respond.io vs Interakt: several channels or a WhatsApp store
respond.io is a multichannel inbox priced in dollars by users and contacts; Interakt is a WhatsApp store tool priced in rupees with printed message rates.
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- By WavesFlo team
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respond.io and Interakt overlap on WhatsApp and little else. respond.io is a multichannel inbox for WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and email, priced in dollars by plan, users and monthly active contacts. Interakt is a store tool for WhatsApp and Instagram, priced in rupees, with catalogs, a checkout bot and per-message rates printed by plan.
How do respond.io and Interakt compare?
| Compared on | respond.io | Interakt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79, $159, $279 a month billed yearly; $99, $199, $349 billed monthly | Growth ₹2,799 and Advanced ₹3,799 a month plus taxes |
| Unit | Plan, users and monthly active contacts | Plan and message rate; unlimited agents |
| Channels | WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, email | WhatsApp and Instagram |
| Message fees | Not in any plan; WhatsApp credit topped up separately | Printed per message by plan |
| Free trial | 7 days, no card, Growth features, no broadcasts | Offered on Starter; length not stated |
| Store features | Not the focus | Catalogs, checkout bot, WhatsApp Pay, Shopify flows |
| API | Developer API from Growth; webhooks on Advanced | Advanced webhooks |
What is the real difference between respond.io and Interakt?
- Breadth versus depth. respond.io wins when WhatsApp is one channel of several; Interakt when WhatsApp is the shop.
- Bills grow on different things: contacts and users at respond.io, message volume at Interakt.
- Currency matters: dollars and yearly billing against rupees plus taxes.
How do they fit three kinds of team?
| Team shape | respond.io | Interakt |
|---|---|---|
| 5 agents, 1 number | Starter, $79 billed yearly or $99 monthly | Growth, ₹2,799 a month plus taxes |
| 15 agents | Growth, $259 billed yearly | Unlimited agents on the plans |
| WhatsApp and TikTok together | The centre | Not offered |
Which should you pick, respond.io or Interakt?
Pick respond.io if:
- You answer customers on several channels.
- Workflows, AI and a developer API on a mid tier are the point.
- Monthly active contacts is a count you can estimate.
Pick Interakt if:
- You sell online and take orders in WhatsApp.
- You want the message rate printed.
- Agents are many and you do not want to pay by the seat.
What should you test in a trial or demo?
- Count your channels: if only WhatsApp, respond.io's breadth is unused.
- Run one order through Interakt's checkout.
- Ask respond.io how a broadcast recipient counts as an active contact.
- Convert both bills to one currency before comparing.
What are respond.io and Interakt not built for?
Neither is built around many WhatsApp numbers, since respond.io states no number count on its pricing page and Interakt states none either. WavesFlo works on WhatsApp alone and gathers every number a business runs into one inbox, each chat labelled with its number, with a quote set on numbers and team members.
Questions
Is respond.io or Interakt better for an online store?
Interakt, which builds catalogs, a checkout bot and WhatsApp Pay into its plans.
Which supports more channels?
respond.io: WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and email. Interakt covers WhatsApp and Instagram.
Which charges per agent?
respond.io includes 5 or 10 users and charges for extra. Interakt lists unlimited agents on its plans.
Which has the lower WhatsApp message cost?
Neither includes WhatsApp's charges in the plan; Interakt prints its per-message rates and respond.io tops up credit separately.