12 best ManyChat alternatives in 2027
Reviewed by Mehmet Elmicenni, founder of Zekai•Prices checked •How we check
The best ManyChat alternatives in 2027 are Chatfuel (best overall, $20/mo), SendPulse (best free plan: 500 subscribers, 3 chatbots) and ChatbotX (best open source, MIT). ManyChat itself starts at $29/mo billed yearly. Zekai checked these prices on vendor pages on 13 Nov 2026; 9 more are compared below, including 4 with a free plan and 3 open source.
Which ManyChat alternatives are worth it in 2027?
The best ManyChat alternatives in 2027 are Chatfuel ($20/mo Business S), respond.io ($99/mo Starter for teams), SendPulse (free plan, Pro from $9.60/mo billed yearly), Landbot ($45/mo), Heyy ($49/mo) and Botpress ($189/mo Plus). New ManyChat accounts pay $39/mo for Pro ($29 billed yearly), with a free plan of 25 Active Contacts. ChatbotX is the open-source option.
| Tool | Type | Starting price | Free plan limit | Best for | Cost for your team | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ManyChatThe tool you are replacing |
You are here | $29/mo billed yearlyPro for accounts created since 2 Mar 2026: $39 billed monthly or $29/mo billed yearly, 2,500 Active Contacts. The public pricing page still shows an older "from $15/mo" contact-based Pro. |
25 Active Contacts a month on new accounts | Instagram comment-to-DM automation for creators | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
Chatfuel Not yet reviewed by ZekaiBest overall |
Paid | $20/moBusiness S, $20 billed monthly or $18/mo billed yearly ($216/yr); includes US$20 of AI credits a month |
No free plan | WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok sales bots | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
respond.io Zekai score 7.6 |
Paid | $99/moStarter, $99 billed monthly or $79/mo billed yearly ($948/yr); 1,000 monthly active contacts, 5 users |
No free plan | Multi-agent team inbox across messaging channels | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
| Free plan + paid | $9.60/mo billed yearlyChatbots Pro, from $9.60/mo billed yearly at 500 subscribers; the monthly-billed figure was not read because the billing toggle did not update |
3 chatbots, 500 subscribers, 10,000 messages a month | Cheapest multi-channel bot with a real free plan | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ | |
![]() Landbot Zekai score 7.3 |
Free plan + paid | $45/moStarter, $45 billed monthly or $36/mo billed annually; the Black November promo showing $22.50 for the first year is not used here |
100 chats a month, 1 seat, no AI chats | Web and WhatsApp lead-capture flows | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
![]() Heyy Zekai score 4.7 |
Paid | $49/moHobby, $49 billed monthly or $41/mo billed yearly; 1,000 credits, 3 channels, 1 user |
No free plan | WhatsApp-first AI employees with unlimited contacts | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
![]() Mixdesk Zekai score 8.4 |
Free plan + paid | $49/moEssential, $49 billed monthly or $39/mo billed yearly ($468/yr); Pro $199 monthly or $159/mo yearly with 5,000 AI messages |
10 conversations a month, unlimited teammates, no AI messages | Shared inbox with unlimited teammates | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
![]() Tidio Zekai score 6.6 |
Free plan + paid | $24.17/mo billed yearlyStarter, $24.17/mo on the 'Annually (2 months free)' setting; the monthly figure did not update when toggled and was not read |
50 billable conversations, 50 one-time Lyro AI conversations | Live chat plus Lyro AI for online stores | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
![]() Botpress Zekai score 7.9 |
Free plan + paid | $189/moPlus, $189 billed monthly or $150/mo billed annually; 250 conversations a month, packs of 100 for $65 |
100 conversations a month, 3 seats, 3 AI agents | Developer-grade AI agents on WhatsApp and web | — | 13 Nov 2026 | Pricing ↗ |
| Open source | Free (self-hosted) |
No limit, self-hosted (MIT) | Self-hosted ManyChat-style flow builder | $0 | 14 Nov 2026 | Code ↗ | |
OpenReply Zekai score 6.8 |
Open source | Free (self-hosted) |
No limit, self-hosted (MIT) | Instagram comment-to-DM keyword automation | $0 | 14 Nov 2026 | Code ↗ |
Chatwoot Zekai score 8.6 |
Open source | Free (self-hosted) |
No limit, self-hosted (MIT) | Open-source shared inbox for DMs | $0 | 14 Nov 2026 | Code ↗ |
Hexabot Zekai score 7.3 |
Open source | Free (self-hosted) |
No limit, self-hosted (FCL-1.0-ALv2) | Developer-built YAML chatbot workflows | $0 | 14 Nov 2026 | Code ↗ |
Every price was read on the vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. The Cost Finder assumes one entry plan per person, so it multiplies by your team size; yearly prices are shown per month, and team or business plans can cost more per seat. "Not checked" means we could not confirm a public price.
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Claim your listing to correct prices and free-plan limits.
Claim your toolIs there a free version of ManyChat?
Yes. ManyChat's pricing page shows a Free plan for up to 1,000 contacts, limited to Instagram DM and Messenger, with 10 tags, 2 sequences, 3 keywords and 1 team member. Its Help Center describes a newer Free plan of 25 Active Contacts for accounts created from 2 March 2026, so the limit you see depends on your account.
Source: ManyChat pricing page, read 13 Nov 2026.
25 Active Contacts a month on new accounts
Pro for accounts created since 2 Mar 2026: $39 billed monthly or $29/mo billed yearly, 2,500 Active Contacts. The public pricing page still shows an older "from $15/mo" contact-based Pro.
What are the best free ManyChat alternatives?
The best free ManyChat alternatives are SendPulse (3 chatbots, 500 subscribers, 10,000 messages a month), Botpress (100 conversations a month, 3 AI agents), Landbot (100 chats a month, 1 seat) and Mixdesk (10 conversations a month). ManyChat's own Free plan, per its pricing page, allows up to 1,000 contacts on Instagram and Messenger only.
SendPulse

