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 ManyChat
ManyChat covers many channels and bills by the number of people who interact with you. Askenly focuses on Instagram, bills by messages sent, and includes free booking in the DM, a shared inbox with hand-off and AI drafts on every plan.
What each tool is
ManyChat is a chat marketing platform for Instagram, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and other channels. 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 ManyChat at a glance
Facts about ManyChat come from ManyChat’s help center articles on subscriptions, active contacts and the Pro and Business plans, as of October 27, 2026.
| Topic | Askenly | ManyChat |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | By DMs sent each month, not by contacts | By active contacts per month, with charges above the included amount |
| Free plan | 1,000 DMs a month, 3 live automations, no card | 25 active contacts a month |
| Channels | Instagram (Facebook, WhatsApp and X are not available yet) | Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and more |
| Booking in the DM | Built in and free: three open times in the DM, booking page, reminders, Google Calendar and Outlook sync | Not listed in the plan descriptions we checked |
| AI | AI drafts a person reviews and sends (20 to 1,500 a day by plan) | AI features listed on Pro and above |
| Team seats | 10 teammates on Scale | 3 users on Pro, 5 on Business, per its help center |
“Not listed” means ManyChat’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 ManyChat alternative
People look for a ManyChat alternative for a few recurring reasons: contact-based pricing that climbs as a post brings in new people, a flow builder that takes time to learn when all they want is “comment GUIDE, get the guide”, or a need for booking that lives inside the conversation.
Askenly starts from a goal instead of a blank canvas. You choose Deliver, Grow audience, Get more sales or Book, and the builder sets up the right steps. The preview shows the exact messages a follower will see, so you can switch an automation on without testing every branch by hand.
ManyChat pricing as of October 27, 2026
ManyChat’s help center describes plans billed by active contacts per month: Free with 25, Essential with 250, Pro with 2,500 and Business with 7,500.
Its help center lists Essential at $17 a month ($14 billed yearly), Pro at $39 a month ($29 billed yearly) and Business at $99 a month ($69 billed yearly), with per-contact charges above each plan’s included contacts.
ManyChat notes that plans and prices can vary by region, and that accounts created before March 2, 2026 may see older plans.
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 ManyChat is strong
Every tool fits someone. These are the things it does well, by its own description.
- Several messaging channels in one tool, including WhatsApp.
- A large visual flow builder for complex, branching conversations.
- A long track record and a big library of community tutorials.
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
ManyChat is a good fit for teams that need WhatsApp or Messenger next to Instagram, or very complex branching flows built by a dedicated person.
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 ManyChat to Askenly
There is no import tool, so you rebuild your automations from goals. Most take a few minutes each.
- List your live ManyChat Instagram automations and their keywords.
- Connect your Instagram account to Askenly.
- Rebuild each automation from a goal in Askenly, then switch the ManyChat version off so people don’t get two DMs.
- Add your hours, services and FAQ answers so hand-offs and AI drafts work from day one.
How we checked these facts
We read ManyChat’s help center articles on subscriptions, active contacts and the Pro and Business plans on October 27, 2026 and wrote down only what those pages say. Prices and plans change, and some vary by region, so check ManyChat’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 ManyChat: questions
Is Askenly a good ManyChat alternative for Instagram?
If Instagram is your main channel and you want comment to DM, follow to unlock, email capture and booking without building complex flows, yes. If you need WhatsApp or Messenger in the same tool today, ManyChat covers those and Askenly doesn’t yet.
How is Askenly priced compared to ManyChat?
Askenly charges by DMs sent each month (Free, then $19, $39 or $77 a month). ManyChat’s help center describes pricing by active contacts, with charges above each plan’s included contacts.
Can I import my ManyChat flows?
There is no import tool. Most Instagram automations take a few minutes to rebuild from a goal, and our customer support team can help.
Does Askenly offer customer support for people switching from ManyChat?
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.
Start free today
Connect Instagram and publish your first automation in a few minutes. No card needed.