ManyChat is the best-known Instagram DM tool, but its free plan covers only 25 active contacts a month and paid plans are billed in US dollars per contact, from $14/month. For creators and businesses in India, the main alternatives are likecmtshare (₹0 free, ₹149/month), ReplyKaro (₹99/month), Repli (₹499/month), SlideDM (₹999/month), and the dollar-priced InstantDM ($9.99/month), LinkDM ($19/month) and SuperProfile. If you want rupee billing by UPI and a free plan you can actually run campaigns on, start with the India-built tools.
Why people leave ManyChat
ManyChat changed its free plan to 25 active contacts a month, with up to 4 active automations and 2 channels. An "active contact" is any person you exchange messages with in a month, so one reel that does well can use the whole allowance in a day.
Paid plans start at $14/month (Essential, 250 contacts) and rise to $29 (Pro), $69 (Business) and $139 (Advanced), with a per-contact fee beyond each limit. Billing is in US dollars, which also means card payments rather than UPI for Indian users.
None of that makes ManyChat a bad product — it is the most established tool here and an Official Meta Business Partner. It is simply priced for businesses that grow contacts steadily, not for creators whose reels spike.
All 8 tools at a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Entry paid plan | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|
| likecmtshare | Free · 1,000 DMs | ₹149/month | India |
| ManyChat | Free · 25 active contacts/month | $14/month (Essential) | USA |
| ReplyKaro | Free Forever · core automations | ₹99/month (Starter) | India |
| Repli | Free · 300-character DMs, Repli branding | ₹499/month (Pro) | India |
| SlideDM | Free · 1,000 DMs | ₹999/month (Pro) | India |
| InstantDM | 7-day trial, no permanent free plan | $9.99/month (Legend Pro) | USA |
| LinkDM | Free · 1,000 DMs, 1 account | $19/month (Pro) | USA |
| SuperProfile | Free · unlimited AutoDM on post replies | Paid plan (price not listed on its AutoDM page) | India |
Prices and limits taken from each tool's own pricing pages, checked 16 September 2026. Prices change often — check the links before deciding.
The alternatives, one by one
1. likecmtshare India
Comment-to-DM with lead capture, a leads dashboard with tags and CSV export, the follow gate on every plan including free, and replies in 7 Indian languages. Instagram only.
Best if: You want leads organised and followed up, and rupee billing.
Free: Free · 1,000 DMs · Paid from: ₹149/month
2. ManyChat USA
The largest platform, an Official Meta Business Partner, covering Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and email. Priced per active contact, with overage fees beyond each plan's limit.
Best if: You need many channels and a mature ecosystem, and dollar billing is fine.
Free: Free · 25 active contacts/month · Paid from: $14/month (Essential)
3. ReplyKaro India
India-first and the cheapest entry price here, with UPI, Razorpay and GST invoices, Hinglish keyword support and very high DM allowances on its ₹299 Pro plan.
Best if: You want the lowest price for delivering links at volume.
Free: Free Forever · core automations · Paid from: ₹99/month (Starter)
4. Repli India
Multi-channel AI: Instagram, WhatsApp and email, AI replies in your brand voice, lead forms and Razorpay checkout inside the chat. DPDP-compliant storage.
Best if: You want AI conversations and payments across more than Instagram.
Free: Free · 300-character DMs, Repli branding · Paid from: ₹499/month (Pro)
5. SlideDM India
India-built, with follow-to-unlock and email or phone capture on the free plan.
Best if: You want a free plan with a larger DM allowance.
Free: Free · 1,000 DMs · Paid from: ₹999/month (Pro)
6. InstantDM USA
Flat-rate unlimited automations rather than per-contact pricing, with follow-for-link gating and email or phone capture. Viral mode and API access on the $24.99 plan.
Best if: You send very high volumes and want one predictable flat fee.
Free: 7-day trial, no permanent free plan · Paid from: $9.99/month (Legend Pro)
7. LinkDM USA
Popular with creators for pushing product and affiliate links from comments. Comment auto-reply is not included on the free plan.
Best if: You are a creator outside India focused on link delivery.
Free: Free · 1,000 DMs, 1 account · Paid from: $19/month (Pro)
8. SuperProfile India
A creator platform with a storefront, courses and link-in-bio, with AutoDM included. Story and live automations, the follow gate and email capture require the paid plan.
Best if: You also want to sell products through a storefront.
Free: Free · unlimited AutoDM on post replies · Paid from: Paid plan (price not listed on its AutoDM page)
How to choose
- Check how the free plan is limited. By messages, by contacts or by features — contact limits run out fastest.
- Check the currency. Dollar pricing means card payments and no GST invoice.
- Check the official API. Any tool that asks for your Instagram password puts your account at risk.
- Check what happens after the DM. Delivering a link is easy; keeping the lead organised is the part most tools skip.
- Check the follow gate. Several tools put it behind a paid plan.
Best Instagram DM automation tools in India
If you want rupee pricing, UPI payments and GST invoices, the shortlist is shorter: likecmtshare (₹0 free, ₹149/month), ReplyKaro (₹99/month), Repli (₹499/month), SlideDM (₹999/month) and SuperProfile if you also want a storefront. All of them run on Meta's official API.
We build likecmtshare, so treat our opinion accordingly — the prices above come from each company's own pricing page so you can check them yourself. Detailed head-to-heads: vs ManyChat, vs ReplyKaro, vs Repli, vs InstantDM, vs SuperProfile, vs LinkDM, vs SlideDM.
FAQ
What is the best ManyChat alternative in India?
For rupee billing and a usable free plan, likecmtshare, ReplyKaro and Repli are the India-built options. likecmtshare starts free with 1,000 DMs and ₹149/month paid; ReplyKaro starts at ₹99/month; Repli at ₹499/month.
Why do people look for ManyChat alternatives?
Mainly the free plan limit of 25 active contacts a month, dollar pricing with per-contact overage fees, and the setup being heavier than most creators need.
Is there a free Instagram DM automation tool?
Yes. likecmtshare (1,000 DMs), ReplyKaro, SlideDM (1,000 DMs) and SuperProfile (post replies) all have free plans. InstantDM lists only a 7-day trial.
Are these tools safe for my Instagram account?
The ones listed here state that they use Meta's official Instagram API, which only allows replies to people who contacted you first. Avoid any tool that asks for your Instagram password.
Which alternative includes the follow gate for free?
likecmtshare includes the follow gate on every plan including free. SuperProfile and several others list it as a paid feature.
Can I pay by UPI?
likecmtshare, ReplyKaro, Repli and SlideDM bill in rupees and accept UPI. ManyChat, InstantDM and LinkDM bill in US dollars.
Try likecmtshare free
1,000 DMs at ₹0, the follow gate included, UPI billing on paid plans from ₹149.
Early Bird DiscountAll product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. likecmtshare is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the other tools listed.