WhatsApp marketing tool comparison
We compare starting price, whether WhatsApp is actually included at that price, and native channels across six platforms commonly evaluated for a conversational marketing project: Callbell, ManyChat, Respond.io, Trengo, Wati, Zendesk.
Last checked: 2026-08-07. We re-check this table periodically against each vendor's own official site — it isn't a one-time snapshot. There's no single "winner": each tool charges for something different (seats, active contacts, conversations, or templates), so real cost depends on your volume and your team.
| Criteria | Callbell | ManyChat | Respond.io | Trengo | Wati | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $15/user/mo (Multiagent Chat) | From ~$15/mo based on active contacts (up to $199+/mo at higher volume) | From $79/mo (Starter, 5 users) | From €349/mo (€299/mo billed annually), 10 users | From $39/mo ($29/mo annual), 3 users | From €19/agent/mo (Support Team) — but without messaging |
| Is WhatsApp included at that price? | Not included: a separate paid channel, from ~$54/mo per line | Not in the base plan: a separate add-on (~$25–100+/mo) plus Meta's per-template fees | Included from the Starter plan | Included (WhatsApp Business API) | Included, but billed separately per conversation/message by country | Requires the Suite Team plan, from €55/agent/mo |
| Native channels | Messenger included; Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram are billed as extra lines ($22–54+/mo each) | Built primarily for Instagram and Messenger marketing automation; WhatsApp is the channel bolted on afterward | Broad multichannel inbox (WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and more) already on the entry plan | Full multichannel inbox (email, SMS, WhatsApp, web chat) from the entry plan | WhatsApp-only: no native multichannel inbox | Broad omnichannel inbox once on a Suite plan (Team or above) |
| Worth knowing | The lowest sticker price on this list, but it only covers the base inbox. Turning on WhatsApp with broadcast typically adds $120+/mo per line (channel + $65.55/mo broadcast module). | Price scales with active-contact volume, not team seats. Built more for automation funnels than a team support inbox. | Starter caps at 1,000 monthly active contacts (MAC); "AI Agents" and full automation only unlock on Growth ($159/mo, unlimited MACs). | Entry pricing has risen sharply since it was last publicly checked. Boost caps at 500 conversations/mo; overage is €18/100 conversations, plus a €0.30 surcharge per AI-assisted conversation. | Advanced automation and AI are only available from the Pro plan up ($129/mo, $99 annual). | The cheapest plan is tickets-and-email only. The "Copilot" AI assistant is a separate paid add-on (+€50/agent/mo) even on Suite plans. |
A quick note on each one
Callbell
The lowest sticker price on this list, but it only covers the base inbox. Turning on WhatsApp with broadcast typically adds $120+/mo per line (channel + $65.55/mo broadcast module).
Starting price: From $15/user/mo (Multiagent Chat)
Callbell's official site →ManyChat
Price scales with active-contact volume, not team seats. Built more for automation funnels than a team support inbox.
Starting price: From ~$15/mo based on active contacts (up to $199+/mo at higher volume)
ManyChat's official site →Respond.io
Starter caps at 1,000 monthly active contacts (MAC); "AI Agents" and full automation only unlock on Growth ($159/mo, unlimited MACs).
Starting price: From $79/mo (Starter, 5 users)
Respond.io's official site →Trengo
Entry pricing has risen sharply since it was last publicly checked. Boost caps at 500 conversations/mo; overage is €18/100 conversations, plus a €0.30 surcharge per AI-assisted conversation.
Starting price: From €349/mo (€299/mo billed annually), 10 users
Trengo's official site →Wati
Advanced automation and AI are only available from the Pro plan up ($129/mo, $99 annual).
Starting price: From $39/mo ($29/mo annual), 3 users
Wati's official site →Zendesk
The cheapest plan is tickets-and-email only. The "Copilot" AI assistant is a separate paid add-on (+€50/agent/mo) even on Suite plans.
Starting price: From €19/agent/mo (Support Team) — but without messaging
Zendesk's official site →FAQs about this comparison
Why does the starting price vary so much between these tools?
Each vendor charges for something different: some by agent seat, some by monthly active contacts, some per conversation or template sent. A low starting price doesn't always mean a low final cost — check what that first plan actually includes before comparing it to another.
Is WhatsApp included in all of these tools?
Not the same way. In Wati, Trengo, and Respond.io, WhatsApp is on the entry plan (though with different limits or per-conversation fees). In Callbell and ManyChat it's a paid channel separate from the base price. In Zendesk, you need the Suite Team plan to get it at all.
Are these prices exact and final?
They're public prices read directly from each vendor's own official site on 2026-08-07. Vendors change plans often — several figures in this table have already changed since we last checked it. Always confirm the current price on the provider's own site before deciding.
Does MarketingForWhatsapp recommend a specific one of these tools?
No. We don't sell or operate any of the tools listed, and we don't earn a commission for mentions on this page. The goal is to let you compare with the same yardstick, not to crown a single winner — the best fit depends on your conversation volume, your team, and how much weight you put on having WhatsApp included from day one.