Mixdesk

Tidio
What are the best open-source ManyChat alternatives?
Open-source ManyChat alternatives are ChatbotX (MIT, enterprise folder separate), OpenReply (MIT) for Instagram comment-to-DM, Chatwoot (MIT, enterprise folder separate) as a shared inbox, and Hexabot (source-available, not OSI-approved). Running them means hosting Postgres or Redis and handling Meta app review yourself.
ChatbotX
- Commercial use
- Yes for the MIT code; the enterprise folder needs a commercial licence.
- Runs on
- Docker host running Postgres with pgvector, Redis and S3-compatible storage.
- Setup
- Moderate · Docker Compose with pre-built images, plus Meta app review for channels.
- Last commit
- 13 Nov 2026
OpenReply
- Commercial use
- Yes (MIT).
- Runs on
- Server with PostgreSQL, Redis, a worker process and a public HTTPS URL.
- Setup
- Moderate · Deploy your own copy; Instagram needs your own Meta app or Zernio.
- Last commit
- 28 Oct 2026
Chatwoot
- Commercial use
- Yes for the MIT code; the enterprise folder is under a separate licence.
- Runs on
- Docker or docker-compose host; Heroku and DigitalOcean one-click deploys exist.
- Setup
- Moderate · Docker Compose, or a documented one-click cloud deploy.
- Last commit
- 13 Nov 2026
Hexabot
- Commercial use
- Yes unless it competes with Hexabot; converts to Apache-2.0 later.
- Runs on
- Node.js 24 with npm, pnpm, yarn or bun; Docker optional.
- Setup
- Moderate · Install the CLI, create a project, run hexabot dev.
- Last commit
- 13 Nov 2026
How does ManyChat compare with each alternative?
ManyChat Pro is $39 monthly or $29/mo billed yearly for new accounts. Chatfuel charges $20/mo with US$20 of AI credits, SendPulse bills by subscribers from $9.60/mo yearly, Heyy bills by credits ($49/mo), and respond.io charges $99/mo for five users. Landbot and Botpress meter by chats and conversations instead. Each vendor's page was read on 13 Nov 2026.
ManyChat vs respond.io
- Chats, calls and emails sit in one conversation thread
- AI Agents include guardrails and human takeover
- No free plan; only a 7-day trial
- WhatsApp fees are not included and are charged by Meta
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of respond.io · Verdict: Omnichannel chat + AI
ManyChat vs SendPulse
- Official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider and Meta Business Partner
- Pause the bot when a team member takes over a chat
- Free plan is limited to 500 subscribers, 10 triggers and limited API
- WhatsApp messages carry Meta charges, e.g. marketing templates $0.0300 each in the US
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of SendPulse · Verdict: Cheap multi-chat bots

ManyChat vs Landbot
- Free plan available to start building immediately.
- Combines AI flexibility with rule-based control for predictable outcomes.
- May require a learning curve to master complex, data-driven workflows.
- Less focused on pure voice-based IVR automation than some competitors.
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Landbot · Verdict: Hybrid AI Support Automation

ManyChat vs Heyy
- Provides 24/7 guest support, capturing inquiries from different time zones.
- Unifies all major messaging channels into a single dashboard.
- Not a specialized hospitality tool; lacks deep PMS integrations out-of-the-box.
- Pricing is based on credits, which can be complex to predict for seasonal businesses.
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Heyy · Verdict: Unified Guest Messaging Automation

ManyChat vs Mixdesk
- No per-seat fees across any plan tier
- Supports 10 major communication channels
- AI messages are metered separately and capped monthly
- Advanced AI tools and API access require the Expert plan
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Mixdesk · Verdict: Multi-channel AI inbox

