Why Does ManyChat Get More Expensive as Your Contacts Grow? And Fixed-Price Alternatives

The Problem

You may start using ManyChat at a reasonable cost, then notice that your bill increases as the number of active contacts grows during the month. The issue is not the growth of your account itself, but that the pricing model relies on usage limits linked to the number of Active Contacts included in the plan. Once you exceed the limit, the cost becomes less predictable, especially for accounts that rely on seasonal engagement campaigns or posts that suddenly gain traction.

Solution Steps

1. 1

   First, check the pricing model applied to your account, because the available plans may vary depending on when the account was created and the region, and because the Active Contacts system does not apply in the same way to every account.

2. 2

   Monitor the number of active contacts each month instead of relying only on the total number of contacts, because exceeding the allowance included in the plan may lead to additional charges.

3. 3

   Calculate the cost of growth before launching campaigns, especially if you expect high engagement or a sudden increase in the number of people entering the automation.

4. 4

   Compare the features you actually need. ManyChat may be suitable if you need advanced automation or multiple channels, while a specialized tool such as DegoChat may be more suitable if your needs focus on automating and converting Instagram comments into Direct Messages at a fixed price.

5. 5

   Review your bill and results every month, and compare the cost with the number of conversations and leads you actually benefited from, so you can determine whether the current plan is still suitable or whether you need a more predictable alternative.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✕

  Choosing a plan or pricing model without understanding the limits and charges applied to the account may lead to unexpected bills, especially because the details may vary depending on the plan or when the account was created. The better approach is to review the billing page and the actual limits before running any campaign.

• ✕

  Focusing on the number of followers instead of the number of active contacts may give you an inaccurate view of the cost. An increase in followers does not necessarily mean a higher bill, while a rise in Active Contacts may affect it directly. The better approach is to monitor the number the platform actually uses for billing.

• ✕

  Expecting the cost to remain fixed as usage increases may lead you to choose an unsuitable plan, because successful campaigns may increase the number of active contacts and add new charges. The better approach is to estimate the cost of growth in advance and compare it with a fixed-price option when needed.

When You Need a Tool

You can manage replies manually when engagement is limited and the number of conversations is small. A tool becomes useful when the number of comments and messages increases, or when you need to send links and collect lead data in an organized way. The goal is not to replace human communication, but to reduce repetitive tasks, maintain a fast response time without losing important conversations, and build a contact list that you can retarget later.

Deep Dive

What Does an Active Contact Mean in ManyChat?

An active contact is someone who has interacted with your account through ManyChat during the current billing cycle, such as by sending a Direct Message, commenting on a post, or interacting with one of the automations. Your total number of followers is not automatically included in this figure, and contacts who do not interact during the month remain stored but are not counted as active contacts in that cycle.

How Do Overage Charges Affect the Bill?

Each paid plan under the new pricing system includes a specific number of active contacts per month. When that number is exceeded, the automation continues to run,

but an additional fee is charged for each extra active contact.

The fee amount varies by plan, so the bill may rise quickly after a successful campaign or a sudden increase in engagement, even when the base subscription remains unchanged.

When Is Fixed Pricing More Suitable Than Usage-Based Pricing?

Fixed pricing is more suitable when you need to predict your monthly expenses clearly, or when engagement levels vary from one month to another. Usage-based pricing may be suitable if you need advanced features and genuinely benefit from the increase in active contacts. The right decision depends on comparing your actual needs, the number of channels, and the complexity of the automation, rather than looking at the base price alone.

Why DegoChat

DegoChat is suitable for account owners who focus on automatically converting Instagram comments into Direct Messages without needing a multi-platform tool. The platform uses a fixed monthly price that is not linked to the number of contacts, while supporting email collection and the addition of links and tags within the automation.

Frequently Asked Questions