The $79 plan can't do marketing
Starter includes no broadcasts, workflows or AI agents. For a WhatsApp campaign you need the $159/month Growth plan.
The power of a conversational suite, sized for SMBs
Respond.io starts at $79/month without broadcasts and charges for active contacts. SendApp starts at €19 with campaigns and AI included.
Respond.io is an excellent omnichannel platform for the international mid-market. The problem is the bill: the entry plan includes neither broadcasts nor automations, and beyond 1,000 monthly active contacts you pay as you go.
Comparison based on Respond.io's public pricing and pages as of June 2026. Prices may change: always check the provider's website.
Where Respond.io shows its limits
Active contacts are pay-as-you-go
Beyond the 1,000 monthly active contacts included, you pay $12–15 per extra 100: an e-commerce store with 5,000 active contacts pays about $639/month.
Italian as an afterthought
Partial localization, prices in dollars only, no Italian-language support available.
A trial without the main feature
The 7-day trial excludes broadcasts: you can't test the very feature you're evaluating it for.
SendApp vs Respond.io, line by line
| Feature | SendApp | Respond.io |
|---|---|---|
| Omnichannel inbox | Yes.WA, IG, TG, Messenger, Email, SMS, widget | Yes.plus TikTok, Viber, LINE |
| WhatsApp from your number via QR | Yes.Yes | No.No |
| Broadcasts in the entry plan | Yes.from €19/month | No.only from $159/month |
| No active-contact fees | Yes.clear limits per plan | No.$12–15 per 100 over quota |
| Trainable AI chatbot | Yes.included | Partial.from Growth, unquantified fair use |
| Prices in euros | Yes.Yes | No.USD only |
| Support in Italian | Yes.Yes | No.No |
| Loyalty and review funnel | Yes.with Official | No.No |
| Mobile app | No.responsive web | Yes.Yes |
The real cost, compared
| SendApp | Respond.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price for broadcasts | €19/month | $159/month (Starter has no broadcasts) |
| Cost at 5,000 active contacts/month | Business €49/month | ≈ $639/month ($159 + overage) |
| Markup on messages | Zero | Zero (them too) |
Why people who compare choose SendApp
Costs that don't explode as you grow
No active-contact fees: plans have clear limits, and the €49 Business plan covers 5,000 contacts and 50,000 messages.
The WhatsApp dual track
Official API when you need templates and volume, QR when you want to start right away: Respond.io only offers the first route.
Vertical features ready to go
Calendar with reminders, bookings with Google Calendar, loyalty and reviews: on Respond.io you'd have to build them as workflows.
SendApp vs Respond.io: frequently asked questions
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