Free Instagram DM automation tools: what each free plan really covers in 2026
Updated:
Chatfuel has the most generous free plan for comment-to-DM: it sends a DM to everyone who comments a keyword, with no stated limit on contacts or messages. SendPulse has the most complete free plan: flows and a CRM for up to 500 subscribers, across three bots. Both include Instagram and need no credit card.
What free plans leave out
Every free plan on this page sends a DM when someone comments. The differences are in what happens around that DM.
Most free plans cap the number of DMs or contacts per month. When CreatorFlow’s 500-DM cap is reached, automations pause until the next month. ManyChat’s free plan stops at 25 active contacts, which a single giveaway can use up.
Several plans leave out the public reply under the comment. LinkDM and ReplyRush both keep that for paid plans, so commenters get a DM but see no answer on the post.
Branding is the other trade-off. ManyChat adds “Powered by ManyChat” to the first message, and InstantDM adds its own branding on the free plan. Payment buttons in the chat and AI replies are paid features everywhere on this list.
Side by side
| Tool | Free plan includes | Paid plans from | 10K contacts | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SendPulse |
500 subscribers, 3 bots, 10,000 messages a month | $12 | $74 | Rated 4.4 out of 52,870 reviews (opens in a new tab) |
 Chatfuel |
Comment-to-DM with no stated contact limit | $20 | Free | Rated 3.2 out of 514 reviews (opens in a new tab) |
 ReplyRush |
1,500 DMs a month, 1 Instagram account | $10 | $25 | Rated 4.5 out of 524 reviews (opens in a new tab) |
 LinkDM |
1,000 DMs a month, your last 10 posts | $19 | $19 | No score |
 InstantDM |
500 DM automations a month, 5 posts | $12 | $12 | Rated 4.3 out of 528 reviews (opens in a new tab) |
 CreatorFlow |
500 DMs a month, 1 account | $15 | $30 | Rated 4.0 out of 513 reviews (opens in a new tab) |
 Meta Business Suite |
5 keyword replies, basic comment trigger | No paid plan | Free | No score |
 ManyChat |
25 active contacts, 4 automations | $17 | $162 | Rated 2.1 out of 5305 reviews (opens in a new tab) |
1. SendPulse
Best for: a business that plans to sell through DMs
- Free plan includes
- 500 subscribers, 3 bots, 10,000 messages a month
- Paid plans from
- $12
- 10K contacts
- $74
- Rating
- Rated 4.4 out of 5
What the free plan covers. It covers up to 500 subscribers and 10,000 messages a month. You get three bots with unlimited flows, and Instagram is included along with several other messengers. SendPulse’s CRM is also free for up to five team members.
When you start paying. Past 500 subscribers, or when you want payments in the chat or to remove SendPulse branding. Pro starts at $12 a month for 500 subscribers and costs $74 at 10,000.
Full profile of SendPulse SendPulse pricing (opens in a new tab)
2. Chatfuel
Best for: comment-to-DM with no cap
- Free plan includes
- Comment-to-DM with no stated contact limit
- Paid plans from
- $20
- 10K contacts
- Free
- Rating
- Rated 3.2 out of 5
What the free plan covers. Chatfuel’s free plan replies to comments on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and its landing page states no limit on contacts or messages. You choose whether each reply goes out as a private DM, as a public answer under the comment, or as both at once.
When you start paying. You pay once you want AI replies or WhatsApp. The team inbox and the CRM are paid too, and all of them need the Business plan at $20 a month, which still does not charge per contact.
Full profile of Chatfuel Chatfuel pricing (opens in a new tab)
3. ReplyRush
Best for: the largest capped DM allowance
- Free plan includes
- 1,500 DMs a month, 1 Instagram account
- Paid plans from
- $10
- 10K contacts
- $25
- Rating
- Rated 4.5 out of 5
What the free plan covers. It sends 1,500 DMs a month across one Instagram and one Facebook account, with automation on posts and Reels as well as on stories. ReplyRush keeps your data for 30 days on this plan.
