If you’re running a business, chances are you’re using WhatsApp, Messenger, or another messaging app to talk to customers. The challenge is to manage those conversations across different channels. Especially doing it in a way that actually drives sales.
That’s where Respond.io can be useful. Respond.io is an omnichannel messaging platform that brings all your chats into one place. On top of that, it offers powerful tools like workflow automation, broadcasts, and AI Agents.
In this Respond.io review, I’ll cover what the platform is, how it works, its pricing, AI features, and whether it’s worth using for your business.
Let’s dive in!
Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Respond.io is a powerful omnichannel messaging platform built for businesses that want more than just live chat.
It combines an all-in-one inbox with workflow automation, broadcasts, and AI Agents. So, it’s easier to manage conversations and move leads toward becoming customers. The lifecycle view in the inbox and support for many channels set it apart from many other chatbot tools.
Respond.io doesn’t have a free plan, but you can try it out with a 7-day free trial on any plan. Paid plans start at $79/month, with automation and AI available from $159/month.
Pros
- Easy-to-use Flow Builder
- Omnichannel Inbox with lifecycle stages
- Built-in AI Agents
- Connects with Websites, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram & 8 more channels
- Integrations with Zapier, Make & More
- Many reports to track performance
Cons
- Too expensive for small business
- Automations and integrations only from $159/month plan
- Not really clear how AI Agents & Workflows work together
What is Respond.io?
Respond.io is an all-in-one messaging platform that helps businesses manage customer conversations across multiple channels in a single inbox.
Instead of switching between apps, you can connect:
- Facebook Messenger & Instagram
- Telegram, Viber, Line, WeChat
- SMS and Email
This makes Respond.io a true omnichannel solution. It gives businesses one dashboard for nearly every messaging channel customers use.
When it comes to Respond.io features, the platform does more than just centralize chats. It also includes:
- A visual Flow Builder for creating automated workflows
- A lifecycle view in the inbox (from lead → customer)
- Broadcasts to re-engage customers
- AI Agents for automated sales and support
Respond.io combines inbox + automation + AI, all in one platform.
How does Respond.io work?
When you first log in to Respond.io, you’ll land on the dashboard. This gives you a quick overview of your account, along with a left-hand navigation menu where you can access the main tools:
- Dashboard – a snapshot of your conversations and activity
- Inbox – where you manage live chats
- Contacts – a database of all your leads and customers
- Broadcasts – tools for bulk messaging
- Workflows – the Flow Builder for automation
- Reports – analytics and performance tracking
- Settings – for managing integrations, users, and preferences
Flow Builder
The Flow Builder is where you design automated workflows. Each flow starts with a trigger (like a customer sending a WhatsApp message) and then branches into different actions.
Available actions include:
- Asking questions and capturing customer details
- Assigning conversations to specific team members
- Adding conditions and branching logic
- Updating contact information
- Triggering other workflows
- Adding AI-powered steps (via AI Objectives, more on that later)
The interface is visual and flexible, similar to tools like ManyChat. You can even test flows directly on the connected channel (e.g., WhatsApp), though there’s no built-in interface preview.
The only notable limitation: no A/B testing, which means you can’t easily experiment with different versions of a flow.
Inbox (with Lifecycle View)
The Inbox is where live conversations happen. But unlike many chatbot platforms that are purely support-focused, Respond.io’s Inbox includes a lifecycle view.
That means contacts move through stages like:
- New Lead
- Hot Lead
- Customer
This makes Respond.io stand out. Instead of treating chats only as support tickets, the platform positions them as part of the customer journey. This helps businesses drive sales as well as support.
You can also hand over conversations seamlessly from a chatbot to a live agent.
Broadcasts
Respond.io also supports broadcast messaging. So, you can send bulk messages to re-engage contacts.
This is especially useful for:
- Announcing new products or promotions
- Following up with leads
- Reminding customers about appointments or events
One limitation: you’ll need to connect an actual channel (like WhatsApp) before you can fully set up a broadcast. So there’s no way to preview the feature without that step.
Ease of Use
One thing worth mentioning is Respond.io’s onboarding experience. The platform includes product tours and pop-ups that explain each feature the first time you use it.
This makes it easier for beginners to get started without outside help. Even though Respond.io is packed with features, these built-in guides soften the learning curve.
Flow Builder Create chatbot dialogs with a visual flow builder. | |
| Ease of useHow easy is it to use the platform? On a scale of 1 to 5. | 4.5 |
| Ease of setupHow easy is it to set up your chatbot? On a scale of 1 to 5. | 4.5 |
| Test chatbotIs it possible to test the chatbot before putting your new flows or changes live? |
Respond.io Pricing Plans
Respond.io doesn’t offer a free plan, but you do get a 7-day free trial on every tier.
