
WhatsApp customer service platform · respond.io
respond.io
Shared inbox for WhatsApp and other channels, with workflows, AI agents and broadcasts on higher plans.
In short
- Starter costs $79 a month billed yearly and includes 5 users1.
- Extra users on Starter cost $12 a month1.
- There is a free 7-day trial, but no free plan1.
- Meta's WhatsApp fees are not in any subscription; Meta charges them by usage1.
- Starter has no broadcasts; they start on Growth at $159 a month billed yearly1.
respond.io suits teams that want a WhatsApp inbox with workflows, AI agents and bulk template sends, and can pay for the Growth plan to get them1,7. It names ISO 27001 and lists a developer API from Growth1,12. The catch: Starter has no broadcasts, webhooks need the Advanced plan, and no SOC 2 Type II report is named1,11,12.
Best for: Teams that want workflows and AI agents on top of a WhatsApp inbox.
Where the points come from
Price and fees 19 of 26 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan for 3 agents | $79/moStarter, $79 a month billed yearly, includes 5 users, above the 3 counted; shared inbox listed as Team and Custom Inboxes1. | 9 / 12 |
| Price of one more agent | $12/moExtra Starter user, $12 a month; the page does not give a separate yearly seat price1. | 2 / 3 |
| Free plan with WhatsApp | NoPricing page lists paid plans and a free 7-day trial only1. | 0 / 3 |
| Free trial of 7 days or more | YesPricing page offers a free 7-day trial of Growth features1. | 2 / 2 |
| Meta message fees | at_costPricing page says Meta charges WhatsApp fees by usage; help page links to Meta's rate card for exact rates. No markup is stated1,13. | 6 / 6 |
Team inbox 17 of 20 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic chat assignment | YesWorkflows (Growth and above) can assign new contacts round robin or to the user with the fewest open contacts1,3. | 6 / 6 |
| Internal notes | YesComments are visible only to workspace users and never to contacts4. | 3 / 3 |
| Satisfaction survey on WhatsApp | Not publishedA workflow template asks a rating question after a conversation closes, but the page does not name WhatsApp14. | 0 / 3 |
| Agent and response-time reports | YesThe Users report shows conversations assigned, average first response time and average response time per user5. | 5 / 5 |
| Agent mobile app | YesPricing lists a Mobile App from Starter; help article describes it as letting agents respond to messages1,6. | 3 / 3 |
Automation and broadcasts 22 of 22 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| No-code chatbot builder | YesWorkflows overview calls the builder a visual editor with a drag-and-drop canvas; Workflows are on Growth and above1,7. | 8 / 8 |
| AI agent from your help content | YesAI Agents are listed from Growth; the product page says they work across WhatsApp and other channels from approved knowledge sources1,8,15. | 7 / 7 |
| Template broadcasts | YesBroadcasts are listed on Growth and above; Starter has none1. | 7 / 7 |
Channels and integrations 22 of 22 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps the WhatsApp Business app | YesHelp article says the same number works on the WhatsApp app and respond.io through the API10. | 4 / 4 |
| Other channels | Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Email, SMS, Website chat, TelegramHelp centre lists channel guides for Instagram, Messenger, Email, SMS, Telegram and a website chat widget2. | 6 / 6 |
| Named integrations | Shopify, HubSpot, Salesforce, ZapierIntegrations page lists all four; pricing lists Zapier and Make integrations from Growth1,9. | 8 / 8 |
| Public API and webhooks | YesDeveloper API is available on Growth and above and links public API documentation; webhooks need Advanced or above1,11,16. | 4 / 4 |
Security and trust 5 of 10 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001 | YesSecurity page says respond.io is ISO 27001 certified12. | 5 / 5 |
| Open source | Not publishedNot found on the vendor's pages1,12. | 0 / 3 |
| Single sign-on | Not publishedPricing lists Single Sign-On (SSO) on Advanced but names no SAML or OIDC; the security page does not mention it1,12. | 0 / 2 |
The rule behind each line: how we score WhatsApp customer service platforms.
Plans and prices
As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.
| Plan | Price as listed | Per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| StarterUp to 5 users | $79/month, billed yearly1 | $79 | No broadcasts; extra users $12 a month |
| GrowthUp to 10 users | $159/month, billed yearly1 | $159 | Adds broadcasts, workflows and AI agents; extra users $20 a month |
| AdvancedUp to 10 users | $279/month, billed yearly1 | $279 | Adds HTTP requests in workflows; extra users $24 a month |
Month-to-month prices are higher: $99 Starter, $199 Growth, $349 Advanced1. WhatsApp fees from Meta are charged separately1. Top-ups carry a 5.5% payment processing fee, waived from 1 October 2026 until further notice13.
Strengths
- Names ISO 27001 certification12.
- Reports show conversations assigned and first response time per user5.
- Round-robin assignment is set up through workflows3.
- Supports WhatsApp coexistence, so the same number works in the Business app and the platform10.
- Lists Shopify, HubSpot, Salesforce and Zapier integrations9.
Other WhatsApp customer service platforms
- 2
SleekFlowTeams that want broadcasts, a no-code flow builder and an AI agent in one tool83/100$64/mocheapest plan for 3 agents - 3
SuperchatEuropean teams that want a free start and Meta fees at cost81/100$99.56/mocheapest plan for 3 agents - 4
InteraktSmall teams that want unlimited agents on a WhatsApp inbox79/100$19.92/mocheapest plan for 3 agents - 5
CallbellSmall teams that want to pay per agent and keep their WhatsApp Business app74/100$45/mocheapest plan for 3 agents
respond.io vs SleekFlow · respond.io vs Superchat · All 11 WhatsApp customer service platforms
Sources
- respond.io pricing, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Channels, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Assignment strategy: automatic contact distribution, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Collaborating with your team in Inbox, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Reports: Users, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Mobile app overview, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Workflows overview, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Managing AI knowledge sources, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- respond.io integrations, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Migrating from WhatsApp personal or WhatsApp Business app, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Webhooks, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- respond.io security, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- WhatsApp fees, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Send CSAT and save data, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- AI Agents, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
- Developer API, respond.io. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Website: respond.io · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with respond.io.