ManyChat
Chat automation for Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok, priced by active contacts
ManyChat automates replies to Instagram comments and DMs, plus WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and email. Plans are priced in US dollars by the number of people you talk to each month (active contacts), with a free plan and a 14-day trial of Essential and Pro.
The short answer
ManyChat automates conversations on social channels. It replies to Instagram comments and DMs on its own, and runs automated chats on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and email. You build flows that start when someone comments a keyword, follows you or replies to a story.
Good fit: creators, coaches, online stores and social media managers who get more comments and DMs than they can answer, and want to turn them into email sign-ups, link clicks and sales.
Not a fit: a sales team that needs a pipeline, deal stages and follow-up on every lead until it closes. ManyChat works better next to a CRM than instead of one.
This review is based on ManyChat's official pricing page. The live page blocks automated access, so the figures come from the Internet Archive copy dated October 29, 2026, checked on November 11, 2026. We have not tested ManyChat with our own account.
Pricing and plans
ManyChat charges in US dollars by active contacts: every person you exchange messages with in a month counts once, however many messages you send. Prices exclude tax, and the final price depends on your billing country.
Official pricing page: manychat.com/pricing
| Plan | Annual (per month) | Monthly | Active contacts/mo | Users | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 25 | 1 | up to 2 |
| Essential | $14 ($168/yr) | $17 | 250 | 2 | up to 2 |
| Pro | $29 ($348/yr) | $39 | 2,500 | 3 | up to 3 |
| Business | $69 ($828/yr) | $99 | 7,500 | 5 | all |
| Advanced | $139 ($1,668/yr) | $199 | 25,000 | 10 | all |
Going over the contact limit
Your automations keep running and ManyChat bills each extra contact. On annual plans that is $0.082 on Essential, $0.038 on Pro, $0.018 on Business and $0.0028 on Advanced; on monthly plans $0.10, $0.05, $0.025 and $0.004.
You can set a cap on overages. Even on an annual plan, contacts are counted and overages billed every month.
Key features
- Every plan: Instagram, Messenger, TikTok and Telegram; an automatic DM to new followers; replies when someone mentions you in a story; links, PDFs and images sent in DMs; keyword triggers; tags; one inbox on mobile and desktop.
- Free: up to 4 live triggers and 60+ ready-made templates. Shows "Powered by Manychat" in the first message to each contact.
- Essential: unlimited automations, contact data capture, scheduled messages, Google Sheets, no ManyChat branding, and conversations started from Meta (Messenger) and TikTok ads.
- Pro: the first plan with WhatsApp and SMS, broadcasts on WhatsApp, Telegram and Messenger, and AI that replies to DMs and comments. Integrates with Zapier, Make, the API, ChatGPT, Claude, HubSpot, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Kit, ActiveCampaign, Stripe and PayPal. WhatsApp conversations can start from Meta ads.
- Business and Advanced: all channels, a shared inbox for several agents, automatic assignment of conversations to the team and priority support. Extra inbox seats cost $25 each from Pro up.
Pros
- Free plan with no credit card, and a 14-day trial of Essential and Pro
- Refund if you cancel within 30 days of buying a plan
- An active contact counts once a month, however many messages you send
- Upgrading in the same billing cycle wipes out overage fees already incurred
- Official Meta Business Partner and a TikTok partner, according to ManyChat
Cons
- WhatsApp only from Pro: $29/mo billed annually or $39 month to month
- Cost rises with your audience, plus per-contact overage fees
- Few seats per plan: 3 users on Pro, 5 on Business
- Annual plans cannot be downgraded or switched to monthly until the year ends
- Not a sales CRM: automatic conversation assignment starts on Business
Alternatives
- Need a sales pipeline on WhatsApp? A CRM tracks each lead through stages until the sale. DataCrazy, priced per company in Brazilian reais: https://vibebuilderhub.com/en/tools/datacrazy
- Kommo, priced per user in US dollars: https://vibebuilderhub.com/en/tools/kommo
- RD Station CRM, free for up to 4 users; its WhatsApp chatbot is a separate product: https://vibebuilderhub.com/en/tools/rd-station-crm
- Side by side, including when to use both together — DataCrazy vs ManyChat: https://vibebuilderhub.com/en/compare/datacrazy-vs-manychat
FAQ
Does ManyChat have a free plan? Yes. Free costs $0 and covers up to 25 active contacts a month, 2 channels and 4 live triggers. No credit card is needed.
What is an active contact? A real person you exchange messages with in a monthly billing period, through automations, AI, broadcasts or the inbox. Sending one message or a hundred to the same person counts as one contact.
Which is the cheapest plan with WhatsApp? Pro: $29/mo billed annually ($348 a year) or $39 month to month, with 2,500 active contacts and any 3 channels.
What happens if I go over my contact limit? Automations keep running. ManyChat warns you by email and in the app as you get close, then bills each extra contact. If you move to a bigger plan in the same billing cycle, the overage so far is forgiven.
Can I cancel and get a refund? You can cancel at any time. If you bought the plan less than 30 days ago, ManyChat refunds it through its support team.
Is the price the same in every country? No. Prices are in US dollars before tax, and ManyChat says the final price depends on your billing country. Check the purchase page before you pay.
Sources
- ManyChat — pricing page, Internet Archive copy of October 29, 2026 (the live page blocks automated access), checked November 11, 2026: https://web.archive.org/web/20261029102850/https://manychat.com/pricing
- ManyChat — official pricing page: https://manychat.com/pricing