When you start paying. You pay for public replies under the comment and for follow-gated DMs. Removing ReplyRush branding is a paid feature too. Lite is $10 a month for 7,500 DMs.
Full profile of ReplyRush ReplyRush pricing (opens in a new tab)
4. LinkDM
Best for: creators who post often and need many DMs on recent posts
- Free plan includes
- 1,000 DMs a month, your last 10 posts
- Paid plans from
- $19
- 10K contacts
- $19
- Rating
- No score
What the free plan covers. 1,000 DMs a month on one Instagram account, plus story automations. It only works on your last ten posts.
When you start paying. You pay for public comment replies and for automation on older posts. Removing LinkDM branding is also paid. Pro is $19 a month for 25,000 DMs across three accounts.
5. InstantDM
Best for: testing before a flat-price upgrade
- Free plan includes
- 500 DM automations a month, 5 posts
- Paid plans from
- $12
- 10K contacts
- $12
- Rating
- Rated 4.3 out of 5
What the free plan covers. 500 DM automations a month on up to five posts, with three trigger words each. AI-written variations of your comment replies are included.
When you start paying. The free plan leaves out story and live triggers, and DM keywords too, so most accounts upgrade for those. Legend Pro is $12 a month whatever your contact count.
Full profile of InstantDM InstantDM pricing (opens in a new tab)
6. CreatorFlow
Best for: a solo creator with a small audience
- Free plan includes
- 500 DMs a month, 1 account
- Paid plans from
- $15
- 10K contacts
- $30
- Rating
- Rated 4.0 out of 5
What the free plan covers. It sends 500 DMs a month on one account. Automations and keyword triggers are unlimited, for both comments and story replies.
When you start paying. When you pass 500 DMs, because automations pause at the cap. Pro is $15 a month for 5,000 DMs.
Full profile of CreatorFlow CreatorFlow pricing (opens in a new tab)
7. Meta Business Suite
Best for: low volume, with no third-party app
- Free plan includes
- 5 keyword replies, basic comment trigger
- Paid plans from
- No paid plan
- 10K contacts
- Free
- Rating
- No score
What the free plan covers. Meta’s own tools are free at any volume. You get instant replies, up to four FAQ buttons and up to five keyword replies.
When you start paying. Never, but you outgrow it. Keyword replies must match exactly and wait 15 minutes, and Meta’s help pages disagree on what the comment trigger matches.
Full profile of Meta Business Suite Meta Business Suite pricing (opens in a new tab)
8. ManyChat
Best for: trying ManyChat before a paid plan
- Free plan includes
- 25 active contacts, 4 automations
- Paid plans from
- $17
- 10K contacts
- $162
- Rating
- Rated 2.1 out of 5
What the free plan covers. 25 active contacts a month on two channels, with up to four live automations.
When you start paying. Almost at once for a business account. Essential is $17 a month for 250 active contacts, and 1,000 contacts need Pro at $39.
Full profile of ManyChat ManyChat pricing (opens in a new tab)
Which free plan fits
You only need comment-to-DM, at any volume. Use Chatfuel.
You are building a business that will sell in DMs. Start on SendPulse and keep your flows when you upgrade.
You want the most DMs on a capped plan. ReplyRush allows 1,500 a month.
You would rather not connect any app. Meta Business Suite is already in your account, and our setup guide walks through it.
Questions people ask
Is there a completely free Instagram DM automation tool?
Chatfuel’s comment autoreply is free with no stated limit on contacts or messages. Meta Business Suite is also free at any volume, but it only supports five exact-match keyword replies and a basic comment trigger.
Is ManyChat free?
ManyChat has a free plan, but it covers only 25 active contacts a month. Most business accounts need Essential at $17 or Pro at $39 a month. The ManyChat alternatives page compares cheaper options.
Do free plans add branding to my messages?
Some do. ManyChat adds “Powered by ManyChat” to the first message, and InstantDM adds its own branding. LinkDM and ReplyRush charge to remove theirs.