Kommo vs. Respond.io: Which is right for you?

December 28, 2023

12 min.

Introduction

If you’re looking for the best CRM (customer relationship management) solution for your business and want to learn the difference between Kommo and Respond.io, you've come to the right place.

Today, we'll explore Respond.io CRM and compare it to Kommo CRM. We'll break down the key features, pricing models, and how they can help your business succeed.

Choosing a CRM can be challenging, especially if you’re a first-time user. That's why we've done our research, and after spending hours evaluating and comparing Kommo to different CRM platforms, we've wrapped it all up for you here.

Kommo vs. Respond.io: At a glance

Before exploring the differences between Respond.io and Kommo, we’ll highlight Respond.io’s uniqueness. We're not here to throw shade at our competitors but to give you the inside scoop on what makes each platform stand out.

Reading the entire article will take some time, so be patient and get ready to discover the vibrant world of these two amazing tools.

Kommo is defined as a unified customer communications platform that seamlessly integrates with email and messaging apps, helping businesses streamline customer engagement, enhance the customer experience, and drive sales.

Respond.io, on the other hand, is a business messaging platform that connects customers from any channel to every team, allowing businesses to manage conversations, automate workflows, and track results across multiple messaging channels.

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Feature
Kommo
Respond.io
Starting price
From $15 per user per month
From $99 per month
Maximum users
Uncapped
10-25
Monthly Active Contacts (MACs)
2,500 MACs per active user
1,000 MACs per month
Communication channels
WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Viber, Telegram, calls, email, Skype, iMessage
WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram
Functionality
Built-in chatbot editor, task management system, visual sales pipeline, broadcasting
Access to DialogFlow for creating chatbots, broadcasting

Kommo & Respond.io: an overview

Kommo vs. Respond.io: What is the difference?

Although Kommo and Respond.io are powerful CRM solutions designed to help you grow your business, they have different strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s go through the main differences between the two platforms:

1. Sales process visualization

A sales pipeline visually represents sales and where every potential customer stands in the purchasing process.

Although Respond.io falls short here, as it’s primarily focused on chatting with customers, it lacks the robust CRM features that Kommo does. Respond.io's sales pipeline functions more like a set of notes or a series of comments scribbled on a napkin than the interactive visual dashboard.

In contrast, the sales pipeline in Kommo is the main place for all sales-related activities. Kommo’s sales pipeline is the overview of your ongoing deals, organized by pipeline stages, and represents the actual stages of your sales process.

Kommo offers flexibility, allowing you to craft up to 50 personalized pipelines tailored to the specific nuances of your business and customer journey.

2. Task management

Although Respond.io has many features, some users may need more for task management. The platform's task management features are geared towards automatically distributing leads to agents. This might not be ideal for users seeking assistance with task management, flexibility, and customization.

With Kommo’s task management, you can see the big picture and ensure all your leads are active and moving. With its sleek and powerful features, Kommo allows you to create, save, and manage custom tasks. You can also set up notifications and track your team's performance.

📌 Kommo allows you to see the big picture, ensuring all your leads are active and moving.

Kommo’s color-coded task status and smart filters help you keep leads engaged and your pipeline organized. Kommo's automation features automatically generate tasks, boosting productivity and ensuring all leads move with the flow.

For real-life examples of how Kommo's Task Management tools can save you time and money, read this.

3. Mobile app

The mobile apps of Respond.io and Kommo enable businesses to stay connected with customers and teams while on the go.

Respond.io’s app focuses on communication, allowing users to receive notifications for new messages, read and respond to customer queries, and share information with the team.

However, the Kommo app has many more capabilities and features, including an intuitive mobile CRM, contact sync, caller ID, business card scanner, and smart notifications.

Kommo’s mobile app seamlessly integrates with desktop and mobile devices, ensuring you never miss an opportunity. It's the same solution as the web version, now optimized for mobile use.

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Integrations

Integrations let you connect your CRM to your favorite apps and services. They automate tasks, improve data accuracy, and more.

Let’s look at the table below to compare the list of both platforms' integrations:

