Respond.io is a customer conversation platform that brings WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok, email, phone calls and more into one shared inbox, with AI agents that can answer questions and qualify leads. It’s built for growing sales and support teams that talk to customers on many channels, not just WhatsApp.
Here’s what Respond.io does, how its contact-based pricing works in 2026, and who it’s really for.
Quick Verdict
- Best for: Mid-sized and growing businesses with sales or support teams handling WhatsApp plus other messaging channels.
- Not ideal if: You’re a very small business that only needs cheap WhatsApp broadcasts. AiSensy or WATI may cost less.
- Is there a free plan? No, but there’s a free trial (usually 7 days).
What Is Respond.io?
Respond.io is an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider and an omnichannel messaging platform. Instead of switching between apps, your team sees every customer conversation in one place, along with the customer’s history and details. AI agents and automated workflows handle repetitive work, and conversations can be routed to the right person automatically.
New to WhatsApp automation? Start with our guide to WhatsApp automation for business.
Key Features
- Omnichannel inbox: WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, email, website chat, voice calls and more.
- AI agents: Answer FAQs, qualify leads and hand off to humans, trained on your own knowledge (Growth plan and above).
- AI Assist and AI Prompt: Help agents draft, translate and improve replies.
- Workflows: Automate routing, lead qualification, follow-ups and CRM updates.
- Broadcasts: Send campaigns to opted-in contacts (Growth and above).
- WhatsApp calling: Take and make WhatsApp voice calls from the platform on eligible plans.
- Integrations: HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify, Zapier, Make and a developer API.
- No markup on Meta fees: Respond.io says you pay Meta’s WhatsApp rates directly.
Note: These details come from the company’s own announcements and have not been independently verified by Next DigiTech.
Respond.io Pricing (2026)
Respond.io charges by Monthly Active Contacts (MACs), meaning the number of different customers you have conversations with in a month, not the number of messages or agents. Prices as of October 2026:
| Plan | Billed yearly | Billed monthly | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $79/month | $99/month | Shared inbox, channels, AI Assist and AI Prompt, 5 users. No broadcasts, workflows or AI agents. |
| Growth | From $159/month | From $199/month | 1,000 MACs, broadcasts, workflows, AI agents, integrations, 10 users |
| Advanced | From $279/month | From $349/month | 1,000 MACs, everything in Growth plus voice AI agents and advanced controls, 10 users |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Large teams and custom needs |
How the bill grows
- More active contacts: Growth and Advanced prices rise as you move to higher contact tiers, or you pay for extra contacts in small blocks.
- Extra users: Roughly $12 to $24 per user per month, depending on plan.
- AI credits: Heavy AI usage may need extra credits.
- Meta fees: WhatsApp message charges are paid separately at Meta’s rates. From October 1, 2026, service replies beyond 1,000 a month per number are also charged.
Important: The $79 Starter plan is mainly a shared inbox. Most businesses that want WhatsApp campaigns and AI automation need Growth or higher. Check respond.io/pricing for current tiers.
How to Get Started (Step by Step)
- Start a free trial at respond.io.
- Connect your channels: WhatsApp Business API, Instagram, Messenger, email and any others you use.
- Invite your team and set up roles.
- Import contacts and connect your CRM.
- Create a workflow, such as greeting new contacts, asking a few qualifying questions and assigning them to the right agent.
- Set up an AI agent with your FAQs and product information (Growth and above), and test it carefully.
- Track results in reports and adjust routing and AI answers.
Best Use Cases
- Sales teams handling leads from Click-to-WhatsApp ads, Instagram and the website.
- Customer support teams that need routing, SLAs and reports across channels.
- Education, travel, real estate and automotive businesses with high-value, conversation-heavy sales.
- Businesses in markets where WhatsApp is the main channel, such as the UK, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- True omnichannel inbox in one place
- Strong AI agents and workflow automation
- No markup on Meta’s WhatsApp fees
- Generous users included on Growth and Advanced
- Good CRM integrations and developer API
Cons
- More expensive than WhatsApp-only tools
- Starter lacks broadcasts, workflows and AI agents
- Contact-based pricing can be hard to predict at first
- No free plan
- More features than a very small business needs
Respond.io vs WATI vs AiSensy
- Respond.io: Best for multi-channel teams that need AI agents and advanced routing.
- WATI: Best for businesses focused mainly on WhatsApp with a team inbox and chatbots.
- AiSensy: Best for budget WhatsApp broadcasts, especially in India.
- Interakt: Best for selling on WhatsApp with catalogs and e-commerce integrations.
Tips to Keep Costs Under Control
- Estimate your monthly active contacts from last month’s real conversations before choosing a tier.
- Use yearly billing if you’re confident in the platform.
- Train your AI agent well so fewer chats need humans, but always keep a human handoff.
- Use utility templates for updates and save marketing templates for real offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Respond.io free?
No. Respond.io offers a free trial, usually 7 days, and paid plans start at $79 a month billed yearly.
What is a Monthly Active Contact?
It’s a unique customer you have a conversation with during the month. Your price depends on how many of these contacts you have, not how many messages you send.
Does Respond.io charge extra for WhatsApp messages?
Respond.io says it doesn’t add a markup. You pay Meta’s WhatsApp message rates directly, separate from your plan.
Which plan includes AI agents?
AI agents start on the Growth plan. Voice AI agents need Advanced.
Which channels does Respond.io support?
WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, TikTok, email, website chat, voice calling and several other messaging apps.
Is Respond.io good for small businesses?
It can be, but very small businesses focused only on WhatsApp broadcasts often get better value from WATI, AiSensy or Interakt.
The Bottom Line
Respond.io is one of the most powerful options for teams that handle customer conversations across many channels, with strong AI agents and no markup on WhatsApp fees. Start with the trial, estimate your monthly active contacts, and expect to need the Growth plan for full automation. Explore more tools in our AI tools directory.
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Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on details available at the time of writing. Prices, plans, features, release dates, policies and availability can change at any time and may vary by country. Please verify the latest information on the official website of the company or product mentioned before making any decision or purchase. Next DigiTech is an independent website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the companies mentioned; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. We are not responsible for any loss or decisions made based on this content.
