Pick InboxCRM if…
- You're one person selling on one WhatsApp number
- You want to stay in WhatsApp Web rather than learn a new inbox
- You don't want API setup or WhatsApp conversation fees
- You want a kanban pipeline with deal values and local data
respond.io alternative
A respond.io alternative sized for one seller, not a contact centre
respond.io is an omnichannel conversation platform for teams, connected to WhatsApp through the Business API. InboxCRM is a CRM extension for the person who answers their own WhatsApp.
- No WhatsApp Business API
- CRM data stays on your device
- Works on your current number
The short answer
respond.io or InboxCRM?
Choose respond.io if a team handles conversations across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and email and needs AI agents, workflows and reporting. Choose InboxCRM if you sell from one WhatsApp number and want a pipeline, follow-ups and saved replies inside WhatsApp Web, with no API and no WhatsApp fees.
InboxCRM publishes this page. What we say about respond.io comes from its own public pages, checked on 6 October 2026 and linked below.
Why people look for a respond.io alternative
- 1
The entry plan is priced for a team
respond.io's Starter plan includes five users. If there is one of you, you are paying for seats, channels and reporting you won't open.
- 2
You'd rather skip the API
respond.io connects WhatsApp through the Business API and states that Meta's WhatsApp fees are not included in any plan. InboxCRM works on WhatsApp Web with your existing number and has no per-message fees.
- 3
You want to see deals, not tickets
respond.io organises contacts by lifecycle stage for teams. InboxCRM gives a seller a kanban board with deal values and a funnel report, right beside the chat.
Side by side
respond.io vs InboxCRM
What each tool lists publicly, row by row. respond.io details were checked on 6 October 2026.
| Compare | respond.io | InboxCRM |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cloud omnichannel conversation platform for teams | Chrome extension that adds a CRM inside WhatsApp Web |
| WhatsApp Business API | Required for WhatsApp. Coexistence with the WhatsApp Business app is supported | Not needed. Works with the number you already use |
| Where your data lives | Stored in respond.io's cloud | CRM records stay in your browser's local storage, with no server copy |
| Sales pipeline | Lifecycle management. No kanban board is listed | Kanban boards with custom stages and deal values |
| Scheduling & follow-ups | Workflows and broadcasts | Scheduled messages, appointments, timed reminders and follow-up sequences |
| Automation | Workflows, broadcasts and AI agents on Growth and above | Auto-reply rules, a visual flow builder and paced campaigns to opted-in lists |
| AI | AI agents, AI Assist and chat summaries | Optional reply assistant using your own OpenRouter, OpenAI, Gemini or Groq key |
| Team inbox | Yes. 5 to 10 users included per plan | No. Single-user by design |
| Integrations | HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier, Make and n8n, plus WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and email channels | Outgoing webhooks to your own endpoints |
| Pricing | 7-day trial. $99, $199 and $349 per month billed monthly. WhatsApp fees are not included | See the Chrome Web Store listing. First month free through the InboxCRM Community |
Plans, prices and features change, and some prices vary by country. Confirm the details on respond.io's own site before you decide.
Honest fit check
Which one should you pick?
respond.io is good at what it's built for. So is InboxCRM. They're built for different people.
Stay with respond.io if…
- A team answers customers across several channels
- You need AI agents, workflows and broadcast analytics
- You need HubSpot or Salesforce integration and an API
- You need enterprise reporting and ISO 27001
Getting started
Set up in the time it takes to read this page
There's nothing to migrate. Your chats are already in WhatsApp Web, and InboxCRM builds on top of them.
Step 1
Add InboxCRM to Chrome
Install the extension in your desktop Chrome browser. No API account and no number migration.
Step 2
Open WhatsApp Web as usual
The InboxCRM sidebar appears on the left, and a tools panel slides in beside the chat you have open.
Step 3
Organise as you chat
Drop the chat into a pipeline stage, add a note or tag, set a follow-up and reply with a saved template.
Want the detail first? See every feature, how local-first storage works, and what responsible automation can and can't promise.
InboxCRM Community · Free reward
Join the community, redeem your first month free
Sign in with your InboxCRM account to get a one-time code — redeem it for one month free, no card needed until it's used.
respond.io alternative: common questions
Is InboxCRM a respond.io alternative for teams?
No. InboxCRM is single-user: each person runs it on their own WhatsApp account, and there is no shared inbox or chat assignment. Teams that hand conversations between agents should use a platform such as respond.io.
What can a solo seller do in InboxCRM instead?
Track every lead on a pipeline board, keep notes and tags on each contact, reply with saved templates, schedule messages, set follow-up sequences, run auto-replies and chatbot flows, and see a sales funnel report. All of it sits inside WhatsApp Web.
Do I need to change my WhatsApp number or app?
No. InboxCRM works with the account you already use in WhatsApp Web. There is no API account, number migration or coexistence setup.
Can I try InboxCRM before I install anything?
Yes. The interactive tutorials run every InboxCRM tool on practice screens in your browser, with no install and no sign-up. When you're ready, the InboxCRM Community gives new accounts a one-time code for a free first month.
Sources, checked 6 October 2026
respond.io is a trademark of its owner. InboxCRM is not affiliated with or endorsed by respond.io. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll correct it.
Turn your WhatsApp inbox into an organised sales workspace
Add the extension, open WhatsApp Web and start organising the chats you already have. No separate CRM to keep in sync.
- Works with your existing WhatsApp Web account
- CRM records stay on your device
- AI optional, your own key