Key takeaways
We make HeyKiko, so we aren't neutral. Every fact about Respond.io links to its own pages below, and we say where it's the better choice.
| What matters | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Website chat, WhatsApp and Telegram | Either | Both include all three on every plan; Respond.io connects WhatsApp through the Cloud API. |
| Other messaging apps | Respond.io | Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, Viber, LINE, WeChat, SMS and email; HeyKiko doesn't offer them. |
| AI agent | HeyKiko | On every HeyKiko plan, from $29; Respond.io's AI agents and knowledge start on Growth at $199 a month. |
| Calls | Depends on the line | Respond.io takes phone, WhatsApp and Messenger calls, with AI voice agents on Advanced ($349); HeyKiko's AI answers WhatsApp calls (Pro at $199). |
| Appointment booking | HeyKiko | Built into every HeyKiko plan; Respond.io connects Google Calendar, Calendly or Cal.com from Growth. |
| Cases with approvals | HeyKiko | HeyKiko runs cases with owners and approvals (Growth and up); Respond.io tracks lifecycle stages. |
| Campaigns | Depends on the channel | Respond.io broadcasts from Growth across its apps; HeyKiko sends WhatsApp campaigns on every plan and email campaigns (Pro and up). |
| Team seats and mobile apps | Respond.io | 5 users on its $99 Starter plan, with iOS and Android apps; HeyKiko's first plan includes 2 team members and runs in the browser. |
| CRM integrations | Respond.io | HubSpot, Zapier, Make and n8n from Growth, Salesforce on Advanced; HeyKiko has none yet. |
| Security certifications | Respond.io | Respond.io states ISO 27001 and GDPR, hosted on AWS. |
Which is cheaper, HeyKiko or Respond.io?
At 1,000 AI replies a month HeyKiko costs $29 and Respond.io $199; at 12,000 it's $199 against $229. Here is the cheapest way to get each volume on each.
| AI replies a month | HeyKiko | Respond.io |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $29Starter (2,000 credits) | $199Growth (10,000 AI credits included) |
| 4,000 | $119Growth (10,000 credits) | $199Growth (10,000 AI credits included) |
| 12,000 | $199Pro (20,000 credits) | $229Growth + 2,000 extra credits (10,000 AI credits included) |
Monthly billing, before tax, for the cheapest plan with an AI agent that covers that many AI credits. Respond.io's AI agents start on Growth; extra AI credits are $15 per 1,000, which we count when cheaper than the next plan. It doesn't say how many credits one reply uses, so we compare credit for credit. Growth and Advanced also charge for monthly active contacts above those included, and Meta bills WhatsApp messages separately on both. HeyKiko prices are our live plans in USD; see pricing for every limit.
Which channels do HeyKiko and Respond.io work on?
Respond.io is built around messaging apps: WhatsApp through the Cloud API, Telegram, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, Viber, LINE, WeChat, a website widget, email and SMS, all in one inbox on every plan.
HeyKiko works on your website, WhatsApp and Telegram on every plan, and answers WhatsApp voice calls on plans with calls. If your customers are on Instagram, LINE or WeChat, Respond.io covers them and HeyKiko doesn't.
How does each one's AI agent work?
HeyKiko is an AI agent first: on every plan, from $29, it answers from your website, files, notes and product catalogue, shows the sources behind each answer, books appointments and hands the chat to your team when it should.
Respond.io is an inbox first. Its AI agents and knowledge sources come with the Growth plan at $199 a month, and can answer, route, tag, book and transfer calls; its Starter plan is for teams replying themselves.
Can a person take over the conversation?
Yes, in both. Respond.io gives every plan a shared inbox with iOS and Android apps, assignment and lifecycle stages, and includes 5 users on Starter and 10 on Growth.
HeyKiko's shared inbox runs in the browser with every channel in one list; replying pauses the AI for that customer, and a customer who asks for a person is handed over automatically. Its first plan includes 2 team members.
