BlipDM
ChatfuelWhat is BlipDM?
BlipDM is an Instagram DM automation tool for creators and small businesses. It replies to comments and story replies with a DM, answers your inbox, asks people to follow before they get the link, and collects emails and phone numbers.
It runs on Instagram's official API, and BlipDM is a Meta Tech Provider. Plans are Free, Pro at $3 a month and Elite at $6 a month.
What is Chatfuel?
Chatfuel is an AI chatbot platform for WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, with TikTok and website chat also among its channels. Its AI agent replies, qualifies leads, books appointments and follows up, next to a shared team inbox, CRM and integrations such as Google Sheets, Zapier and Stripe.
It has one Business plan at $20 a month, or $18 a month billed yearly, with $20 in AI credits a month and a 7-day free trial. Agency plans start at $100 a month.
Why Instagram-first creators pick BlipDM
For people whose customers find them on Instagram.
A free plan, not a 7-day trial
BlipDM Free includes 500 DMs a month and unlimited automation flows, with no credit card. Chatfuel starts with a 7-day free trial, and its pricing page lists paid plans only.
A fraction of the monthly bill
Pro is $3 a month with 50,000 DMs, and Elite is $6 a month with unlimited DMs. Chatfuel Business is $20 a month, so Elite costs less than a third of it.
No AI credits to keep an eye on
BlipDM sends the messages you write, so there is no AI allowance to run down. Chatfuel's AI replies use a monthly fair-use allowance, and the AI stops replying if you go over until you renew or the period resets.
Built only for Instagram
No knowledge base to write, and no channels or menus you will not use. Pick a post, set a keyword, write the DM and go live in a few minutes.
What you would actually pay
Chatfuel charges one flat price with AI credits included, and BlipDM prices by DMs, so here is the cost at each stage. A DM is one message BlipDM sends for you. Automations and contacts are unlimited on every plan and never counted.
| Scenario | BlipDM | Chatfuel |
|---|---|---|
| Just starting out | Free: 500 DMs a month, unlimited automations, no branding watermark, no card | 7-day free trial, then $20 a month (Business) |
| First paid plan | $3 a month (Pro): 50,000 DMs, unlimited automations and contacts | $20 a month, or $18 a month billed yearly (Business), with $20 in AI credits |
| Growing, a few thousand DMs a month | $3 a month while you send under 50,000 DMs | $20 a month, with unlimited contacts and unlimited non-AI messages |
| Established, over 50,000 DMs a month | $6 a month (Elite): unlimited DMs, automations and contacts | $20 a month; AI replies are capped by a monthly fair-use allowance |
| A month that goes viral | $6 a month on Elite, unchanged | $20 a month for keyword automations; if AI use passes the fair-use limit, AI replies pause until you renew or the period resets |
| WhatsApp, Facebook or TikTok too | Not offered (Instagram only) | All channels included in Business; Meta's WhatsApp message fees are charged separately |
Chatfuel details are from chatfuel.com/pricing, its usage limits page and chatfuel.com/instagram, checked on October 21, 2026. Prices are in US dollars; the yearly price of $18 a month is billed as $216 a year. Their pricing page does not say whether tax is included. BlipDM's yearly billing is $2.70 a month for Pro and $5.40 for Elite. Chatfuel is a trademark of 200 Labs, Inc.; BlipDM is not affiliated with it.
Feature comparison
What each tool does on Instagram, and what sits outside it.
