"Which should I choose?"

Someone's trying to pick an Instagram automation tool and they're stuck between ManyChat and Heyy.

I get it. Both tools look good on paper. Both promise to automate your Instagram DMs and save you hours. Both have impressive case studies and testimonials.

But they solve different problems. 

I've used both tools extensively and I’ll give you an honest breakdown of what these tools do and who they're actually for.

Let's get into it.

Choose This If You're in a Hurry…

Choose ManyChat if:

• You only need Instagram and Facebook automation
• You're on a tight budget ($15/month minimum)
• You want something simple and marketing-focused
• You're primarily running broadcast campaigns

Choose Heyy if:

• You get messages across Instagram, WhatsApp, website chat, and Facebook
• You need one unified inbox for all customer conversations
• You want context when customers message you on multiple platforms
• You need automation that feels more conversational

Now let's dig into why.

What ManyChat Is

ManyChat started in 2015 as a Facebook Messenger bot builder. Instagram automation came later. It's built primarily for marketers running campaigns and broadcasts.

The platform is visual and intuitive. You build conversation flows by dragging and dropping blocks. No coding required. Connect it to Instagram, create some automated replies and you're live in under an hour.

ManyChat's core strengths:

• So simple to learn 
• Strong for marketing campaigns and list building
• Affordable. You pay $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts
• Active community with tons of templates and tutorials
• Native integration with Facebook and Instagram ads

Where ManyChat falls short:

• Limited to social media (no website chat, email, or SMS in one platform)
• Basic customer support functionality
• Gets expensive as you scale (pricing jumps at 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 contacts)
• Conversations are limited per channel

What Heyy Is

Heyy launched with a different idea in mind: customers don't live on one platform, so why should your inbox?

It's built as a unified customer messaging platform. Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, website chat, and email all flow into one inbox. When someone messages you on Instagram Monday and hits your website chat Wednesday, you see it's the same person.

Heyy's core strengths:

• You have all conversations in one place
• Context preservation across platforms
• Built-in CRM functionality
• Smart automation that feels conversational
• Scales from solo founders to enterprise teams

Where Heyy falls short:

• Higher starting price ($49/month)
• More features means slightly longer learning curve
• Might be alot if you literally only use Instagram

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Let's compare these two for running a business.

Instagram Automation Capabilities

ManyChat:

• Automated DM responses
• Comment-to-DM automation
• Story mention replies
• Instagram Shopping integration
• Growth tools for collecting subscribers
• Broadcast messages to your list

Heyy:

• Automated DM responses
• Comment automation
• Story mention replies
• Instagram Shopping integration
• Conversation routing based on intent
• Seamless human handoff with full context

Winner: Tie for pure Instagram features. Both handle the basics well.

Multi-Channel Support

ManyChat:

• Instagram
• Facebook Messenger
• Limited SMS (requires separate pricing)
• No native website chat
• No email integration

Heyy:

• Instagram
• Facebook Messenger
• WhatsApp
• Website chat widget
• Email (unified in same inbox)

Winner: Heyy, and it's not close. If you use more than just Instagram, Heyy's multi-channel feature saves you time.

Conversation Context & History

ManyChat: Each channel is separate. If someone messages you on Instagram then Facebook, ManyChat treats them as two different people. You're starting from scratch each time.

Heyy: Complete conversation history across all channels. Someone asks about pricing on Instagram Monday, you can see that when they email Wednesday. It's one continuous conversation.

Winner: Heyy. Context always matters when you're trying to close deals.

Automation Builder

ManyChat: Visual flow builder with drag-and-drop blocks. Very intuitive. You can see the entire conversation flow at a glance. Great for marketers who aren't technical.

Heyy: Also visual and no-code, but with more sophisticated logic options. Can route based on customer history, intent, and behavior across channels.

Winner: Depends. ManyChat is simpler. Heyy is a little more advanced to learn. Pick based on your needs.

CRM Integration

ManyChat: Basic custom fields and tags. Integrates with external CRMs via Zapier or native connectors (HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.). But you're managing two systems.

Heyy: Built-in CRM functionality. Customer profiles, notes, tags, and conversation history all in one place. Less tool-switching.

Winner: Heyy if you want simplicity. ManyChat if you already have a CRM you love.

Team Collaboration

ManyChat: Limited team features. You can have multiple users, but no sophisticated assignment rules or internal notes system. It's built more for solopreneurs and small teams.

Heyy: Robust team collaboration. Assign conversations, add internal notes, set status (open/pending/closed), route to specific team members based on expertise.

Winner: Heyy for teams larger than 3 people.

