Chatbot platforms have become essential for modern businesses, and the choice between solutions can significantly impact both your budget and operational efficiency.
Manychat has established itself as a leading platform in the conversational AI space, serving thousands of businesses with reliable automation tools. The platform has built a strong reputation through consistent performance.
However, the landscape of business communication has evolved, and newer approaches to pricing and feature delivery are emerging that may better serve today's growing companies.
Today, we're comparing Manychat—the established player—with Invent, the modern alternative that's redefining value in conversational AI.
Understanding Platform Approaches
Traditional chatbot platforms typically use contact-based pricing models. This means costs scale with the number of contacts in your database, regardless of engagement levels or message volume.
Invent represents a different approach: usage-based pricing that charges only for actual conversations. This model provides unlimited contact storage while billing is tied directly to active customer interactions.
Core Platform Differences
Manychat's Model:
- Contact-based pricing structure
- Tiered feature access based on plan level
- Established ecosystem with extensive documentation
- Strong Facebook Messenger integration
Invent's Model:
- Pay-per-message pricing structure
- All features included regardless of usage volume
- Modern AI capabilities with multiple model options
- Full multi-channel access from the start
The Pricing Reality Check
Manychat: Contact-Based Pricing Structure
Manychat operates on a traditional contact-based model that scales with database size:
- Free Plan: Limited to 1,000 contacts only
- Pro Plan: Starts at $15/month for just 500 contacts
- Scaling Pain: Jumps to $95/month for 10,000 contacts
- Additional Costs: SMS and email messaging incur separate charges
- Platform Lock-in: Restricted channel access by plan tier
Invent: Transparent Pay-Per-Use
- Free Tier: 200 messages/month to get started
- Scalable Pricing: $0.0009 per message (pay only for what you use)
- No Contact Limits: Unlimited contacts from day one
- All Features Included: No hidden add-ons or premium tiers
- Full Channel Access: WhatsApp, Slack, and all integrations included
Real-World Cost Comparison
Let's break down what you'd actually pay:
*Based on average message volume per contact
Feature Comparison: More for Less
What Manychat Charges Extra For, Invent Includes:
✧ Knowledge Base
Manychat: Limited by plan tier
Invent: 2GB included ✅
✧ API Access
Manychat: Pro plan required ($15+/month)
Invent: Included free ✅
✧ Unlimited Assistants
Manychat: Restrictions apply
Invent: Truly unlimited ✅
✧ Multi-Channel Support
Manychat: Channel access varies by plan
Invent: All channels included ✅
✧ Custom Integrations
Manychat: Premium feature
Invent: HTTP Request Actions included ✅
Why Technical Leads and CTOs Choose Invent
1. Predictable Costs
No surprise bills when your contact list grows. Pay per interaction, not per contact.
2. Developer-Friendly
- Full API access from day one
- Custom integrations without restrictions
- No vendor lock-in
3. Enterprise-Ready
- SSO and dedicated support available
- 99.9% uptime SLA
- Prompt caching reduces costs automatically
4. Modern Architecture
- Multi-language support out of the box
- Advanced AI model selection
- Real-time database connections
The Bottom Line
Manychat Model: Pay more as you grow, with feature restrictions at every tier.
Invent Model: Pay for actual usage with all features unlocked from the start.
For a typical growing business with 2,000 active contacts:
Manychat: $540/year (Pro plan)
Invent: ~$216/year (usage-based)
You save: $324 annually 🎉
Ready to Switch?
Stop paying for contacts you're not messaging. Start building with Invent's transparent, usage-based pricing.
Start Building for Free → 200 free messages per month • No credit card required
