a maintenance burden. For businesses whose primary customer acquisition happens on Instagram or Messenger, ManyChat is a no-brainer. For those relying on email, SEO, or paid ads as primary channels, it is a nice-to-have rather than essential.
Related Tools
How much does ManyChat cost?
ManyChat offers a free plan for up to 1,000 contacts with basic automation on Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. The Pro plan starts at $15/month for up to 500 contacts and scales based on audience size: $25/month for 1,000 contacts, $45/month for 5,000, $65/month for 10,000, and up to $435/month for 100,000 contacts. Pro unlocks unlimited automation, SMS and email channels, advanced growth tools, A/B testing, and removes ManyChat branding. Custom Enterprise pricing is available for brands with over 100,000 contacts.
Is ManyChat compliant with Instagram and Meta policies?
Yes. ManyChat is an official Meta Business Partner and its automation features are built within Meta's platform guidelines. However, there are important rules to follow. Instagram DM automations can only be triggered by user-initiated actions (comments, story replies, keyword messages) -- you cannot cold-message users. WhatsApp requires pre-approved message templates for outbound communication. Violating these policies can result in account restrictions. ManyChat provides compliance guidance within the platform and updates its features when Meta changes its policies, but staying informed about the rules is ultimately the user's responsibility.
Can ManyChat replace my email marketing tool?
Not entirely. ManyChat includes basic email sending capabilities on the Pro plan, but it lacks the advanced segmentation, deliverability management, A/B testing depth, and template design tools of dedicated email platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit. ManyChat is best used as a complement to email marketing: use it to capture leads via chat automation, then nurture them through email sequences using your existing email tool. ManyChat integrates with most major email platforms, making this workflow straightforward. Think of ManyChat as your conversation channel and email as your nurture channel.
Starting at $15 /month
Free Plan Available
Start Free with ManyChat ->
Affiliate link
Start Free with ManyChat ->
Affiliate link