ManyChat Alternative for Instagram Sellers: What to Compare
ManyChat is a strong tool, but for a small Instagram shop the pricing model and how well it handles product questions matter more than the channel list. Here is what to compare.
In this post
If you're looking for a ManyChat alternative, start by being clear about what you need. If you want many channels and a large template library, ManyChat is still a strong choice. If you only sell on Instagram and want replies that know your products and prices, a smaller tool built for that job may suit you better.
This post covers what ManyChat does well, how its pricing changed earlier this year and what a small business should check before picking a tool.
What ManyChat does well
ManyChat is one of the best known tools in this space, and for good reason.
- Many channels. Besides Instagram and Facebook Messenger, it supports WhatsApp, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and email. Which channels you get depends on your plan.
- TikTok support. ManyChat announced TikTok DM automation as an open beta in January 2025. Only TikTok business accounts could connect, and accounts in the EU, UK and US were left out at launch. US accounts got access in November 2025. Check whether your region is supported before you count on it.
- Ready-made templates. There are Instagram templates for things like sending a DM from a comment or collecting leads from stories.
- A large community. There are plenty of guides, videos and a community forum. When you get stuck, it's easy to find an example.
If one of these is a must for you, especially WhatsApp or TikTok, there's no good reason to leave ManyChat.
ManyChat pricing as of July 2026
ManyChat changed its pricing in early 2026. The old Free and Pro setup was replaced by Free plus four paid plans: Essential, Pro, Business and Advanced. Price now depends on your monthly active contacts. An active contact is anyone you interact with through DMs or automations during the month, and the count resets every month.
The free plan saw the biggest change. It used to cover up to 1,000 contacts. Under the new pricing it covers 25 active contacts a month. Paid plans charge extra for each contact over the limit.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Prices are in US dollars. If your business runs in another currency, your monthly cost will move with the exchange rate.
- The rollout was gradual. The new plans went to new accounts first and reached countries one by one. Older accounts may still see the previous pricing.
- AI features depend on the plan. Check which plans include ManyChat AI before you assume yours does.
For current numbers, use the calculator on ManyChat's own pricing page. We don't quote figures here because different sources list different amounts and the price can depend on your account.
What to check when choosing a tool
Feature lists tend to look alike. For a small shop, these five questions usually make the difference.
1. Can you follow the interface and get help?
When you build a flow, you need to understand the step names, warnings and error messages. When something breaks, it helps to reach a support team that answers quickly. Try the editor before you commit and see how long it takes you to build a simple flow.
2. Which currency do you pay in?
A subscription priced in a foreign currency gets more expensive when your own currency weakens, even though nothing about the service changed. Your card also needs to accept foreign payments. Paying in your own currency keeps the monthly cost easier to predict.
3. Where is the data stored?
Your customers' messages, names and usernames are personal data. Privacy rules such as the GDPR in the EU set conditions for storing and moving that data. Whatever tool you pick, ask where the data is stored and which agreements the provider offers. Update your own privacy notice to match.
4. Can it answer product questions?
In a shop's inbox, most messages are "price?", "do you have it in medium?" or "which product is this?". Check whether the tool only sends fixed text, or whether it knows which product a post is about and fills in the price itself. The second option saves you from building a separate flow for every product.
5. What are you paying for?
With pricing based on contacts, a post that takes off can push up your bill in the same month. Find out what the tool counts (contacts, messages or automations) and what happens when you go over the limit, a pause or an extra charge, before you sign up.
Comparison table
We only included facts we could verify. Where a cell says we couldn't verify something, we suggest trying both tools yourself.
| ManyChat | UlakChat | |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, TikTok, Telegram, SMS, email (depends on plan) | Instagram DMs, comments and story replies |
| Billing currency | US dollars | Turkish lira (₺) |
| Free plan | Yes, 25 active contacts a month under the new pricing | See the pricing page for current plans |
| Comment to DM | Yes | Yes (Private DM) |
| AI intent detection | ManyChat AI, depending on plan | AI Intent Detector, using a monthly AI credit allowance |
| Linking a post to a product and putting its price in the message | We couldn't verify this | Yes (Post Mapping) |
Who UlakChat is for
UlakChat is an automation tool built for businesses that sell on Instagram. It connects through Meta's official API and never asks for your password. You need a Business or Creator account.
What it does today:
- Automatic replies to DMs, comments and story replies. You build the flows in a drag-and-drop editor.
- Triggers can use keywords or the AI Intent Detector. Keywords don't use AI credits. We compared the two in keyword vs. AI trigger.
- For comments there are Reply to Comment, Private DM, Hide Comment and Delete Comment steps. With Link Message Automation, a conversation that starts in the comments continues in your DM flow.
- Post Mapping links your posts to your products. When you write
Product NameandPricein a message, each post sends the details of its own product.
What the customer sees:
Someone commented "price?" on the Cream Trench Coat post.
Hi, Cream Trench Coat is currently 799 ₺.
On another post, the same flow writes that post's product.
There are limits too. UlakChat only works on Instagram right now. There is no WhatsApp, TikTok, SMS or email. There's no large template library like ManyChat's, so you'll mostly build flows yourself. There's no team or role management either.
So if you sell on several channels, or WhatsApp is a must, staying on ManyChat makes more sense. If your business lives on Instagram and you want flows that fill in product details on their own, UlakChat is worth a try. See what it can do on the Instagram DM automation and Instagram comment automation pages.
How to switch without trouble
Moving from one tool to another won't harm your Instagram account. Just do it in the right order:
- List your current flows. Note which keyword on which post gets which reply.
- Build the flows in the new tool, but don't turn them on yet.
- Turn off the automations in the old tool. If both are on at once, customers can get two replies.
- Turn on the new flows and test them from another account.
- Watch your inbox for the first few days and look for messages that went unanswered.
Frequently asked questions
Does ManyChat still have a free plan?
Yes, but under the new pricing it covers 25 active contacts a month. The old free plan allowed up to 1,000 contacts. The new plans were rolled out in stages by country and started with new accounts, so what you see in your own account may differ.
Will switching from ManyChat to another tool affect my Instagram account?
No. Both tools connect through Meta's official API. Turn off your automations in the old tool and set them up in the new one. Don't leave both running on the same account, or customers may get two replies.
Does UlakChat support WhatsApp or TikTok?
No. UlakChat currently focuses on Instagram DMs, comments and story replies. If those channels are a must for you, ManyChat may be the better fit.
