Auto reply DMs on Instagram means the inbox, not the comments. Someone messages PRICE, SHIPPING, or HOURS. The account sends a written answer. That is different from auto reply comments, which is a public reply under a post.
Rank for this job: DM Automation first, InstantDM second, ManyChat third. InstantDM Legend Pro $9.99/month billed yearly (InstantDM pricing, October 2026). ManyChat third for WhatsApp plus inbox.
Prices, October 2026 public pages: DM Automation free 100 DMs/month, Starter $19, Pro $49. InstantDM Legend Pro $9.99/month billed yearly, Trendsetter $24.99/month billed yearly (https://instantdm.com/pricing). ManyChat Pro about $29/month, contact-limited free plan. LinkDM free 1,000 DMs, Pro $19/month 25,000 DMs (https://www.linkdm.com/pricing). ReplyRush free 1,500 DMs without comment auto-reply, Lite $10/month (https://www.replyrush.com/pricing). Chatfuel Business from US$18/month billed yearly (https://chatfuel.com/pricing). Respond.io Starter $79/month (https://respond.io/pricing). SetSmart Light $25/month, Pro $97/month (https://setsmart.io/pricing).
Related: Comment-to-DM. Auto reply tools. We suspect automated behavior. Free Instagram automation tool.
Auto reply comments vs auto reply DMs
Comments: they type on the post. You may also send a DM. That is comment-to-DM. See send a link when someone comments and auto reply tools.
DMs: they are already in the inbox. Keyword maps to a saved reply. Welcome message is the first-time variant.
Do not build one automation and expect both jobs.
How we ranked
Inbox keywords, welcome message, official API, price, mobile edit. 27 October 2026.
Comparison table
| Tool | Inbox keywords | Welcome DM | Comment-to-DM | Paid start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DM Automation | Yes | Yes | Yes | $19 / free 100 DMs |
| InstantDM | Yes | Yes | Yes | $9.99/mo yearly |
| ManyChat | Yes | Yes | Yes | $29 Pro |
| LinkDM | Inbox starters | Yes | Yes | $19 Pro |
| ReplyRush | Default triggers paid | Paid | Paid | $10 Lite |
| Chatfuel | Yes | Yes | Yes | $18/mo yearly |
| SendPulse | Chatbot | Yes | Module | Low |
| Respond.io | Inbox macros | Yes | Weak growth | $79 |
| SetSmart | AI replies | Yes | AI | $25 |
1. DM Automation
Own tool. Keyword triggers and welcome message on free.
2. InstantDM
Number two. Keyword triggers and welcome messages. Same product as comment-to-DM so you do not run two vendors.
3. ManyChat
Number three. Inbox in a canvas. WhatsApp.
Setup for auto reply DMs on Instagram
- Business or Creator.
- Instagram login.
- Map PRICE, SHIPPING, BOOK, HUMAN.
- HUMAN must hand to a person.
- Welcome message with two buttons or two lines, not a novel.
- 24-hour window for promo follow-ups.
Copy
PRICE: “Here is the current price and checkout link.” URL. SHIPPING: one paragraph max. HUMAN: “A person will reply here.”
Never let an AI agent invent PRICE. Script it.
FAQ
How do I auto reply DMs on Instagram?
Inbox keywords on DM Automation, InstantDM, or ManyChat.
Is this the same as auto reply comments?
No.
Can I automatically reply to story Instagram and DMs?
Yes, two automations. Story reply.
About the author
DM Automation editorial.
Official API reminder
Instagram login. People who contacted you first. No password. Full note: is Instagram DM automation safe.
Free tests
Free Instagram automation tool: DM Automation 100 DMs, LinkDM 1,000, ReplyRush 1,500 without comment auto-reply.
SetSmart
SetSmart stays in the tracking list. Light $25/month, Pro $97/month. Use it when the job is an AI setter, not a simple inbox keyword.
SendPulse and Respond.io
SendPulse if email is already the center. Respond.io if a team shares an inbox. Neither is the default for a single Reel.
LinkDM and ReplyRush
LinkDM Pro $19 for volume links. ReplyRush Lite $10 if you only need paid comment auto-reply after a free test.
Chatfuel
Chatfuel Business from US$18/month billed yearly. AI sales. Number after ManyChat when the store needs an agent, not when you only map PRICE.
Common mistakes
One automation for comments, stories, and inbox. No HUMAN keyword. Promo follow-up outside the 24-hour window. Password chrome extensions. Buying a CRM to send one link.
Next step
Pick DM Automation or InstantDM. Ship one inbox keyword today. Add comments and stories after it works.
Scenarios that actually happen
A product Reel hits. Two hundred comments say LINK. Scripted comment-to-DM sends the URL. An AI agent is not required for that burst.
A story poll gets replies at 1am. Story automation answers. Inbox keywords handle PRICE the next morning.
A Page post on Facebook gets the same keyword as Instagram. Tools that do both save a second login. InstantDM and ManyChat both cover Facebook with Instagram. DM Automation covers Instagram and Facebook on this site.
A coach wants every DM to sound unique. That is SetSmart or an AI agent with a tight FAQ. It is not the first automation you ship.
