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Software · head to head

ManyChat vs Freshchat

ManyChat logo

ManyChat

Software

Chatbot and automation platform for Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and SMS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Freshchat logo

Freshchat

Software

Modern messaging for customer engagement

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ManyChat pro plan pricing scales quickly with contact count, becoming expensive for large audiences.; Freshchat the free plan covers up to 10 agents and omits social messengers, SMS and reporting
  • They diverge on capability: ManyChat covers Visual Flow Builder, Freshchat covers Live chat.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ManyChat and Freshchat actually diverge.

Attributes where ManyChat and Freshchat differ
AttributeManyChatFreshchat
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (web, ios, android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ManyChat

  • Visual Flow Builder
  • Instagram Automation
  • WhatsApp Automation
  • SMS Marketing
  • Broadcast Campaigns
  • E-commerce Integrations

Only in Freshchat

  • Live chat
  • Chatbots
  • Campaigns
  • WhatsApp
  • Instagram
  • Apple Business Chat
  • Freshdesk
  • Freshsales

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ManyChat

  • Automating Instagram DM and comment repliesnot Freshchat
  • Lead generation via chat funnelsnot Freshchat
  • WhatsApp order updates and broadcastsnot Freshchat
  • E-commerce cart recovery via chatnot Freshchat

Freshchat

  • Live chat on a website or in an appnot ManyChat
  • Shared inbox across chat, email and social messengersnot ManyChat
  • Chatbot deflection before a conversation reaches an agentnot ManyChat
  • Routing conversations by skill or language on the higher tiersnot ManyChat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ManyChat

  • Pro plan pricing scales quickly with contact count, becoming expensive for large audiences.
  • WhatsApp automation requires a connected WhatsApp Business API number with separate messaging costs.
  • The free plan has restrictive contact and feature limits compared to paid competitors.
  • Advanced flow logic can become difficult to manage for very complex automation sequences.

Freshchat

  • The free plan covers up to 10 agents and omits social messengers, SMS and reporting
  • Reporting and social channels need Growth at $19 per agent per month billed annually
  • Intelligent routing, multilingual support and custom dashboards require Pro at $49 per agent per month
  • Skill-based routing, audit logs and IP whitelisting are Enterprise only at $79 per agent per month
  • Freddy AI is charged on top of the seat price, at $49 per 100 agent sessions and $29 per agent per month for Copilot

Pricing, plan by plan

ManyChat

Free
  • Free$undefined/month
    • Limited contacts
    • Core automation features
    • Basic channels
  • Pro$15/month
    • Higher contact limits
    • All channels
    • Broadcast messaging

Freshchat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 contacts
    • Chatbot
    • Inbox views
  • Growth$19/month
    • 2000 contacts
    • WhatsApp
    • Instagram
  • Pro$49/month
    • 5000 contacts
    • Auto-resolve
    • Advanced routing
  • Enterprise$79/month
    • Unlimited contacts
    • Custom bots
    • User authentication

Which should you pick?

Choose ManyChat if

  • You need visual flow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android.
  • You also want instagram automation.
ManyChat review

Choose Freshchat if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want chatbots.
Freshchat review

Questions people ask

Is ManyChat or Freshchat better?
Neither clearly leads. ManyChat starts at Free and Freshchat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ManyChat or Freshchat?
ManyChat starts at Free and Freshchat at Free.
Does ManyChat or Freshchat run on more platforms?
ManyChat runs on web, ios, android. Freshchat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use ManyChat for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ManyChat best used for?
ManyChat is most often used for automating instagram dm and comment replies, lead generation via chat funnels, whatsapp order updates and broadcasts, e-commerce cart recovery via chat. Of those, automating instagram dm and comment replies and lead generation via chat funnels are not what Freshchat is typically brought in for.
What can ManyChat do that Freshchat cannot?
ManyChat covers Visual Flow Builder, Instagram Automation, WhatsApp Automation, SMS Marketing. Freshchat covers Live chat, Chatbots, Campaigns, WhatsApp.
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