ManyChat's free plan is a good way to try Instagram automation. It is also smaller than many people assume. Here is what it includes, based on ManyChat's pricing page in October 2026.
What the free plan includes
- 25 active contacts per month
- 2 channels (for example Instagram and Messenger)
- Up to 4 live automation triggers
- 1 user and 1 inbox seat
- "Powered by Manychat" on first messages to each contact
- No credit card required
The limit that matters: 25 contacts
Every person who interacts with your automation in a month is a contact. With comment-to-DM, that means every commenter who gets a DM. A reel with 40 matching comments uses the whole month's allowance.
When the limit is reached on the free plan, the automation stops for new contacts. There is no pay-as-you-go top-up on the free plan.
Branding
"Powered by Manychat" appears on the first message to each contact. For personal creators this rarely matters. For a brand, it tells customers you are on a free plan.
Triggers
Four live triggers can cover a few posts or keywords. For most small accounts, contacts run out before triggers do.
When you outgrow it
You have outgrown the free plan when:
- Your best reel regularly gets more than a few dozen comments
- You want different keywords on more than four posts
- You do not want branding on messages
At that point, compare ManyChat's paid plans with alternatives on your real numbers. See ManyChat pricing in India and per-contact vs flat pricing.
Other free plans to compare
Free plans differ a lot. Some comment-to-DM tools limit automations or DMs per month instead of contacts, which suits viral reels better. DM Flow's free plan runs one live automation with no branding in messages (the follow-gate starts on Growth); limits are on the pricing page. See auto DM on Instagram for free.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Does the free plan expire?
No, it is a free plan, not a trial.
Can I remove the branding on the free plan?
Not according to ManyChat's pricing page.
What counts as one contact?
One person who interacted with your automations in the month, however many messages they received.
Is the free plan enough to learn ManyChat?
Yes, for building and testing flows. For live use on a busy account, usually not.