| Feature | BlipDM | Chatfuel |
|---|---|---|
| No branding watermark | ✓Every plan, including Free | –Not listed on their pricing page |
| Automations | ✓Unlimited on every plan | ✓Unlimited keyword automations |
| Comment to DM | ✓Every plan | ✓ |
| Public reply + DM | ✓Every plan | ✓ |
| Story reply automation | ✓Every plan | ✓ |
| Inbox auto-reply | ✓Every plan | ✓Through its AI agent |
| Keyword triggers | ✓Every plan | ✓ |
| Follow to unlock | ✓Elite, $6 a month | –Not listed on their pricing page |
| Email and phone capture | ✓Elite, $6 a month | ✓The AI agent collects contact details |
| Carousel DMs | ✓Pro and Elite | –Not listed on their pricing page |
| Set up before you post (Next Post) | ✓Pro and Elite | –Not listed on their pricing page |
| Unlimited contacts | ✓Every plan, never billed per contact | ✓Unlimited active contacts |
| Visual flow builder | ✗Step-by-step setup and templates | ✓Plus ready-made templates |
| AI replies | ✗Not available today | ✓AI agent, with $20 in AI credits a month on Business |
| Broadcasts | ✗ | ✓Bulk WhatsApp campaigns on Business |
| Channels | ✓Instagram only | ✓Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, website |
| Team inbox and seats | ✗ | ✓Unlimited teammates, no seat fees |
| Free plan | ✓500 DMs a month, no watermark | ✗7-day free trial, then $20 a month |
Everything on Instagram, for $6 a month
Whatever you can automate with BlipDM, Elite runs it with no limits and no tiers to climb as you grow.
For comparison, Chatfuel Business is $20 a month, or $18 a month billed yearly.
See BlipDM pricing →Switching from Chatfuel to BlipDM
There is no automatic import, but an Instagram automation takes a few minutes to rebuild, and you can run both tools side by side while you move.
- Connect Instagram to BlipDM on Instagram's own sign-in screen.
- Pause the Chatfuel automation on the post you are moving, so nobody gets two DMs.
- In BlipDM, pick the same post and keyword, and paste your message and link buttons.
- Comment the keyword from another account to test it, then move the next one.
Which one should you pick?
Choose BlipDM if
- Instagram is where your customers find you
- You want comment to DM, story replies and lead capture for $3 to $6 a month
- You want a free plan rather than a 7-day trial
- You prefer replies you write yourself over AI answers
Choose Chatfuel if
- You want an AI agent that answers, qualifies leads and books appointments
- WhatsApp, Facebook or TikTok matter as much as Instagram
- A team needs a shared inbox and CRM
- You want to take payments or run WhatsApp campaigns from the chat
Relax, your DMs are handled.
Every comment gets an answer, even while you are offline, asleep or busy creating. You get your time back, and no lead goes cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about switching from Chatfuel.
Is BlipDM a good Chatfuel alternative?
Yes, if Instagram is your main channel and keyword automations cover what you need. BlipDM handles comment to DM, story replies, inbox auto-reply, follow to unlock, email and phone capture, and carousel DMs. If you want an AI agent that answers from your own knowledge base, or WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok in one tool, Chatfuel covers more.
How much cheaper is BlipDM than Chatfuel?
BlipDM Pro is $3 a month, or $2.70 a month billed yearly, with 50,000 DMs a month, and Elite is $6 a month with unlimited DMs. Chatfuel's Business plan is $20 a month, or $18 a month billed yearly, and includes $20 in AI credits each month. That makes BlipDM Pro less than a sixth of the price of Chatfuel Business, and Elite less than a third. Chatfuel's price also covers AI replies and other channels that BlipDM does not offer.
Does Chatfuel have a free plan?
Chatfuel offers a 7-day free trial, and its pricing page lists paid plans only. BlipDM has a Free plan rather than a trial: 500 DMs a month, unlimited automation flows and one Instagram account, with no credit card and no branding watermark on your DMs.
Can I move my automations from Chatfuel to BlipDM?
There is no automatic import, but most Instagram automations take a few minutes to rebuild: pick the post, set the same keyword and paste your message. Turn off the Chatfuel automation on that post first, so people do not get two DMs.
Does BlipDM have AI replies or work with WhatsApp?
No. BlipDM is built for Instagram only and replies with the messages you write, triggered by keywords. If you need an AI agent or several messaging channels in one place, Chatfuel is the better fit.
Is BlipDM safe for my Instagram account?
Yes. BlipDM is a Meta Tech Provider and uses Instagram's official API. You connect through Instagram's own authorisation screen, so we never see or store your password, and you can revoke access at any time.