Back in 2016, ManyChat set the standard for Messenger-style chatbots. That architecture still powers the product today, so building anything beyond simple flows usually means dragging nodes around a visual builder
Back in 2016, ManyChat set the standard for Messenger-style chatbots. That architecture still powers the product today, so building anything beyond simple flows usually means dragging nodes around a visual builder—and, in practice, having someone technical on staff to maintain them. Even after its recent $140 million growth round aimed at “bringing AI to social channels,” the new features feel bolted-on rather than deeply integrated, which is why reviews still mention Instagram/WhatsApp glitches and fragile Shopify workarounds. Zinglo, by contrast, was built in the post-GPT era. Everything is text-prompt driven, AI sits at the core, and the interface behaves like a shared human inbox rather than a tree of bot states. Setup takes about two minutes, costs start at free (and that free tier already covers most everyday use cases), and every premium module is opt-in—so total ownership cost is noticeably lower than stacking ManyChat’s $15 Pro plan with a $29 AI add-on. For teams that want tighter, smarter control without hiring a specialist, Zinglo is the straightforward pick.
Comparación por Características
| Item | Key Capability | ManyChat | Zinglo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AI conversations with / without social channels | ||
| 2 | Human-based inbox & live hand-off | ||
| 3 | Multi-channel aggressive sales engine | ||
| 4 | Native Shopify integration | ||
| 5 | Stand-alone web chat widget | ||
| 6 | Works with no social-media connection | ||
| 7 | AI auto-labeling of users by content | ||
| 8 | Unified inbox for Instagram, Web, WhatsApp | ||
| 9 | Free-plan contact limit | 1,000 | Unlimited |
| 10 | Extra cost for AI features | $29 add-on | Included |
| 11 | Independent QR code chat start | ||
| 12 | Native multi-language replies | Limited | Full |
| 13 | Built-in channels | IG DM, WhatsApp, FB Messenger, TikTok (beta) | IG DM, WhatsApp, Web widget, Shopify, SMS, QR |
| 14 | Setup time / complexity | Flow-builder, visual | Prompt-based, <2 min |
| 15 | Entry-level price | $15 Pro + AI add-on | Free tier (most needs), paid modules from $14.99 |
If you have a professional technical team and the time to build complex flow diagrams, ManyChat is still a usable option—assuming you’re willing to manage its recurring bugs and the 1,000-contact limit. However, if you're looking for smarter control, a human-centered conversation experience, and 2-minute deployment, Zinglo is the more logical, future-ready choice. And having a professional team doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get better results with ManyChat—its limitations stem from a legacy architecture built in 2016, not from how skilled your team is.