Disclosure: this comparison is written by ChatsHero. We have tried to be fair: Respond.io’s details come only from its public pricing page, checked on 6 Nov 2026, and we list where Respond.io is the better choice. Please confirm current prices on both websites.
Respond.io is a mature, global omnichannel messaging platform priced in US dollars, with a 7-day free trial and AI Agents from its Growth plan. ChatsHero is a Malaysian AI agent platform priced in ringgit, with AI on every plan and setup done with you or for you. Respond.io suits teams that want to build and run things themselves; ChatsHero suits SMEs that want the AI set up for them.
ChatsHero vs Respond.io: side-by-side comparison
| ChatsHero | Respond.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | RM350 (Starter), RM650 (Growth), RM950 (WE-DO) per month; Enterprise custom. Annual billing saves 20%. | From US$79/month billed yearly (Starter), US$159 (Growth), US$279 (Advanced); Enterprise custom. Save up to 20% on yearly billing. |
| Billing currency | Malaysian ringgit (RM) | US dollars (US$) |
| Users included | 4 users on Starter, 8 on Growth and WE-DO | 5 users on Starter, 10 on Growth and Advanced; extra users US$12–24 each per month |
| Monthly active contacts | 1,000 monthly active contacts on Starter, 3,000 on Growth and WE-DO | Plans start from 1,000 monthly active contacts; extra contacts charged per 100 on Growth and Advanced |
| AI | Super AI on every plan: AI builds the bot flow and prompts, sorts lead quality, and learns from filtered chats, PDFs and FAQs | AI Assist from Starter; AI Agents from Growth; monthly AI credits (5,000 to 40,000) with paid top-ups |
| Free trial | No free trial; free 30-minute demo | 7-day free trial, no credit card |
| Setup help | Setup help on every plan; WE-DO is 100% done for you by the ChatsHero team. Setup usually takes around 30 days. | Self-serve; 28-day Onboarding Program available as an add-on |
| Support | WhatsApp support, reply within 2 working hours | See respond.io for current support channels |
| Meta WhatsApp charges | Unlimited messages and blasting on the ChatsHero side; Meta’s WhatsApp charges paid separately | Meta’s WhatsApp charges not included; topped up as WhatsApp credit |
| Channels | WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, SMS, WeChat and LINE | WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, LINE, WeChat, email, SMS and more |
Both platforms use the official WhatsApp Business Platform, so Meta’s message charges apply on either one. See WhatsApp API pricing in Malaysia for how those charges work.
Where is Respond.io stronger?
- A long-established platform used by businesses across many countries, with a broad channel list.
- A 7-day free trial without a credit card, so you can try it before paying.
- Self-serve tools for teams that want to build workflows themselves.
- More users included on each plan (5 or 10) than ChatsHero.
Where is ChatsHero different?
- Setup done with you or for you. Every plan includes Super AI build help, and on WE-DO our team does 100% of the bot engineering and setup.
- Malaysian team and ringgit pricing. Plans are priced in RM, and support replies on WhatsApp within 2 working hours.
- AI on every plan. The AI learns from your own chats, PDFs and FAQs, and sorts leads by quality.
- Unlimited messages and blasting on the ChatsHero side, on every plan.
- Business automation beyond chat, such as Google Sheets updates, Shopify, birthday messages and AI receipt scanning.
ChatsHero has no free trial, because each setup is customised, and setup usually takes around 30 days. If you want to try something on your own today, Respond.io’s trial is quicker to start.
WhatsApp us your most common customer questions and see how the ChatsHero AI answers them.
Which should you choose?
Choose Respond.io if
- you have staff with time to build and maintain the bot and workflows yourselves
- you sell across many countries and want one global platform
- you want to trial the product before talking to anyone
Choose ChatsHero if
- you want the AI agent set up for you around your own price list, rules and handover points
- you prefer a Malaysian team, ringgit pricing and WhatsApp support
- you want AI lead sorting and training on every plan, with unlimited messages and blasting
How to test both before you decide
- Write down your 10 most common customer questions, including one in Bahasa Malaysia and one in Chinese.
- Ask each provider to answer them during a trial or demo.
- Check the handover: what happens when a customer asks for a human?
- Add up the full monthly cost: plan, extra users or contacts, AI credits and Meta’s charges.
- Ask who sets it up and who fixes it when replies go wrong.
Our 10-point checklist for choosing a WhatsApp chatbot covers each point, and the AI chatbot Malaysia guide explains the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ChatsHero cheaper than Respond.io?
It depends on your team size and plan. ChatsHero costs RM350, RM650 or RM950 a month. Respond.io: From US$79/month billed yearly (Starter), US$159 (Growth), US$279 (Advanced); Enterprise custom. Save up to 20% on yearly billing. Compare the plan that matches your users, contacts and setup needs, and add Meta’s WhatsApp charges to both.
Does Respond.io have a free trial?
Respond.io: 7-day free trial, no credit card. ChatsHero has no free trial because each setup is customised, but offers a free 30-minute demo.
Can I move from another platform to ChatsHero?
Yes. Book a demo and our team will review your current flows, number and integrations, and plan the switch with you.
Who wrote this comparison?
The ChatsHero team. Respond.io’s details come from its public pricing page, checked on 6 Nov 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on each website before you decide.
Sources
- Respond.io pricing page (checked 6 Nov 2026)
- ChatsHero pricing page