
WhatsApp Message Template: A How-to Guide with 13 Examples
Businesses can't send WhatsApp messages after 24 hours unless they use WhatsApp Message Template. Learn how to format and send template messages plus examples.
Are you looking for a Manychat alternative for your growing business? Manychat allows creators and businesses to connect their conversations from Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, SMS and email in a single inbox. It’s easy to use and offers basic automation features designed with creators and small teams in mind.
However, businesses with larger teams that require more advanced automation and need features like WhatsApp calling, VoIP and AI agents may require an alternative. We’ve compiled the top ten Manychat alternatives to help make your decision easier.
We’ll look at a few typical reasons businesses like yours need to consider an alternative and then get into the details of the solutions available.
While every business’s needs are different, here are a few of the most common reasons to look for another option. Whether you’re thinking of switching from Manychat or are considering subscribing to a conversation management platform for the first time, keep these in mind.
Manychat supports WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and email. While this covers the most popular channels, businesses that frequently chat with customers on other channels like WeChat, LINE and Viber or require VoIP services or integration of custom channels will need another solution.
Manychat is designed for solo creators or small teams, with the Pro Plan only allowing three users. Add-on fees for more users pile up quickly for businesses with growing teams. Larger businesses would benefit from choosing a solution that includes more users in each monthly plan.
Manychat offers basic automation features that are quick to set up, which makes it an attractive option to businesses just getting started with a conversation management platform. While Manychat promotes the ability to fully automate conversations, the types of chats it can handle are limited. Advanced features like AI agents and complex routing aren’t available, so as business needs expand, it’s necessary to look elsewhere.
Many users have expressed frustration with Manychat’s limited support, which is only available via email and often leaves them without timely answers.
Now that we’ve covered the reasons to look into a Manychat alternative, let’s dive into the available options. Each have their pros and cons, so the best choice will depend upon your unique business needs. We’re including pricing for the most popular, mid-tier option for each although all products have limited entry plan and more advanced options.
Respond.io is an AI-powered, omnichannel conversation management platform designed to help B2C businesses capture, convert and retain customers over chat, call and email. It offers advanced automation to manage leads and customers throughout their entire journey.
Supports all popular channels and custom channels - supported channels include WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WeChat, LINE, Viber, Telegram, SMS, webchat and email.
WhatsApp features - supports high volumes of broadcasts without lagging, integrates with WhatsApp catalog and enables calling
Offers VoIP - respond.io is one of just a few WhatsApp Business Solution Providers that enables
WhatsApp Business Calling API; VoIP for all other calling is also now available through our partner, Telnyx.
AI Agent and AI Assist - use AI agent that learns from your entire company knowledge sources to provide instant replies, qualify leads, answer FAQ and route customers to a human agent when needed. AI Assist helps agents give quicker, more accurate, on-brand replies with prompts, proofreading, translation and more.
CRM integration - respond.io offers native integrations with HubSpot and Salesforce, and integrates with other CRMs and software via Make and Zapier.
Customer lifecycle management - track and manage customers through the entire lifecycle, to easily prioritize and target leads and customers and recognize causes of lost leads and how to improve conversions.
Excellent customer support - 24/5 live support and 24/7 AI agent support is available on every plan.
Learning curve - all the channels and features available may seem overwhelming, but our customer success team is ready to assist with onboarding
Respond.io’s mid-tier Growth plan starts at $159 and allows 10 users. It includes unlimited automation, unlimited use of AI Agent and advanced reporting. There’s no limit to the number of stored contacts on respond.io’s Monthly Active Contact (MAC) pricing model. That means you only pay for the contacts you actually speak to in a month. The Growth plan includes 1,000 MACs.
Sleekflow is a conversation management platform that’s best for small businesses with five or fewer users. It enables businesses to connect popular messaging channels to a single inbox and automate chats and processes. However, costs can be high and the platform has been known to have performance issues.
Supports most popular channels - Sleekflow supports WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WeChat, LINE, Telegram, Viber and SMS.
CRM integrations - it has native integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce and Shopify and integrates with other software and CRMs via Zapier and Make.
AI Agent and AI Assist - Train an AI agent based on PDF uploads to answer inquiries and qualify leads. Use AI to assist with composing messages and maintaining brand tone.
Performance issues - frequently lags under high volumes of messages.
