Fareply vs respond.io for travel agencies
respond.io is an omnichannel inbox and automation platform for any business that sells and supports customers in chat, priced by the number of contacts you talk to each month. Fareply is a reply desk built only for travel: it reads your rate sheets and answers enquiries with prices calculated from tables you approved.
The short answer
- Choose respond.io if you run a large sales or support team across many channels and need workflow automation, lead routing, broadcasts, CRM integrations and AI agents you configure yourself.
- Choose Fareply if most of your chats are travel enquiries: prices for dates, room types, group sizes and children, policy questions, and group status for partners. Fareply calculates every price from your approved rate tables and checks it before it reaches the traveller, with a flat monthly price that does not grow with your contacts.
Side by side
| Fareply | respond.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Travel agencies, tour operators and DMCs | Any B2C business selling and supporting in chat |
| Entry price | Starter €49 per month | Starter $99 per month, or $79 per month billed annually |
| Mid plan | Pro €119 per month: 5 team members, all channels | Growth $199 per month, or $159 billed annually: 10 users |
| How you are billed | Flat price per plan; no limit on travellers or contacts | Growth and Advanced include a number of monthly active contacts (from 1,000); more cost $12 to $15 per 100 |
| Extra team members | Next plan up (Agency: 15 members) | $12 to $24 per user per month, depending on plan |
| Prices in replies | Calculated from rate tables an owner approved, with a price check on every amount | From the knowledge and workflows you set up; no travel rate engine |
| Reading your rate sheets | Upload PDF, Excel, Word or a photo; every price shown next to its source line, approved before use | Not a feature |
| AI | Included: 1,000 replies a month on Starter, 4,000 on Pro, 10,000 on Agency | AI assist on Starter; AI agents from Growth (chat) and Advanced (chat and voice), with AI credits per contact and paid top-ups |
| WhatsApp message fees | Paid to Meta directly at Meta's rates; Fareply adds nothing | Passed through at Meta's rates, per respond.io |
| Broadcasts | No bulk broadcasts; one-to-one templates only | Yes |
| Workflow builder | No: replies come from your prices and policies | Yes |
| Group desk for DMCs | Group files, rooming lists, partner status answers in 8 languages | Not a feature |
| Free trial | 14 days, no card | 7 days |
Where Fareply is different
Prices you can trust
A travel price depends on the season, the room type, the group size, children's ages and extras. A general AI agent answers from the text it was given, which is how wrong prices reach travellers. Fareply reads your rate sheet once, an owner approves the tables, and every quote is calculated from that approved version. If a date, group size or extra has no approved price, the question goes to your team instead of being guessed.
A price that does not grow with your enquiries
Travel is seasonal. In high season an agency can talk to thousands of travellers in a month. Fareply plans have a flat price with a monthly allowance of AI replies; the number of travellers who write to you does not change the price.
Set up from your own files
There are no flows to build. You upload your rate sheet and your policies, approve them, connect your channels and start with suggestions. See the complete guide.
Where respond.io is stronger
- Workflow automation, lead routing and assignment rules for large teams.
- Broadcasts and campaigns to opted-in contacts.
- AI agents you can configure for many tasks, including voice calls on Advanced.
- Many integrations with CRMs and other business tools.
What a travel agency pays
For a team of 5 talking to 2,500 travellers a month: Fareply Pro is €119 per month, with 4,000 AI replies included and WhatsApp fees paid to Meta. On respond.io, Starter ($99 per month, 5 users) has AI assist but no AI agents; Growth starts at $199 per month for 1,000 monthly active contacts, and more contacts cost extra. Agencies in India, Turkey and other regions pay a lower Fareply price; see pricing.
Questions
Can we move from respond.io to Fareply and keep our WhatsApp number?
Usually yes. A number connects to one WhatsApp Business Platform provider at a time, and Meta guides you through moving it. During early access we help you connect your number.
Does Fareply support the same channels?
Fareply connects WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, WeChat, Telegram, LINE, email and website chat, all in one inbox.
Is Fareply a CRM?
No. Fareply keeps each conversation, the quotes sent and the booking references, and reports on replies and bookings. Your booking system stays the place for bookings; it can send confirmations to Fareply.
Request access Fareply vs Wati
Sources
- respond.io pricing, checked 23 October 2026
- respond.io: how to choose a plan, 27 September 2026
- Macha: respond.io pricing explained, updated 13 October 2026 (users per plan and extra user prices)