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Integration Category
Kommo
Respond.io
Messaging Apps
Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, LiveChat, Zoom, Skype, Viber, iMessage, WeChat, SMS, Phone. SnapEngage
Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, WeChat, LINE, Google Business Messages, Viber, SMS
Workflow
Zapier, Slack, Shopify, Make, Calendly, Google Calendar, Zendesk, Piesync, Google Sheet, Evernote, Mindbody, PandaDoc, Forms.app, 10to8, Breezy, Pyrus, ClickUp, Ecwid, Webhook
Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets, Zapier, Shopify, Zendesk, Google Analytics, Slack, DialogFlow, Pipedrive, IBM Watson, Rasa, Make
Leads capture
Facebook leads form, LinkedIn, RD Station, Wufoo, Formstack, Typeform, Tilda, Unbounce, JotForm, Getsitecontrol, FormKeep, Formidable Forms, WordPress
Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, Joomla,
Marketing
MailChimp, ActiveCampagne, Twilio, Facebook ads, Google Ads, LeadsBridge, Google Analytics, Omniconvert Explore, Outgrow, Weblium, Rigostat, MailerLite
Message Bird, Twilio, Vonage, ActiveCampagne, Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce
Documents & Storage
Dropbox, HelloSign, FormStack Documents, Proposify, Dokker, Folder
Zapier, Make
Invoicing & Payment
Stripe, PayPal, MemberSpace
Zapier, Make

As you can see, Kommo offers a plethora of native integrations, giving you direct access to a vast network of apps and services. This eliminates the need for third-party solutions, ensuring seamless compatibility and intuitive integration.

Not only does Respond.io offer fewer integrations to choose from, but it also leverages third-party services like Zapier and Make.com to expand its integration capabilities beyond its native offerings. While this provides access to a wider range of integrations, it also introduces additional costs and complexities.

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Pricing

We’ve already looked at the main differences and integrations of Kommo and Respond.io. Let’s compare the pricing plans of both platforms to help you determine which fits your budget the most.

Price comparison table:

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Plan
Features
Kommo
Plan
Features
Respond.io
Base
Unified inboxCustomizable sales pipelinesTask management & more
$15 month/user
Team
1,000 Monthly Active Contacts2,000 Respond AI CreditsAll Core Features
$99 per 10 users/month
Advanced
Everything in BaseNo-code SalesbotPipeline automation
$25 month/user
Business
3,000 Monthly Active Contacts5,000 Respond AI CreditsAll Core FeaturesAdvanced ReportingGoogle Sheets StepHTTP Request Step
$299 per 25 users/month
Enterprise
Everything in AdvancedIncreased client databaseAdvanced client profiles
$45 month/user
Custom
Unlimited UsersUnlimited WorkflowsUnlimited Broadcast MessagesData ExportSingle Sign-On (SSO)
By quote

This table provides a summary of the entry-level plans

Entry-level plans comparison

Let’s break down the entry-level plans of both platforms designed for businesses just starting out and needing a basic solution. The plans include the essential features to start marketing activity, track leads, and manage customer relationships.

Price

Kommo: The minimum subscription cost starts at $15 per month for 1 user, with the option to add additional users at $15 each.

Respond.io: The Team Plan costs $99 monthly but includes 10 users.

Please keep in mind: Saving costs by opting out of some users is not possible (e.g. if your team consists of just 6 individuals, you still have to pay for 10)

Monthly Active Contacts (MACs)

Kommo’s basic plan offers 2,500 MACs for each active user. In contrast, Respond.io’s team plan provides only 1,000 MACs per month for all users, with an additional fee of $10 for every extra 100 MACs.

For businesses with larger customer bases, Respond.io might prove to be considerably more expensive compared to Kommo

Communication channels

Kommo and Respond.io's plans include the core channels you need, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.

However, Kommo offers additional channels that Respond.io lacks direct integration with, such as Skype and iMessage, providing more ways to connect with customers.

Additionally, Kommo's native app makes connecting your WhatsApp account via QR code a breeze and is completely free. For WhatsApp Business API users, Kommo even provides an initial balance of $1, allowing you to test the channel without cost.

📌 Kommo gives $1 to try WhatsApp Business API integration to see it yourself.

Now, let's explore the ins and outs of functionality and see how Kommo and Respond.io stack up against each other.

Kommo’s Base plan offers features not available in Respond.io, such as creating visual sales pipelines and automating task management. These tools can significantly improve business process efficiency and organization.

📌 Kommo’s Base plan offers features abscent in Respond.io, including the option to create visual sales pipelines and automate task management.

Respondio’s Team plan provides users access to DialogFlow for creating chatbots. However, it's worth noting that the connection process may pose challenges.

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Features

Let’s explore the features of both platforms in detail.

What are the similarities?

Kommo and Respond.io are mighty conversational CRM platforms that elevate customer connections to a new level. They both pack a punch with features that businesses are raving about:

1. Multichannel chat inbox

Kommo and Respond.io are equipped with a unified inbox that keeps your messages organized and lets you manage conversations across multiple messaging apps. Their support for the popular messengers you probably use, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram, connects you with customers wherever they prefer to chat.

Kommo, however, takes it a step further and certifies an official Apple Messaging Service Provider, opening the door for easy and personalized communication via the popular iMessage app. The best part, this feature is completely free. Respond.io, on the other hand, doesn’t integrate with Apple Business Chat at all.