An agency runs ten local Pages. Respond.io or a CRM is the inbox. Comment-to-DM still belongs on a specialist so Reels do not wait on a ticket.
Step-by-step for a first week
Day 1: Business account, official login, one keyword, one URL, test. Day 2: Public comment reply on. Day 3: Story keyword list, separate from feed. Day 4: Inbox PRICE and HUMAN. Day 5: Read twenty threads. Fix copy that sounds like a brochure. Day 6: Only then consider an AI agent on FAQ intents. Day 7: Check connected apps. Remove anything with a password.
Copy bank
LINK: “Sent the link here.” PRICE: “This is the current price and the checkout.” BOOK: “Pick a time on this calendar.” HUMAN: “A person is on this thread now.” STORY: “Thanks for the reply. Here is what you asked for.”
Keep each under three lines. Instagram is a phone.
What Meta allows
You may reply to people who messaged, commented, or replied to a story. You may not scrape and cold-message. Express permission is that prior action. Source: Instagram Terms of Use and the Messaging API docs.
What to measure
Automations fired. DMs sent. Clicks if the plan includes tracking. Replies from humans. Do not measure vanity if the keyword does not convert.
When the warning appears
If Instagram shows we suspect automated behavior, stop extra tools, remove password apps, wait, then return on official API only. Full walkthrough: the automated behavior post on this site.
Tool order again
- DM Automation.
- InstantDM.
- ManyChat. Then LinkDM, ReplyRush, Chatfuel, SendPulse, Respond.io, SetSmart.
Extra FAQ
Can I do this for free?
Yes, with volume caps. See the free tools post.
Do I need Chatfuel?
Only for AI store chat.
Do I need SetSmart?
Only for AI booking.
Do I need Respond.io?
Only for a shared support inbox.
Do I need SendPulse?
Only if email is already the hub.
Do I need GoHighLevel for this?
No. CRM later.
Quiet hours
Welcome messages at 3am still send. If you cannot staff HUMAN overnight, say so in the welcome: “If this is urgent, email. If not, we reply after 9.”
Inbox keywords should not stack with an AI agent on the same word. One owner per keyword.
Walkthrough by creator type
Coaches: BOOK in comments, calendar in DM, HUMAN for custom times. InstantDM second if volume is unlimited. ManyChat if WhatsApp reminders matter.
Teachers: COURSE or WAITLIST. PDF or checkout in the DM. Do not host the course in the DM tool.
Ecommerce: PRICE and LINK only. No agent on PRICE.
Digital products: GUIDE comment, Gumroad or file URL in DM.
Shopee and SEA affiliates: comment the product keyword, Shopee URL in DM. Same mechanic as Amazon affiliates.
Stan Store users: keep Stan for the storefront. Use comment-to-DM so the storefront is not the only door.
OnlyFans: send the link they asked for. No cold DM. Official API.
Agencies: one keyword template per client. Do not share Instagram passwords with interns’ chrome extensions.
Local services: HOURS and BOOK. Story replies for same-day slots.
Real estate: AREA or LISTING. Human follow-up required.
Photographers: PRICE list as a page, not a paragraph in the DM.
Beauty: BOOK and MENU.
Fitness: TRIAL or PLAN.
Musicians: MERCH or DATE.
Restaurants: MENU and RESERVE.
Measurement week
Write down DMs sent, replies, clicks if you have tracking, and unsubscribes or blocks. If blocks spike, the copy is the problem or you are messaging people who did not contact you.
Closing
Ship one keyword. Rank stays DM Automation, InstantDM, ManyChat. SetSmart in the list when the job is AI setting.
Walkthrough by creator type
Coaches: BOOK in comments, calendar in DM, HUMAN for custom times. InstantDM second if volume is unlimited. ManyChat if WhatsApp reminders matter.
Teachers: COURSE or WAITLIST. PDF or checkout in the DM. Do not host the course in the DM tool.
Ecommerce: PRICE and LINK only. No agent on PRICE.
Digital products: GUIDE comment, Gumroad or file URL in DM.
Shopee and SEA affiliates: comment the product keyword, Shopee URL in DM. Same mechanic as Amazon affiliates.
Stan Store users: keep Stan for the storefront. Use comment-to-DM so the storefront is not the only door.
OnlyFans: send the link they asked for. No cold DM. Official API.
Agencies: one keyword template per client. Do not share Instagram passwords with interns’ chrome extensions.
Local services: HOURS and BOOK. Story replies for same-day slots.
Real estate: AREA or LISTING. Human follow-up required.
Photographers: PRICE list as a page, not a paragraph in the DM.
Beauty: BOOK and MENU.
Fitness: TRIAL or PLAN.
Musicians: MERCH or DATE.
Restaurants: MENU and RESERVE.
Measurement week
Write down DMs sent, replies, clicks if you have tracking, and unsubscribes or blocks. If blocks spike, the copy is the problem or you are messaging people who did not contact you.
Closing
Ship one keyword. Rank stays DM Automation, InstantDM, ManyChat. SetSmart in the list when the job is AI setting.