Can they book appointments, run cases or send campaigns?
Respond.io connects Google Calendar, Calendly and Cal.com, and sends broadcasts with pacing, scheduling and segments, from its Growth plan. It tracks conversations through lifecycle stages rather than cases with approvals.
HeyKiko books into Google Calendar on every plan, opens cases with approvals for refunds and requests (Growth and up), sends WhatsApp campaigns on every plan and email campaigns (Pro and up), and campaign replies go straight back to the agent.
Can either answer phone calls?
Respond.io takes VoIP calls on real phone numbers, WhatsApp Business calls and Messenger calls, with AI voice agents on its Advanced plan at $349 a month.
HeyKiko's AI answers voice calls to your WhatsApp Business number (Pro at $199), books during the call and flags calls for your team to follow up on WhatsApp. It doesn't answer regular phone lines.
How do they handle data and security?
Respond.io states ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance and hosts on AWS. If ISO 27001 is a requirement for you, Respond.io offers it today.
HeyKiko lets you decide which knowledge each group of signed-in customers can use, erase one customer's details and chats, set how long conversations are kept, and place a legal hold when everything must be kept.
HeyKiko and Respond.io, feature by feature
| Feature |  HeyKiko | RRespond.io |
|---|---|---|
| Website chat | YesEvery plan | Yes |
| YesEvery plan | YesCloud API, every plan | |
| Telegram | YesEvery plan | YesEvery plan |
| Instagram and Messenger | NoNot offered | YesPlus TikTok, Viber, LINE, WeChat |
| AI answers voice calls | YesWhatsApp calls, Pro and up | YesPhone and WhatsApp calls; AI voice on Advanced |
| Shared inbox with takeover | YesEvery plan | YesEvery plan, with mobile apps |
| Books into Google Calendar | YesEvery plan | YesGrowth and up |
| Cases with approvals | YesGrowth and up | PartlyLifecycle stages |
| WhatsApp campaigns | YesEvery plan | YesGrowth and up |
| Email campaigns | YesPro and up | NoNot offered |
| Helpdesk and CRM integrations | NoNot yet | YesHubSpot, Zapier, Salesforce |
| Free trial | Yes14 days, no card | Yes7 days, no card |
| Starts at, billed monthly | $292,000 AI credits | $995 users; AI agents from Growth ($199) |
Should you choose HeyKiko or Respond.io?
Respond.io is the better choice if you
- Need Instagram, TikTok, Viber, LINE, WeChat, SMS or email in the same inbox
- Run a larger team that wants mobile apps and more seats included
- Need HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier or n8n connected
- Want calls on regular phone numbers, or ISO 27001
HeyKiko is the better choice if you
- Want an AI agent from your first plan, at $29 a month rather than $199
- Talk to customers on your website, WhatsApp and Telegram, and want one agent to answer all three
- Want Google Calendar booking and cases with approvals built in
- Want email campaigns next to WhatsApp campaigns
- Want to try it for 14 days without a card
How to move from Respond.io to HeyKiko
- Step 1
Bring your knowledge
Paste your website address into HeyKiko and upload your FAQs and price lists. Kiko reads them and shows what it learned.
- Step 2
Move WhatsApp and Telegram
Disconnect your WhatsApp number from Respond.io first, then connect it in HeyKiko with Meta's own sign-up; paste your Telegram bot's token.
- Step 3
Set your hand-off rules
Choose when Kiko passes a chat to a person and who gets it, so your team's routine carries over.
- Step 4
Test before you switch
Ask your common questions in the playground and compare the answers before you go live.
Want help moving? Book a call and we'll set it up with you.
How we compared
We read Respond.io's own pricing page, product pages and docs on 4 November 2026. HeyKiko's column comes from our live plans. Prices are monthly billing in USD before tax unless shown otherwise; both products bill differently per AI model, and both pass WhatsApp message fees through from Meta. If something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