No VoIP - WhatsApp Business Calling API and other VoIP services are not supported by Sleekflow.
Does not support TikTok - If you’ve been using TikTok with Manychat, this may be a dealbreaker.
Poor customer support - Sleekflow mainly provides support via email, with limited chat support available for higher-tier plans.
Sleekflow charges $349 per month for the mid-tier plan which only includes five users. WhatsApp Business Accounts cost $15/per month per number. Businesses are charged for the number of stored contacts rather than the number of contacts they speak to.
Wati was built specifically for the WhatsApp Business API and is a basic, low-cost option for businesses with small teams primarily using WhatsApp for marketing, sales and support. It also now supports Instagram as a channel with limited features available for it.
WhatsApp Catalog - Integrate WhatsApp API with WhatsApp Catalogs to easily share products
WhatsApp Broadcasts - Send high volumes of messages over WhatsApp without downtime
Chat automation workflows - Wati enables basic automation for conversations and can send instant replies to click to chat ads
Low cost - Wati is the cheapest option on our list, which makes it ideal for small businesses on a limited budget. However, growing businesses will find the mark-ups and add-on fees pile up fast.
No WhatsApp Business Calling API - while Wati has many WhatsApp API features, it does not support WhatsApp Calling, so you can’t jump into a quick call with customers when you need to.
Only supports WhatsApp and Instagram - if your business uses popular channels like TikTok and Facebook Messenger, it can be a challenge to keep up with messages in siloed channels.
Limited AI features - While Wati does offer an AI agent, it is only for support rather than sales and offers no option to route to a human agent.
The price for Wati’s mid-tier plan is $79 for five users, making it one of the cheaper options for businesses on a tight budget. However, there’s a 20% markup fee on WhatsApp messaging costs and AI credits are also an add-on.
Trengo is a subscription-based platform that connects popular communication channels including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to a single inbox. It’s best for small businesses with 5 or fewer agents sending low volumes of messages for sales and support over chat. As Trengo was designed for support, its new marketing and sales features lack maturity, and add-on fees can be steep.
Supports custom channels and VoIP - Few platforms support calling, so Trengo’s VoIP options make it an attractive choice for businesses that require this feature. It also supports integration of custom channels for enterprises.
Analytics focused on support metrics - Trengo was built for support and offers advanced analytics around metrics related to this use case.
CRM integration - Trengo integrates with HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify and Magento for additional fees.
Poor customer support - as the Trengo support team is only available during Central European office hours, getting in touch with support can be a challenge.
No WhatsApp Business Calling API - while Trengo supports VoIP, it does not support WhatsApp calling, so if you need to jump into a call with customers, you can’t do it directly from WhatsApp.
AI agent is only in beta - while Trengo offers an AI agent, the feature is in beta, so it may not be the best choice for businesses needing a reliable AI solution
Limited automation - workflow automations come with additional fees and cannot support complex business processes.
Trengo’s mid-tier plan starts at $264 per month for up to 5 users. There are additional fees for automation, AI credits and broadcast usage.
Rasayel is a business messaging platform designed to help B2B businesses manage communications over WhatsApp. It's often used by sales and marketing teams to automate workflows, and collaborate more efficiently.
CRM integration - get native integrations with HubSpot and Pipedrive or integrate with other CRMs via Zapier.
AI chatbot with smooth transition to human agent - An AI agent built for sales takes inquiries instantly and passes leads to a human agent to close the deal.
Automates sales workflows - automate responses and assignments for faster replies and better internal collaboration
Limited to WhatsApp - WhatsApp is the only channel supported, so this solution won’t work for businesses requiring omnichannel communication
Does not support WhatsApp Business Calling API - while Rasayel supports many WhatsApp features, it does not support WhatsApp Calling, so you can’t jump into a quick call with customers when you need to.
Limited analytics - the reporting features are basic so it’s not possible to track the entire customer lifecycle.
Rasayel’s mid-tier pricing is $360 a month for up to 10 users, unlimited automation and a limit of up to 25,000 messages.
Kommo is a messaging-first CRM built for small to mid-sized businesses that sell over chat. It connects all popular channels, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, email and more into one inbox, with tools to manage conversations, track deals and follow up automatically. If your team chats with leads daily and wants a simple sales pipeline that lives alongside those chats, Kommo might be worth a look.