Pricing Structure

ManyChat:

• Free: Up to 1,000 contacts
• Pro: $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts, then scales
• At 5,000 contacts: ~$45/month
• At 10,000 contacts: ~$75/month
• At 25,000 contacts: ~$145/month

Heyy:

• Starting at $49/month
• Usage-based pricing that scales with your business
• All channels included
• No per-contact charges

Winner: ManyChat if you're just starting and have under 1,000 contacts. Heyy if you're scaling or need multiple channels (where ManyChat + other tools would cost more).

Customer Support

ManyChat: Primarily self-service. Extensive knowledge base and community. Email support for paid plans. Chat support for higher tiers. Response times can be slow.

Heyy: Direct support team. Faster response times. More hands-on onboarding. Better for businesses that need help setting up.

Winner: Heyy if you value responsive support.

Real-World Use Cases: Who Should Use What

Let's get practical. Here are a few scenarios and which tool makes sense:

Scenario 1: E-commerce Store on Instagram Only

You run a Shopify store. 90% of customer questions come through Instagram DMs. Basic stuff: "Do you ship to Canada?" "When will this restock?" "Can I change my order?"

Best Choice: ManyChat

Why? You don't need multiple channels. ManyChat's Instagram automation handles these FAQs perfectly. The Shopify integration is smooth. And at $15/month, it's the most cost-effective solution.

Scenario 2: Service Business Getting Leads Everywhere

You're a marketing agency. Leads find you on Instagram, fill out your website form, message you on WhatsApp, and email your team. Same person, multiple touchpoints.

Best Choice: Heyy

Why? You need to see the complete journey. When a lead messages on Instagram, then fills out your website form three days later, Heyy shows you both interactions. You're not asking them the same qualifying questions twice.

Scenario 3: Solo Creator Building an Audience

You're a coach/consultant building your personal brand. You want to capture leads from Instagram, send them valuable content, and eventually sell your program.

Best Choice: ManyChat

Why? You're primarily doing marketing automation and broadcasts. ManyChat's growth tools and sequences work great for this. You don't need complex multi-channel support yet.

Scenario 4: Restaurant Taking Orders on Multiple Platforms

You take reservations via Instagram DMs, WhatsApp messages, and your website. Customers ask about menus, dietary restrictions, and availability across all channels.

Best Choice: Heyy

Why? You need one system to manage everything. When someone asks about gluten-free options on WhatsApp, then messages on Instagram to book, you want that context. Heyy unifies it.

Scenario 5: Growing E-commerce Brand

You started on Instagram but now you're on WhatsApp for international customers, Facebook for ads, and your website is getting traction. Managing four separate inboxes is chaos.

Best Choice: Heyy

Why? You've outgrown single-channel tools. The time saved from unified inbox pays for itself. Plus, the conversation context helps your team convert better.

My Honest Recommendation

If you're a solopreneur or small business using only Instagram and Facebook for customer communication, and you're on a tight budget, start with ManyChat. It's affordable, simple, and does what you need.

But the second you add another channel, whether that's WhatsApp, website chat, or email, switch to Heyy. The time you save from one inbox and conversation context will pay for the price difference within weeks.

If you're already juggling multiple tools (ManyChat + Tidio + some email tool + a CRM), calculate what you're actually paying. Heyy might cost less than your current stack while doing more.

For teams of 5+ people or businesses doing significant revenue through customer messaging, Heyy is worth it. The team collaboration and context preservation directly impact conversion rates.

The Migration Question

"I'm already on ManyChat with 3,000 subscribers. Should I switch?"

Depends on your pain points:

Don't switch if:

• ManyChat is working fine for your needs
• You're truly single-channel (Instagram only)
• Your team is comfortable with the current setup
• You're not experiencing lost conversations or context issues

Do switch if:

• You're managing 3+ customer communication channels
• Your team is constantly asking "did we already answer this?"
• You're losing track of conversations across platforms
• You're paying for multiple tools that Heyy could replace

Migration takes planning but it's not scary. Most businesses are fully switched within 2-3 weeks.

The Technical Stuff 

API Reliability:

Both use official Instagram APIs. Both are compliant with Meta's terms. Neither will get your account banned if used properly.

Data Security:

Both are SOC 2 compliant (or working toward it). Both use encryption. Both take security seriously.

Uptime:

ManyChat: 99.5%+ uptime historically
Heyy: 99.9%+ uptime according to users

Both are reliable. Neither will leave you dead in the water.

In Conclusion...

ManyChat is a great tool to start with. It's affordable, simple and perfect for a single-channel marketing automation.

Heyy is a growth tool. It's for businesses that have multiple customer touchpoints and need everything unified.

You're not picking forever. Many businesses start with ManyChat and graduate to Heyy when they scale. That's totally fine.

But if you're already dealing with multiple platforms when talking to your customers, save yourself the stress and start with Heyy now.

Start your free 14-day trial of Heyy and see what it's like when Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, website chat, and email live in one place. 

Or if you're just getting started and want to test automation first, try ManyChat free and see how Instagram automation feels. You can always scale up later.

‍