Automate replies to Instagram comments, Story replies and messages from your professional account, through Instagram’s official API.
Requirements
- A Business or Creator account. No Facebook Page is needed.
- Allow access to messages turned on in the Instagram app, so Askenly can send DMs.
- Each Instagram account can be connected to one workspace at a time.
What Askenly can do on Instagram
| Where | What happens |
|---|---|
| Comments on posts and Reels | A DM to the person who commented the keyword |
| Story replies | A DM to everyone who replies with the keyword |
| Direct messages | Keyword replies, answers to common questions and email capture |
| Follow check | Instagram confirms whether the person follows you before content is unlocked |
| Buttons | Opening buttons and your links as tappable buttons |
Instagram’s messaging rules
Instagram lets a business message people who contacted it first, and only for 24 hours after their last message. Askenly follows these rules: every automation starts from someone’s comment, Story reply or message, follow-ups are sent only inside that window, and messages go out at a natural pace.
Instagram accounts per plan
| Plan | Instagram accounts | Automations |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 | 3 |
| Starter | 3 | 10 |
| Growth | 8 | 30 |
| Scale | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Disconnect or reconnect
Settings → Channels lists every Instagram account your workspace has used. Disconnecting an account stops its automations and scheduled posts and frees a place on your plan, so you can connect a different account. Its contacts, conversations and history stay, and the header lets you switch to it to look back.
Connect the same account again later and its history comes back. Its automations and scheduled posts stay paused until you review them and turn them on, so nothing old goes out by surprise. If a connection fails, the message in the app says why, and Connect your account lists what to do for each one.
Remove permanently deletes one disconnected account and only its records, 7 days after you confirm. You can keep the account until then.
Instagram questions
Do I need a Facebook Page?
No. Askenly connects with Instagram’s own sign-in, so a Business or Creator account is enough.
Can I connect more than one Instagram account?
Yes, up to your plan’s limit: Free 1, Starter 3, Growth 8, Scale unlimited.
Why does someone have to message first?
Instagram only lets businesses message people who commented, replied to a Story or sent a DM, so every automation starts from one of those.