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A Respond.io alternative with SMS, voice and AI agents.
Unecast is a WhatsApp, SMS, voice and AI agent platform on flat monthly plans from $29. Respond.io’s Growth and Advanced plans add contact-based billing above 1,000 monthly active contacts. Here is how the fees compare.
What Unecast offers
- Official WhatsApp Business API as a verified Meta Tech Provider.
- Shared team inbox for WhatsApp and website chat, with assignments, quick replies and a built-in CRM.
- AI agents that answer on WhatsApp and your website, and route the chat to a person when the customer asks. See AI Studio.
- Bulk and OTP SMS on the same platform. See the SMS gateway.
- A cloud call center with IVR, routing, recording and WhatsApp calling.
- REST and SMPP APIs for developers. See Developers.
- Meta fees passed through at zero markup. Plans start at $29 a month (pricing).
Fees side by side
Meta's message fees are the same on every provider. So compare what each provider adds on top: plan fees, per-message fees, seats and extras.
| What you pay for | Unecast | Respond.io |
|---|---|---|
| Platform or plan fee | Starter $29, Growth $49, Scale $99 a month ($24, $41, $82 a month billed yearly). Enterprise is a custom quote. | Starter $99, Growth $199, Advanced $349 a month billed monthly, or $79, $159 and $279 a month billed yearly. Enterprise is a custom quote. |
| Meta fees | Billed by Meta directly at its published rates. Zero markup from Unecast. | You pay Meta's fees. Respond.io says it does not charge markups on WhatsApp messaging fees. |
| Per-message or contact fees | None. No per-message platform fee. | No per-message markup. Billing also depends on Monthly Active Contacts: unlimited on Starter, 1,000 on Growth and Advanced, then $12 or $15 per extra 100. |
| Extra users | 1, 3 or 8 seats included, by plan. Extra user $10 a month. | Each plan includes a default number of users. The counts are not shown on the pages we checked. Enterprise has unlimited seats. |
| AI replies | AI agent on every plan. Replies cost about $0.002 to $0.015 each, from a prepaid balance. | Starter has AI drafting, tone and summaries. Growth and Advanced include AI Agents; extra credits cost $15 per 1,000. Advanced adds AI Voice Agents. |
| SMS and voice | Bulk and OTP SMS, prepaid per message. Sri Lanka is live; other countries on request. Cloud call center with IVR, routing and recording. WhatsApp calling on Growth and above. | SMS through a supported partner: Telnyx, Vonage, Bird or Twilio. WhatsApp Business Calls, Messenger Calls and VoIP in the inbox. |
Prices checked 6 November 2026. List prices in US dollars unless shown, before taxes. Respond.io's pricing page shows both monthly and yearly billing, and prices depend on monthly active contacts. Sources: Unecast pricing, Unecast BSP fee comparison, Respond.io pricing, Respond.io pricing explained (27 Sept 2026), Respond.io SMS help, Respond.io home page, Unecast bulk SMS gateway, Unecast cloud call center.
What to check on any shortlist
- Are Meta fees passed through at cost, or marked up?
- Is the AI agent included, and can it hand over to a person?
- Do you also need SMS, OTP or voice, and are they on the same platform?
- How many team seats are included, and what does the next tier cost?
- Who handles verification, templates and training?
- How are contacts counted, and what happens to the bill in a busy month?
Providers change plans often. Check each one's current pricing page before you decide.
When Respond.io may fit better
Respond.io is a good fit for some teams. These points come from Respond.io's own pages, checked 6 November 2026.
- You are a mid-market B2C business. Respond.io says it is "built for mid-market B2C businesses where conversations drive revenue".
- You want TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and email next to WhatsApp in one inbox.
- You already use Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx or Bird for SMS and want to connect that account.
- You need several workspaces or AI voice agents. Respond.io lists both on its Advanced plan.
Who Unecast suits best
Unecast suits businesses that want WhatsApp, SMS, voice and AI agents in one place, on a flat monthly plan. Seats and contacts are set by plan, not billed per active contact. If you want help, we handle Meta verification, templates and training. Most businesses are live in about a week. Guided onboarding is optional and quoted after a discovery call.
Frequently asked questions
How is Unecast priced compared with Respond.io?
Unecast plans cost $29, $49 or $99 a month, with seats and contacts set by plan. Respond.io's pricing article of 27 September 2026 says Growth and Advanced also bill by Monthly Active Contacts above 1,000.
Does either platform mark up Meta's WhatsApp fees?
Unecast passes Meta fees through at zero markup, and Meta bills you directly. Respond.io also says it does not charge markups on WhatsApp messaging fees.
Can I send SMS from Unecast without another provider?
Yes. Bulk and OTP SMS run on the same platform, over the web app, REST or SMPP. Sri Lanka is live today, and other countries are enabled on request.
Does Unecast charge extra for AI replies?
AI replies are pay as you go, at about $0.002 to $0.015 each from a prepaid balance. If the balance runs out, the AI pauses and chats go to your team.
Can I move my WhatsApp number from another provider?
Usually yes. Our optional guided onboarding, quoted after a discovery call, covers verification and template setup with you.
Keep reading
Want to compare Unecast with Respond.io on a live demo?
Set up yourself from Settings, or ask about guided onboarding for verification paperwork, templates and training. It is optional and quoted after a discovery call.