Unified channels - You can connect WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email and more, all in one unified inbox
Basic automation - Kommo provides basic no-code automation to help teams handle repetitive tasks and follow-ups
Easy setup - Simple onboarding and interface make it easy to get started without too much technical help
Affordable - Kommo tends to be reasonably priced for smaller teams
Outdated look - The Interface can feel outdated and clunky compared to other solutions
Reporting limits - Limited reporting and analytics compared to larger CRMs
No calling - No built-in VoIP support for voice calling
Laggy performance – Users have reported bugs and occasional slowness, especially when multitasking or handling high volumes of chats
Support hours - Customer support is only available during business hours; response times may be delayed
Kommo’s Advanced plan costs $25 per user per month, billed every 6 months. It includes features like Salesbot (for building no-code chatbots), automations and broadcast messaging. Each user can manage up to 5,000 active leads and store up to 25,000 contacts and companies.
Chatfuel is a no-code chatbot builder made for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs who want to automate simple conversations on popular channels like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. It’s easy to use and works well for answering FAQs, sending reminders and running basic campaigns. That said, once your messaging needs grow more complex or span more channels, it can start to feel a little boxed in.
Easy-to-use - Intuitive drag-and-drop builder for Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp
Entry points - Supports click-to-chat ads, QR codes and basic website widgets
Basic integrations - Integrates with tools like HubSpot and Google Sheets via third-party platforms
Channel limits - No support for channels beyond Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp
Missing key features - Lacks contact merge and omnichannel inbox features
Analytics gap - Broadcasts are limited to WhatsApp and are missing in-depth analytics
Automation ceiling - Automation is basic, with no advanced features like smart triggers or lifecycle tracking
Chatfuel prices Facebook and Instagram separately from WhatsApp. The Business plan for Facebook and Instagram starts at $23.99/month, while the WhatsApp Business plan starts at $41/month for 1,000 conversations (plus Meta fees).
Interakt is a messaging tool built for small businesses that sell, support or market through chat. It’s popular in India and other WhatsApp-first markets, with features to manage customer conversations, send broadcasts and set up basic automations. If your entire messaging strategy lives on WhatsApp and Instagram, Interakt is a simple way to get started.
WhatsApp and Instagram first - It’s a dedicated tool built specifically for WhatsApp and Instagram
Inbox tools - Shared inbox, catalog sharing and bulk messaging is included
Ad support - Click-to-chat ads and automated replies are available features
Budget-friendly - Affordable pricing suitable for small teams and SMBs
Integration support - Integrations are possible with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce and CRMs and payment gateways (e.g., Zoho, Razorpay)
Limited channel support - Primarily supports WhatsApp and Instagram only
Simple flows - Doesn’t offer advanced workflow automation
Basic UI - UI tends to feel overly basic and limited once your needs grow
Support quality - Customer support has mixed reviews, with some reports of slow or unhelpful responses
The Growth plan is $49/month and includes support for both WhatsApp and Instagram, access to broadcast campaigns, basic automation like greetings, FAQs and chatbot flows and up to 5 custom events for conversion tracking. You’ll also get unlimited agents, unlimited conversations and contacts, but Meta’s standard conversation charges apply.
Bird (formerly MessageBird) is a customer communication platform that offers SMS, Email, and WhatsApp messaging under one roof. It’s designed for businesses that want to run campaigns across multiple channels without getting too technical. While Bird covers the basics, its pricing structure isn’t very transparent and tends to be on the higher side.
Multi-channel support - Supports SMS, email and WhatsApp from a single platform
Transparent rates - No extra markup on WhatsApp or SMS messages
Built-in CRM - Comes with a contact database to help you organize and segment your audience.
Automation-ready - Includes tools to create journeys and run multichannel campaigns.
Limited channel support - Lacks support for other popular channels like Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and more
Lacking key features - No built-in tools for merging duplicate contacts
Steep learning curve - The Interface can feel a bit technical for smaller teams
Confusing pricing – Requires annual billing to access base rates, with additional fees for messaging, phone numbers and inbox seats that aren’t obvious upfront
Support cost - Customer support is not offered by default and requires a $500/month add-on payment
Bird uses a pay-as-you-go model starting at $45/month for up to 3,000 contacts. This includes access to all core features like email, SMS, WhatsApp marketing and automation. You’ll pay separately for WhatsApp and SMS messages charged by third-party providers, phone numbers and additional seats for Bird’s Inbox. For businesses with more than 50,000 contacts, custom pricing is available and you’ll need to contact their Sales team.