Pricing starts at $79/month for the Inbox plan. This includes live chat for up to 5 users and unlimited contacts across all supported channels. While 5 users is generous, this plan is quite limited. Automation and AI aren’t included.
To unlock the “real” Respond.io features, you’ll need the Growth plan, which starts at $159/month. This tier gives you access to workflows, automation, AI Agents, and AI Objectives. Higher tiers increase the number of contacts you can manage. For example, 5,000 contacts costs $219/month.
All the mentioned prices refer to yearly billing, which gets you a 20% discount.
So, Respond.io is not cheap. For small businesses, $79/month for just live chat is hard to justify. But for medium or enterprise teams, the price can make sense, especially if automation and AI replace hours of manual work.
| Free trialDoes the chatbot platform provide a free trial? | |
| Free planDoes the chatbot platform provide a free plan? | |
| Price per monthWhat is the lowest price per month to create a chatbot with this platform? In US Dollars. | $159 |
| Monthly pricing available?Is it possible to pay monthly? | |
| Money back guaranteeIs there a money-back guarantee in case you are not satisfied with the platform? |
Respond.io AI Agents
Respond.io comes with two AI-powered tools that go beyond standard live chat.
The first are AI Agents. You can set these up from templates (like sales, support, or receptionist) or build one from scratch.
They can be trained on your own data, such as website content or uploaded documents. So, they automatically answer customer questions.
AI Agents aren’t just for support either. They can also qualify leads and even handle sales conversations.
The second feature is called AI Objectives. These are steps you can add inside workflows. They allow Respond.io to collect information in a natural way.
For example, let’s say a customer says: “My name is Sarah, my email is sarah@email.com, and I’d like to book a demo. Now, the AI can extract all of that information and pass it to the next step. AI Objectives can also be used to answer FAQs automatically.
Together, AI Agents and AI Objectives make Respond.io a strong option for businesses that want AI-driven automation across multiple channels.
Is Respond.io worth it?
So, should you use Respond.io to manage customer conversations across channels?
Yes, if you’re a medium or enterprise business that wants an all-in-one platform for messaging, automation, and AI.
Respond.io is especially worth it if you want to:
- Manage WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, SMS, and email in one inbox
- Automate customer workflows with a flexible flow builder
- Use AI Agents to handle sales or support conversations
- Send broadcasts to re-engage leads and customers
The platform stands out for its lifecycle view in the inbox, which makes it easier to track leads and move them toward becoming customers. That sales-driven focus sets Respond.io apart from many chatbot platforms that only focus on support.
To get started with Respond.io, click the button below:
On top of that, you also get:
- An omnichannel inbox with unlimited contacts
- A visual flow builder for advanced automation
- AI Agents and AI Objectives for smarter conversations
- Built-in product tours that make onboarding simple
But there are drawbacks. The pricing is steep. $79/month for just live chat, and $159/month to unlock automation and AI. Respond.io also doesn’t have a free plan, only a 7-day trial. For small businesses, that can be tough, especially if they only use a single channel.
If you’re a growing business with multiple channels and a need for automation, Respond.io can be worth the investment. But if you’re a small business looking for a budget-friendly solution, there are other more affordable options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the free plan features of Respond.io?
Respond.io doesn’t have a free plan. Instead, it offers a 7-day free trial on all paid tiers so you can test the platform before committing.
Is Respond.io safe?
Yes. Respond.io is a secure platform with enterprise-level safeguards. It’s fully GDPR compliant, and it uses encryption and follows industry best practices to keep customer data safe.
How much does Respond.io cost?
Pricing starts at $79/month for the Inbox plan, which includes live chat for up to 5 users. To access automation and AI features, you’ll need the Growth plan, starting at $159/month (billed annually).
What is Respond.io used for?
Respond.io is an omnichannel messaging platform. It helps businesses manage conversations from WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, SMS, email, and more. And it’s all in one inbox. It’s designed for both customer support and sales.
Is Respond.io good for small businesses?
Not really. With pricing starting at $79/month, Respond.io is often too expensive for small businesses. It’s better suited for medium to large companies that can fully benefit from its automation and AI.
Is Respond.io easy to learn?
It’s fairly easy, yes. Respond.io includes product tours and pop-ups that guide you through features step by step. This makes it beginner-friendly, even though the platform offers advanced functionality.
