Respond.io is a capable multi-channel inbox and the closest thing here to a full omnichannel platform. On the two things this page is about — what it costs and who it adds a margin to — it is also the fairest comparison in the list.
| Tendabot | Respond.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $29/mo | $79/mo |
| Seats at entry | 3 | 5 |
| Margin on Meta's fees | None — Meta bills you directly | None |
| AI included | Included on every plan | Metered AI credits |
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $79/mo | 5 seats · unlimited contacts · $12 per extra seat |
| Growth | $159/mo | 10 seats · from 1,000 monthly active contacts · $20 per extra seat |
| Advanced | $279/mo | 10 seats · from 1,000 monthly active contacts · $24 per extra seat |
Respond.io's published list prices, checked on 30 September 2026 against their own pricing page. Prices change without notice — follow the link before you decide, and tell us if we have something wrong.
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/mo | 3 seats · 500 AI replies · 5,000 broadcasts |
| Pro | $99/mo | 10 seats · 3,000 AI replies · 15,000 broadcasts |
| Scale | $299/mo | 50 seats · 15,000 AI replies · unlimited broadcasts |
Extra seats $12/month, extra broadcasts $29 per 5,000, on any plan. AI usage is passed through at exact provider cost — one credit is one cent of real model spend.
If one of these is your deciding factor, buy theirs. We would rather you were happy somewhere else than unhappy here.
Respond.io is the fairest comparison on this list, so a Respond.io alternative is usually about price rather than a missing feature: $79/mo for the first seat against $29, and Growth or Advanced tiers that start at 1,000 monthly active contacts. Tendabot charges for AI replies, not contacts, so a large list that messages rarely costs nothing extra — and Meta’s fees are passed through at cost.
For a team that wants AI included from $29/mo and does not need Respond.io’s wider channel list, yes. You are charged for AI replies rather than active contacts, WhatsApp keeps working on your phone through Coexistence, and Meta’s fees carry no markup. If you need Instagram or Telegram in the same inbox today, Respond.io still has the edge.
Any contact you exchange messages with in a billing month. Respond.io’s Starter plan includes unlimited; Growth and Advanced start from 1,000 and you add blocks beyond that.
No — like Tendabot, they pass Meta’s charges through. On that specific point the two products are equivalent.