Podium is a communications platform that’s a bit of a Swiss knife. It helps businesses manage messaging, reputation management and payments all from one place. With tools to collect reviews, send messages across multiple channels (including SMS) and accept payments, it’s built to improve how businesses connect with their customers.
Inbox hub - Manage customer conversations across multiple channels from one inbox
Reputation lift - Easily request and respond to customer reviews from sites like Google and Facebook, all within the Podium platform to enhance your online reputation
Promotional reach - Send promotional messages and updates directly to customers’ phones
Payment flow - Securely accept payments from customers through text messages
Outreach tools - Automate follow-ups, SMS and email campaigns
Premium pricing - Podium can be quite expensive, especially for smaller businesses
No public rates - Pricing is not transparent; you need to contact their team directly for a quote
Inconsistent help - Customer support is reportedly inconsistent in terms of responsiveness and quality
Poor retrieval - Searching old conversations is inconvenient, requiring users to remember specific details like contact names
The Pro tier is Podium’s most popular plan, adding advanced features on top of the basics. It includes tools like AI Instant Answers, automatic lead routing, lead capture forms, advanced automations and customer segmentation. Businesses can also utilize text-based messaging with images and GIFs, create surveys and benefit from lower payment processing fees. That said, as with all Podium plans, pricing isn’t listed online, so you’ll need to contact their team directly to get a quote.
Businesses on a tight budget that only require a few users may choose Wati, Chatfuel, Interakt or Kommo. Rasayel is the only option designed specifically for B2B businesses.
All the options offer a range of automation features, but the best all-around that supports the most channels with reliable, advanced AI while automating your customer journey is respond.io.
Respond.io supports all popular channels and includes WhatsApp Business Calling API, VoIP and custom channels. Get native integration with HubSpot and Salesforce and integrate with other software via Zapier, Make or APIs.
While other platforms include AI, Respond AI was designed with the customer journey in mind and learns from your entire website and business documentation to provide fast, accurate answers. Unlike other platforms that only use AI as a chatbot, respond.io enables workflows to automate the sales process, performing complex routing tasks.
Other platforms offer limited support, but respond.io ensures your onboarding experience sets your business up for success, and our support team is available live 24/5 and via AI agent 24/7 to assist with any inquiries. Plus, our 99.999% platform uptime guarantees you’ll never lose a customer due to lagging or downtime.
We recommend respond.io as the best Manychat alternative for growing businesses. If you need to chat with and call customers on multiple channels, manage the full customer lifecycle with advanced automation and ever-expanding features, try respond.io for free or contact us for a consultation to discuss how we can meet your business needs.
Manychat is best for creators and small businesses using WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok who want to fully automate conversations. With intuitive features and basic automation for quick responses, it helps individuals and small teams engage with followers and customers more efficiently. Larger businesses planning to scale will need to consider an alternative due to channel, user, and automation limitations.
Manychat automates chats while respond.io can automate the entire customer journey. With Manychat, you can answer FAQ and gather basic information to provide quick responses. Respond.io enables businesses to qualify leads, book meetings, send payment links, route to a team or agent, integrate with a CRM and more.
With Manychat, you can use WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, SMS and email. WhatsApp Business Calling API is not supported, so businesses requiring this, VoIP and other popular channels like WeChat, Viber and LINE will require an alternative.
The best all-around Manychat alternative for growing teams is respond.io. With its omnichannel capabilities, advanced automation and integration and customer journey management, it helps businesses succeed in marketing, sales and support over chat and call. With 10 users included the Growth plan and a monthly active contact pricing model (pay only for the contacts you talk to), you can get your whole team on board and store unlimited contacts without surprise fees.
If you’ve found this article helpful, check out these other blogs for more detailed comparisons.
Susan Swier joined respond.io as a Senior Content Manager in 2022. She is a St. John's College graduate who holds an MA in Liberal Arts. With over a decade of experience in educational publishing, Susan has held various positions at Wiseman Education, the British Council and Pearson. Her articles focus on customer communication, helping businesses navigate the complexities of business messaging apps such as Viber Business.
Businesses can't send WhatsApp messages after 24 hours unless they use WhatsApp Message Template. Learn how to format and send template messages plus examples.