WhatsApp is not a paywalled add-on here not a paywalled add-on
ManyChat cut its free plan to 25 contacts and two channels in March 2026, and WhatsApp only unlocks on a paid tier above that. Dunefox combines WhatsApp automation and Instagram DM automation with Messenger, Telegram, and web chat from day one.
Dunefox
- channels included by default
- 5
- of routine queries handled by AI
- 90%
- intent score on every lead
- 0 to 100
ManyChat
- WhatsApp on the free plan
- Paid tiers only
- Free plan contact or channel limit
- 25 contacts, 2 channels
- AI chatbot trained on your content
- Flow builder, not grounded AI
Dunefox vs ManyChat
ManyChat is a contact-based automation builder. Dunefox is an AI agent that reads your content and answers across every channel by default.
| Capability | Dunefox | ManyChat |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp on the free plan | Included | Paid tiers only |
| Free plan contact or channel limit | No hard cap | 25 contacts, 2 channels |
| AI chatbot trained on your content | Included | Flow builder, not grounded AI |
| Website chat widget | Included | Not core |
| Shared team inbox | Yes | Yes |
| Broadcast campaigns | Yes | Yes |
| Built in CRM and lead scoring | Included | Not core |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plan | Per active contact, plus overage |
Reflects ManyChat's publicly documented plan limits, including the March 2026 free-plan reduction, as of August 2026. ManyChat sets exact prices and limits on its own pricing page; verify current figures there before deciding.
What a ManyChat plan actually costs
ManyChat pricing scales by active contacts, and the free tier changed sharply in 2026.
The free plan shrank hard
Free now covers 25 active contacts across Instagram and Messenger only. Before March 2026 it was 1,000 contacts, a business that grew comfortably on free before may not fit it anymore.
WhatsApp needs a paid tier
WhatsApp and SMS are not available on the free or entry Essential plan, they open up from Pro upward, on top of the subscription price.
Meta bills WhatsApp separately either way
Whichever platform runs your WhatsApp automation, Meta charges per conversation on top, this fee is identical everywhere and is not a ManyChat or Dunefox markup.
An AI agent, not a flow you have to build
ManyChat automates with flows you design block by block. Dunefox reads your website and answers, with flows available for what needs an exact script.
Where Dunefox wins
Answers grounded in your own content
Point the AI at your website and it answers from what it finds there, rather than needing every reply mapped out as a flow beforehand.
Every channel, one price
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram and web chat are all included, so growth in contacts does not mean paying to unlock a channel you already need.
Leads scored, not just tagged
Every conversation gets an intent score from 0 to 100, closer to what a CRM does than a chat automation tool.
No per-contact billing surprise
A flat plan means growing your audience does not mean a rising bill for the platform itself, on top of Meta's own conversation fees.
One bot that actually understands, not a decision tree
A ManyChat flow follows the exact path you built and nothing else. The AI reads and responds to what a customer actually wrote, even when it does not match a script.
Choose ManyChat if
ManyChat has built years of Instagram-specific automation depth that a general omnichannel platform does not try to match block for block.
Your funnel runs almost entirely on Instagram, comment-to-DM triggers and story-mention replies are the actual job, not a channel among several.
You need a visual, block-by-block flow builder to hand-design an exact automation sequence rather than let an AI answer from your content.
Your contact volume is comfortably under 25 active contacts and you have no near-term need for WhatsApp.
Moving off ManyChat
- 1
Connect your channels
Add WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or Telegram from the dashboard, each is included rather than gated behind a higher tier.
- 2
Point the AI at your content
Instead of rebuilding every flow by hand, let the AI read your website and existing help content to start answering the routine questions.
- 3
Keep any flow that needs an exact script
Where a specific sequence matters, booking confirmations, a fixed onboarding path, rebuild that as a flow, and let the AI handle everything else.
What runs across these channels
Questions about switching from ManyChat
Is ManyChat really free?
Only up to a point. Since March 2026, ManyChat's free plan covers 25 active contacts across Instagram and Facebook Messenger, down from 1,000 contacts before that change, and WhatsApp is not available on it at all. Most businesses outgrow 25 contacts quickly, at which point Essential, Pro or Business becomes a real monthly cost. Dunefox does not price by contact count, so growing your audience does not change what you pay for the platform itself.
What is the best ManyChat alternative?
ManyChat is built primarily for Instagram and Facebook Messenger marketing automation. If you need that same automation but also want WhatsApp's official Business API, a customer support inbox, ticketing, and a built-in CRM in the same platform, Dunefox is a strong alternative. It covers Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, and your website from one AI engine rather than treating each channel as a separate tool.
Does Dunefox support Instagram and Facebook automation like ManyChat?
Yes. The same AI agent, trained on your content, answers on Instagram DMs and Facebook Messenger, alongside Telegram and the official WhatsApp Business API, with every conversation landing in one shared inbox rather than a separate tool per channel.
Is Dunefox cheaper than ManyChat?
ManyChat prices primarily by contact volume on its paid tiers, which can climb quickly as your audience grows. Dunefox's plans start with a free 14-day trial and then from $39/month, covering AI automation, a shared inbox, CRM, and support tooling together rather than as separate add-ons. Compare based on your actual contact volume and the channels you need. WhatsApp Business API access in particular is not ManyChat's core strength.
Can Dunefox do WhatsApp automation, unlike ManyChat?
Dunefox is built around the official WhatsApp Business API as a first-class channel, not an add-on, including broadcast campaigns, AI chatbot replies, and shared inbox support on WhatsApp specifically. ManyChat added WhatsApp support later, but its product depth there is more limited than its Instagram/Messenger tooling.
Is Dunefox good for lead generation like ManyChat?
Yes. Dunefox includes lead qualification and a built-in CRM, so a conversation that starts on Instagram or WhatsApp can be automatically scored, tagged, and routed to your sales team without a separate integration. This is aimed squarely at businesses using chat channels to generate and qualify leads, not just run marketing broadcasts.
Can I migrate my ManyChat automations to Dunefox?
Automation flows themselves aren't directly importable between platforms, since each uses its own flow-builder format, but your Instagram and Facebook Page connections carry over easily, and Dunefox's onboarding helps you rebuild your core flows quickly using its no-code builder. A free trial lets you test rebuilding your top flows before committing.
Stop paying per contact to keep WhatsApp on
Start the 14 day free trial and connect every channel from day one. No card needed.