The alternative to ManyChat for customer service and sales on WhatsApp
ManyChat is the best tool on the market for automating marketing flows on Instagram and Facebook: its template community, visual editor, and free plan (25 contacts) have no equal in that space. But if your business runs primarily on WhatsApp and you need a conversational AI agent with an included CRM, ManyChat shows its limits: WhatsApp is only available from the Pro plan ($29/mo) and AI is a separate $29/mo add-on. LabsChats includes an AI agent, CRM, and 18+ channels — WhatsApp at the front — in a single price from $99/mo on the annual plan.
LabsChats vs ManyChat, head to head
What you pay and what you get on each platform, no fine print.
| Feature | LabsChats | ManyChat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (monthly) | From $99/mo (annual plan) | $14/mo (Essential, no WhatsApp); $29/mo (Pro, with WhatsApp) |
| AI included in base price | Yes, AI agent on all plans | Not in base plan; add-on $29/mo (AI Step) |
| Human support in Spanish | Yes, team based in Central America | Support mainly in English |
| Connected channels | WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, web and 18+ channels | Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp (from Pro), SMS, email |
| CRM included | Yes, contacts + funnels + multi-agent | Partial (tags + custom fields, no native funnels) |
| Implementation | 48 hours, included in annual plan | Not published |
| Guarantee | 7 days with a 100% refund | Not published |
| Trial | 7-day guarantee from day 1 | Free tier: 25 contacts (IG + FB only, no WhatsApp) |
| Target market | Latin American SMBs, in Spanish | Creators, e-commerce, and global digital marketing |
Prices verified: June 2026
When to choose ManyChat
- If Instagram or Facebook is your primary channel and you want to automate marketing flows with the largest template library on the market.
- If you want to start for free and test basic automation with up to 25 active contacts before committing budget.
- If your team already commands the ManyChat ecosystem and its integrations are critical to your IG/FB operations.
When to choose LabsChats
- If WhatsApp is your primary service or sales channel and you need a conversational AI agent — not just button flows — attending customers 24/7.
- If you want AI included from day one without add-ons: one price with WhatsApp, AI, and CRM inside.
- If you need a CRM with sales funnels, multi-agent, and metrics connected to the AI agent, all in a single panel.
- If you want to get started fast and risk-free: implementation in 48 hours included in the annual plan and a 7-day 100% money-back guarantee.
Pricing side by side
ManyChat offers a Free tier (25 contacts, Instagram and Facebook only, no WhatsApp). The Essential plan costs $14/mo (250 contacts) but also excludes WhatsApp. Connecting WhatsApp requires the Pro plan at $29/mo; adding conversational AI means the AI Step add-on at another $29/mo — bringing the real cost to $58/mo for WhatsApp with AI. LabsChats Flex includes WhatsApp, AI, CRM, and 18+ channels for $125/mo on monthly billing or $99/mo on the annual plan. Comparing monthly with WhatsApp and AI active: $58/mo (ManyChat Pro + AI Step) vs $125/mo (LabsChats Flex monthly) — the price difference favors ManyChat at that entry point, but LabsChats includes a full CRM with funnels and Spanish-language support that ManyChat does not offer at that price. (ManyChat blocks automated access to its pricing page; figures are from third-party sources verified in June 2026.)
Prices verified: June 2026
See also: WhatsApp CRM · WhatsApp API pricing guide
Frequently asked questions
Does ManyChat work with WhatsApp Business API?
Yes, but only from the Pro plan ($29/mo). The Free tier and the Essential plan ($14/mo) only cover Instagram and Facebook. If WhatsApp is your primary channel, you need ManyChat's Pro plan plus separate Meta messaging charges.
Does ManyChat include a conversational AI agent?
Not in the base plan. AI in ManyChat is activated with the AI Step add-on at an additional $29/mo on top of the Pro plan. LabsChats includes the full conversational AI agent in all plans at no extra cost. Prices verified June 2026.
Can I connect my WhatsApp number to LabsChats if I'm coming from ManyChat?
Yes. Your WhatsApp Business API number is portable — it is not tied to ManyChat. We migrate it to LabsChats in 48 hours, keeping the same number your customers already know.
Compare with your own business: 7-day guarantee
Activate your AI agent, connect it to your WhatsApp, and decide with real data. If it doesn't convince you in the first 7 days, we refund 100%.