Free Instagram auto DM tools compared: what each free plan really includes (2026)
By Tushar Sherasiya, founder of PhysioDesk · · 4 min read
“Free” means very different things on Instagram DM tools. On one tool the free plan stops after 25 people. On another it stops after 10 leads. On a third it has no stated limit at all. If you’re choosing a tool to send a DM when someone comments a keyword, the free plan’s limit decides whether you can actually run your account on it.
A note before you read: we make PhysioDesk Funnels, one of the tools below. We’ve tried to be fair, and we say where other free plans are more generous than ours. Prices and limits change, so every row links to the tool’s own pricing page. Last checked: 6 October 2026.
The short version
| Tool | Free plan limit | Follow check | Paid plans from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zorcha | No stated limit on automations or DMs | Yes | ₹799/month (yearly) |
| PhysioDesk Funnels | 1 account, 10 active automations, up to 190 DMs an hour | Yes | No paid plans yet |
| LinkDM | 1,000 DMs a month, 1 account | Follower growth tool on Pro | $19/month |
| ReplyKaro | Free Starter plan (limits not shown on the page) | Yes | ₹99/month |
| SuperProfile | Unlimited AutoDMs, but only 10 leads | Not stated | ₹499/month |
| ManyChat | 25 active contacts a month (new accounts since March 2026) | With flow logic | About $15/month, billed in US dollars |
What each free plan is good for
Zorcha
Zorcha’s pricing page lists unlimited automations, unlimited DMs, unlimited contacts and exports on its ₹0 plan, plus an “ask for a follow” automation. On paper, that’s the most generous free plan here, and more generous than ours. Paid plans add things like multi-message flows, follow-ups and a flow builder, and it charges a fee on digital products you sell through it (8% on the free plan).
Good for: creators who want lots of automations and are happy with a bigger, all-in-one creator platform.
PhysioDesk Funnels
Our free plan is one Instagram account, up to ten automations switched on at once, and up to 190 automated DMs an hour. It isn’t a trial, and it stays free; if we ever add paid plans, they’ll be for people who need more than that. It covers Reels, photo posts and carousels, sends a DM with a button, can reply publicly under the comment, has a built-in follower check, and keeps every lead with the post and keyword they came from (downloadable as a CSV).
What it doesn’t do: Story replies, broadcasts, AI replies, or Facebook and WhatsApp. It does one job, comment-to-DM, and tries to make that job quick to set up.
Good for: small businesses, clinics and creators in India who want one simple form instead of a flow builder.
LinkDM
LinkDM’s free plan includes 1,000 DMs a month on one Instagram account, with post, Reel and Story automations. The follower growth tool and lead generation are on the Pro plan ($19 a month, 25,000 DMs).
Good for: accounts that get a few hundred keyword comments a month and want Story automations too.
ReplyKaro
ReplyKaro is an Indian tool with a ₹0 “Free Starter” plan and paid Instagram plans from ₹99 a month. Its pricing page shows the follow gate included across its Instagram plans. The page doesn’t list the free plan’s DM limit, and third-party listings report different numbers, so check with them before you rely on it.
Good for: people who want rupee pricing and expect to upgrade cheaply as they grow.
SuperProfile
SuperProfile’s free Starter plan offers unlimited AutoDMs on Reels and posts, but collects only up to 10 leads with lead magnets. The Creator plan is ₹99 for the first month, then ₹499 a month. SuperProfile is really a creator storefront (link in bio, digital products, payments) with AutoDM as one part.
Good for: creators who already sell digital products on SuperProfile.
ManyChat
ManyChat is the biggest name here and does far more than comment-to-DM: chatbots across Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, broadcasts and integrations. But since 2 March 2026, new accounts get a free plan of 25 active contacts a month, down from 1,000 (widely reported; ManyChat’s pricing page blocks automated checks, so confirm there). Paid plans are billed in US dollars and priced by contacts.
Good for: teams that need full chatbot flows and will pay for them. As a free comment-to-DM tool, 25 contacts runs out quickly. Here’s a longer comparison.
Things that matter more than the headline limit
- Official API. Every tool above uses Meta’s official Instagram API. Avoid anything that asks for your Instagram password. That’s how accounts get locked.
- The follower check. Asking people to follow before they get a freebie can grow your account. Check that it’s on the free plan, not just paid plans.
- Lead export. If you might switch tools later, make sure you can download your leads.
- Meta’s limits apply to everyone. No tool can send more than one automatic DM per comment, or DM someone outside the 7-day and 24-hour windows. The rules are here. A free plan that says “unlimited” is still inside those rules.
So which free plan should you pick?
- Most automations for ₹0: Zorcha.
- Simplest setup, with the follower check and lead export included: PhysioDesk Funnels.
- Story automations too: LinkDM.
- Full chatbots, budget for a paid plan: ManyChat.
If you’d like to try ours, it takes about five minutes to create a free account and connect Instagram. No card, and nothing to cancel.