Booking in the DM, free
Three real open times in the chat, a reply of 1, 2 or 3 to book, confirmation and reminder emails, and Google Calendar or Outlook sync.
Askenly vs LTK
LTK DM sends LTK shopping links from comments, free for LTK creators. Askenly sends any link and adds follow to unlock, email capture, a shared inbox, AI drafts and free booking.
What each tool is
LTK is an affiliate shopping platform for creators with a comment-to-DM feature for LTK links. Askenly is Instagram DM automation for creators and small businesses: comment to DM, Story replies and DM keywords, follow to unlock, email capture, a shared inbox with hand-off, AI drafts and free booking in the DM.
Askenly vs LTK at a glance
Facts about LTK come from LTK’s launch announcement and press coverage of LTK DM, as of October 27, 2026.
| Topic | Askenly | LTK |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Instagram DM automation, inbox and booking | Comment to DM for LTK shopping links |
| Who can use it | Any Instagram professional account | LTK creators |
| Links you can send | Any link | LTK product links |
| Follow to unlock and email capture | Yes, on every plan | Not described in the launch |
| Booking in the DM | Built in and free: three open times in the DM, booking page, reminders, Google Calendar and Outlook sync | Not part of LTK DM |
“Not listed” means LTK’s page didn’t mention it when we checked, not that the product can’t do it. Check their current pricing before you decide.
Why people look for a LTK alternative
LTK DM is a good fit when everything you share is an LTK link. Creators look further when they also share other affiliate programs, their own products, a newsletter or brand collaboration enquiries.
Askenly works with any link, so one tool can cover all of it, and you can keep using LTK DM for LTK posts if you prefer.
LTK pricing as of October 27, 2026
LTK DM was launched in 2024 inside the LTK Creator app as a free feature for LTK creators.
It sends an automatic DM with a link to the creator’s LTK products when a follower comments a trigger word.
It is part of the LTK creator program rather than a separate subscription.
Askenly pricing for comparison: Free, then $19, $39 or $77 a month, billed in US dollars. Every plan, Free included, has comment, Story reply and DM keyword automations, the Inbox and booking.
Askenly plans
| Plan | Price | DMs a month | Live automations | Instagram accounts | Teammates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 1,000 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Starter | $19 a month | 12,000 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Growth | $39 a month | 75,000 | 30 | 8 | 2 |
| Scale | $77 a month | 1,000,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 |
Where LTK is strong
Every tool fits someone. These are the things it does well, by its own description.
- Free for LTK creators.
- Built into the LTK posting flow.
- Made for affiliate shopping links.
What Askenly adds to the conversation
These are the parts of Askenly that usually decide a comparison like this one.
Hand-off with a reason
Chats that need a person move to the shared Inbox with the reason, and automations pause for that person for 24 hours.
Fair follow to unlock
Instagram’s follow check runs first, so followers never see the ask, and an unknown status still delivers the link.
AI that drafts, people who send
One-click drafts written only from your business details. Nothing goes out until you press send.
Priced by DMs
Plans include a number of DMs a month, so you pay for messages sent rather than for every new person who comments.
Customer support from a person
Requests from inside the app reach our support team with your workspace attached.
Who each one is best for
LTK is a good fit for LTK creators who only need to send their LTK shopping links from comments.
Askenly is a good fit if Instagram is where your customers talk to you and you want every comment answered, followers grown fairly, emails collected, appointments booked in the chat and real questions handed to a person, starting on a free plan.
Switching from LTK to Askenly
There is no import tool, so you rebuild your automations from goals. Most take a few minutes each.
- Keep LTK DM for LTK posts if it works for you.
- Use Askenly keywords on posts with other links, so the two don’t answer the same comment.
- Add email capture to grow a list you own.
How we checked these facts
We read LTK’s launch announcement and press coverage of LTK DM on October 27, 2026 and wrote down only what those pages say. Prices and plans change, and some vary by region, so check LTK’s current pricing before you decide. If anything here is out of date, tell our customer support team and we’ll correct it.
Askenly vs LTK: questions
Can I send LTK links with Askenly?
Yes. Any link works, including LTK links.
Can I use LTK DM and Askenly together?
Yes, as long as each post uses one of them, so nobody gets two DMs for the same comment.
Is Askenly free like LTK DM?
Askenly has a free plan: 1,000 DMs a month, 3 live automations, no card. Paid plans are $19, $39 or $77 a month.
Does Askenly offer customer support for people switching from LTK?
Yes. Our customer support team helps you rebuild your automations and check your settings. Signed-in customers can open a request from Help in the app, and anyone can reach us from the Contact page.
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