No markup on Meta charges
WhatsApp message fees from Meta are passed through at Meta's own rates. We add nothing on top.
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Support.Monster vs Respond.io
Respond.io is a self-serve conversation platform. Support.Monster is a platform plus the engineers who integrate, tune and maintain it, with no markup on Meta charges and no platform fee on managed service plans. Here is how they differ.
Why Support.Monster
What you get with Support.Monster
Zero platform fee on managed plans
Choose any managed service plan and there is no platform fee. You pay only for the managed service.
Every channel, integrated
Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google Maps, email and your own app or site, connected by our engineers.
AI on your terms
You choose the model and are billed for its usage directly. We manage the token costs, performance and every kind of optimisation.
At a glance
Which one fits your team?
Support.Monster
Choose Support.Monster if…
- You want engineers to integrate your channels, CRM and order systems, tune the AI and keep it running.
- You want no markup on Meta charges, and no platform fee on managed service plans, where you pay only for the managed service.
- You rely on Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zendesk, Genesys or Freshdesk and want those connected for you.
- You want to pick your own AI model and be billed for its usage directly, while we manage the token costs, performance and optimisation.
Choose Respond.io if…
- You want a self-serve inbox that your own team configures and runs day to day.
- You are comfortable building workflows and AI agents in-house, or through a partner.
- You prefer pricing built around seats and monthly active contacts.
Feature comparison
Support.Monster and Respond.io, feature by feature
| Feature | Support.Monster | Respond.io |
|---|---|---|
| Fees and billing | ||
| Meta (WhatsApp) charges | ✓No markup on Meta charges |
✓Passed through without markup |
| Platform fee | ✓No platform fee on managed service plans: you pay only for the managed service |
✕Subscription fee on every plan |
| AI model and billing | ✓You choose the model and are billed for its usage directly. We manage token costs, performance and optimisation |
Monthly AI credit allowance by plan; extra credits billed at $15 per 1,000 |
| Approach | ||
| Engineers build and maintain it for you | ✓Integration, training, tuning and upkeep by our engineers |
✕Self-serve; implementation help is available through partners |
| Dedicated customer success | ✓Customer success manager on Business and Enterprise |
~Scheduled success calls and a 28-day onboarding program on Advanced and Enterprise only |
| Channels | ||
| Channels integrated | ✓All channels: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google Maps, email, and your own app or site |
✓WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, LINE, Viber, WeChat, SMS, email, web chat and VoIP |
| WhatsApp and voice | ||
| WhatsApp Business API | ✓We handle application, verification and setup |
✓WhatsApp Business Solution Provider and Meta partner |
| WhatsApp Calling | ✓Calling inside the WhatsApp thread, subject to Meta's market rules |
✓Inbound calls free; outbound billed at Meta's per-minute rates |
| Voice AI agent | ✓Voice agent for the hours nobody is on shift |
✓On Growth and above; uses AI credits |
| Voice notes | ✓Transcribed, translated and answered in the customer's language |
✓AI agents can work from voice notes; translation uses credits |
| AI and automation | ||
| AI agents | ✓Unlimited chatbots and knowledge sources on every plan |
~AI Agents on Growth and above, within a monthly credit allowance |
| Workflow and chatbot builder | ✓No-code chatbot builder |
~Workflows on Growth and above, up to 150 per workspace; none on Starter |
| Human handoff | ✓Agents step in mid-chat with full context |
✓Manual takeover from an AI agent, plus team inboxes |
| Integrations | ||
| CRM and helpdesk | ✓Salesforce, Zendesk, Zoho, HubSpot, Freshdesk, Genesys and Dynamics 365, connected by our engineers |
~Native HubSpot (Growth and above) and Salesforce (Advanced and above); others through Zapier, Make, webhooks or the API |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 | ✓Supported |
✕Not listed as a native integration |
| Freshdesk | ✓Supported |
✕Not listed as a native integration |
| Custom integrations | ✓Built for you; included on Business and Enterprise |
~Developer API from Growth and webhooks from Advanced; your team or a partner builds the integration |
| Pricing and support | ||
| Entry price | $20 a month (Starter) | From $79 a month (Starter), in USD |
| Onboarding | $75 on Starter, $150 on Growth, included on Business | No onboarding or porting fees |
| Support | Replies within 24 hours on Starter, 12 on Growth, 6 on Business | 24/7 support on all plans |
✓ available · ~ available with limits · ✕ not available
The real differences
Where the two approaches part ways
Who does the work
Support.Monster
Our engineers connect your systems, build agents from your ticket history and tune them every week, so your team spends its time on customers.
Respond.io
A self-serve platform. Your team configures workflows and AI agents, with guided onboarding on higher plans and implementation help available through its partner network.