ManyChat vs Tidio
- Provides a unified helpdesk to streamline customer interactions and improve response times
- Offers proactive automations that convert, enabling marketing teams to focus on high-value activities
- May require significant setup and training for the AI agent to be effective
- Limited customization options for the chatbot's tone and personality
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Tidio

ManyChat vs Botpress
- No per-seat cost, offering significant savings over competitors.
- Integrates with existing helpdesks like Zendesk and Intercom.
- Pricing is based on conversation volume, which can be unpredictable for high-traffic teams.
- The free plan is limited to 100 conversations per month.
Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Botpress · Verdict: Powerful Support Automation
ManyChat vs ChatbotX
ManyChat vs OpenReply
ManyChat vs Chatwoot
ManyChat vs Hexabot
Why do people leave ManyChat?
ManyChat announced on 20 April 2026 that billing moves from cumulative contacts to monthly Active Contacts, with new Free, Essential, Pro, Business and Advanced plans; AI starts on Pro and Inbox seats cost extra on Pro and above. (source)
ManyChat's Help Center says the Active Contacts model launched 2 March 2026 for new accounts: Free 25 Active Contacts, Pro 2,500 at $0.05 per extra contact, and Pro costs $39 monthly or $29/mo billed yearly. (source)
Questions people ask about ManyChat alternatives
What is the best alternative to ManyChat in 2027?
Chatfuel is the best overall ManyChat alternative on this page ($20/mo). For no cost, SendPulse has a free plan (3 chatbots, 500 subscribers, 10,000 messages a month). To self-host, ChatbotX is open source (MIT).
Is there a free version of ManyChat?
Yes. ManyChat has a free plan: 25 Active Contacts a month on new accounts. Paid plans start at $29/mo billed yearly, checked on 13 Nov 2026.
Is there a 100% free alternative to ManyChat?
Yes. ChatbotX, OpenReply, Chatwoot, Hexabot are open source and free to self-host. SendPulse, Landbot, Mixdesk, Tidio, Botpress have a free plan with limits, shown in the table.
What is cheaper than ManyChat?
SendPulse starts at $9.60/mo billed yearly, against $29/mo billed yearly for ManyChat, as listed on each vendor's pricing page on 13 Nov 2026.
How much do ManyChat alternatives cost for a team of 5?
If each of 5 people buys the entry paid plan, at the prices Zekai checked on 13 Nov 2026, the monthly cost is SendPulse $48/mo, Chatfuel $100/mo, Tidio $120.85/mo, against ManyChat $145/mo for ManyChat. Team and business plans can cost more per seat. The Zekai Cost Finder on this page recalculates for any team size.
Which is better, Chatfuel or ManyChat?
Chatfuel Business S includes US$20 of AI credits a month and bulk WhatsApp campaigns, and its pricing page lists TikTok next to Instagram and Facebook; ManyChat's page shows contacts, not AI credits. Choose Chatfuel if you run click-to-WhatsApp ads and want leads qualified and booked in chat, with Meta WhatsApp fees billed through one wallet. Stay with ManyChat if you only need Instagram comment-to-DM flows on a free tier and can live with ManyChat's contact-based billing.
Why are people leaving ManyChat?
The documented reasons are: ManyChat announced on 20 April 2026 that billing moves from cumulative contacts to monthly Active Contacts, with new Free, Essential, Pro, Business and Advanced plans; AI starts on Pro and Inbox seats cost extra on Pro and above (20 Apr 2026); ManyChat's Help Center says the Active Contacts model launched 2 March 2026 for new accounts: Free 25 Active Contacts, Pro 2,500 at $0.05 per extra contact, and Pro costs $39 monthly or $29/mo billed yearly (2 Mar 2026). Each is sourced in the section above.
What are the best ManyChat alternatives?
Chatfuel, respond.io, SendPulse, Landbot and Heyy are the closest paid options; SendPulse and Botpress have free plans, and ChatbotX is an open-source ManyChat-style builder.
How did Zekai check this page?
Zekai independently reviews AI tools. For this page we read each vendor's own pricing and product pages and recorded the starting price, the free-plan limit and the date of the check. Only tools that do the same job as ManyChat are listed, and sponsors never change the order or the scores.

Founder of Zekai. Reviews the alternatives pages and the price checks behind them.
- ManyChat pricing (read through a page fetch; the headless browser got a Cloudflare check)
- ManyChat blog: pricing is changing
- ManyChat Help Center: Pro plan
- ManyChat Help Center: Active Contacts
- Chatfuel pricing
- respond.io pricing
- SendPulse chatbot pricing
- Landbot pricing
- Heyy pricing
- Mixdesk pricing
- Tidio pricing
- Botpress pricing
- ChatbotX repo
- Chatwoot repo
Page rebuilt on v6; all prices re-read on vendor pages.
Open-source options expanded; each now shows licence, commercial use, hardware and setup.