Respond.io

Respond.io pulls Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and the rest into a single queue, so a brand deal conversation does not get lost because it started on the wrong app. Routing and automation sit on top, and a person can take over from the bot mid-thread. Pricing counts the contacts you talk to each month, which punishes a big audience of light senders.

Priced on monthly active contacts, meaning people you exchange messages with rather than followers. At 1,000 contacts, Starter is $79 a month, Growth is $159 and adds campaign tracking and more automation, and Advanced is $279 with multiple workspaces. Yearly billing takes up to 20 percent off. The 7-day trial needs no card. Watch the contact slider before committing, because the price climbs steeply and a viral month is exactly when it moves.

A creator business with somebody answering messages full time, or a small team splitting that job. One person handling a manageable inbox is paying $79 a month to replace a habit.