Platform fee
Support.Monster
Choose any managed service plan and there is no platform fee. You pay only for the managed service.
Respond.io
A subscription applies on every plan, priced by seats and monthly active contacts.
How AI usage is billed
Support.Monster
You choose the model and are billed for its usage directly. We manage the token costs, performance and every kind of optimisation.
Respond.io
AI features draw on a monthly credit allowance that varies by plan. Extra credits are billed at $15 per 1,000, up to a cap at twice the allowance.
Voice and telephony
Support.Monster
WhatsApp Calling, a voice agent, and an option to keep your current call centre and add AI transcription, QA scoring and after-hours cover.
Respond.io
WhatsApp Calling and a voice AI agent on Growth and above, plus a VoIP channel, all in the same inbox.
Pricing
What each costs
Both price in US dollars. Support.Monster plans bundle a message allowance and add managed service plans with no platform fee; Respond.io plans are built around seats and monthly active contacts.
Support.Monster
Plans that scale with you
- Starter10,000 messages a month, 1 workspace, 3 team members. $75 one-time onboarding.$20/mo
- Growth50,000 messages a month, 5 workspaces, 15 team members. $150 one-time onboarding.$100/mo
- Business100,000 messages a month, unlimited workspaces and team members, onboarding included.$300/mo
- Enterprise200,000 messages a month, dedicated customer success manager, custom SLA.Custom
- Managed service plansZero platform fee. You pay only for the managed service, with our engineers building, tuning and running your account.From $450/mo
No markup on Meta charges. Extra messages are $25 per 10,000, with no cap. Optional managed services start at $450 a month. See full pricing.
Respond.io
- Starter5 users, 5,000 AI credits. No workflows, broadcasts or AI Agents.From $79/mo
- Growth10 users, 1,000 monthly active contacts to start, 10,000 AI credits. Adds broadcasts, workflows and AI Agents.From $159/mo
- Advanced10 users, 20,000 AI credits. Adds multiple workspaces, webhooks, SSO and Salesforce.From $279/mo
- EnterpriseUnlimited users and custom limits. Contact sales.Custom
Extra users are $12 to $24 a month depending on plan. Annual billing saves up to 20%.
WhatsApp fees from Meta are billed separately from the subscription.
Getting started
Moving from Respond.io to Support.Monster
Our engineers do the heavy lifting, so your team keeps answering customers while the move happens.
Scope
A 30-minute review of your channels, volumes and the systems your support depends on.
Connect
We handle WhatsApp Business API setup and verification, and connect your channels, CRM or helpdesk.
Train
Agents are built on your own ticket history and tuned in your customers' languages.
Go live and keep improving
Most teams are live within a couple of weeks, then our engineers review and tune it with you.
FAQ
Support.Monster vs Respond.io: common questions
What is the main difference between Support.Monster and Respond.io?
Respond.io is a self-serve conversation platform your team configures and runs. Support.Monster combines the platform with engineers who integrate it with your systems, tune the AI on your own ticket history and keep it maintained. The right choice depends on whether you want to run it yourself or have it run with you.
Does Support.Monster mark up Meta's WhatsApp charges?
No. Meta's charges are passed through at Meta's own rates, with no markup from Support.Monster.
Is there a platform fee with Support.Monster?
Our Starter, Growth, Business and Enterprise plans include a monthly platform fee. If you choose one of our managed service plans, there is no platform fee and you pay only for the managed service.
Who pays for AI usage and who chooses the model?
You choose the AI model you want to use and are billed for its usage directly. We manage the token costs, performance and every kind of optimisation behind it.
Do both support WhatsApp Calling?
Yes. Both support calling inside the WhatsApp thread. Meta sets which markets allow inbound and outbound calls, and that applies to either platform.
Can I move from Respond.io to Support.Monster?
Yes. We handle the WhatsApp Business API setup and can set the solution up on your existing WhatsApp Business number, so customers keep the number they know. We scope the details of your move on a 30-minute review.
More comparisons
See how we compare with others
Support.Monster vs WATI
WATI is a self-serve WhatsApp team inbox with automation and AI add-ons. Support.Monster brings engineers who build and maintain the setup with you.
Read the comparison → Support.Monster vs InteraktInterakt is a self-serve WhatsApp and Instagram platform for small and D2C brands. Support.Monster adds engineers who build and run the setup with you.
Read the comparison → Support.Monster vs ZendeskZendesk is a broad helpdesk suite with WhatsApp as one channel. Support.Monster is WhatsApp-first, with engineers who run it, and it works alongside Zendesk too.
Read the comparison →Ready to see it on your own stack?
Book a 30-minute review and we'll scope what Support.Monster would look like for your channels, systems and volumes.
Book a deployment review