2. Chatbot

Kommo and Respond.io offer visual chatbot editors that allow businesses to create automated chatbots that provide customer support 24/7. Both chatbots can be customized to fit your company's unique requirements and be used to answer frequently asked questions, troubleshoot common issues, and provide general information.

The difference between the two is that Kommo has its built-in chatbot editor, meaning that it’s platform-specific and specifically designed for Kommo. At the same time, Respond.io uses third-party integrations like DialogFlow or Rasa. Third-party integrations can be complex and sometimes require coding skills.

📌 Kommo, unlike Respond.io has its built-in chatbot editor, meaning that it’s platform-specific and specifically designed for Kommo.

Plus, Kommo's chatbot, known as Salesbot, can do more than provide correct answers. It can, for example:

  1. Auto-assign leads' inquiries
  2. Validate information
  3. Set & manage tasks
  4. Generate documents
  5. Detect client’s intentions
  6. Respond with pre-made templates
  7. Follow up with clients

3. Automated workflow

Kommo and Respond.io offer robust automation tools to help businesses streamline their sales workflow. This can reduce the following:

  1. Reduce the number of repetitive tasks
  2. Improve the correctness of data
  3. Keep you online 24/7
  4. Automatically schedule calls & meetings
  5. Launch lead nurturing campaigns
  6. Grab leads from various sources

4. Broadcasting

Kommo and Respond.io are powerful broadcasting platforms that can help you reach many people quickly and easily.

🗒️ Broadcasting: a feature that allows you to simultaneously send bulk messages to a large group of people.

Both platforms offer an easy way to launch marketing campaigns targeting a selected user group or to simply message-blast your entire audience. This helps reach out to new leads, nurture existing ones, or promote a new product or service.

Broadcasting is useful for:

💭 Getting in touch with new leads

💭 Nurturing existing leads & clients

💭 Promoting new products or services

Broadcasts can be scheduled in advance, sent to specific groups only, or triggered by specific events, for example, a new product launch or website visit. A/B testing helps compare different messaging approaches to determine which performs best.

5. Free trial

Kommo and Respond.io offer free trials, allowing you to explore their platforms before committing to a paid plan. This is a great way to test the CRM’s features and understand if it fits your business needs.

Kommo offers a 14-day free trial during which users get access to all platform features. Respond.io's free trial gives you access to all Business plan features, but it’s only available for 7 days.

📌 Kommo offers a 14-day free trial during which users get access to Enterprise features.

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Ease of use

Kommo and Respond.io prioritize ease of use and usability as a cornerstone of their success. The idea is for users to easily communicate with their customers and functionalities and understand how to use the tools of the platforms.

Kommo's user-friendly interface and thorough documentation make it a breeze to use, minimizing headaches and maximizing productivity. Its dedication to simplicity has not gone unnoticed, as evident in its growing popularity among businesses of all sizes seeking an easy-to-use solution to improve relationships with customers.

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Customer support

Kommo and Respond.io both have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to customer support service. Although both services respond quickly to customer inquiries and receive positive reviews, some differences exist. These are:

  • Kommo's customer service is only available during business hours, whereas Respond.io's is open around-the-clock, except weekends.
  • Kommo offers a wider range of support channels, including LiveChat and social media. This is convenient for customers who prefer to communicate in real-time. Respond.io also offers social media chat for quick issue resolution.
  • Kommo offers a variety of support resources, such as a knowledge base, training materials, and videos. This is useful for customers seeking self-help.

All in all, both customer support services provide good customer service care. Kommo can be a better choice for customers who prefer real-time communication or would like to resolve issues independently. Respond.io may be a better option for users who need 24/7 support through social media.

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Feature
Kommo
Respond.io
Hours of operation
Business hours only
24/5 (closed on weekends)
Support channels
Phone, LiveChat, social media, email, webform
Social media, email, webform
Support resources
Knowledge base, training materials, documentations
Knowledge base, documentations
Best for
Real time communication
24-hour support

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Customer reviews

With customer support in mind, both Kommo and Respond.io have received positive reviews from users, with most praising their ease of use, features, and customer support.

Choosing between Kommo and Respond.io

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Kommo Pros
Respod.io Pros
Kommo Cons
Respond.io Cons
Pricing: Balanced pricing with lots of product features and extensive customization options, enabling personalized experiences for different users.
Easy to use: The chat interface is intuitive and has shortcuts for sending templates.
Limited integrations: Kommo doesn’t offer as many integrations as other CRM platforms. This could be a problem for certain users.
Strict reporting systems: restrict data analysis and SLA customization. This hinders comprehensive insights and tailored performance measures.
User-friendly: Kommo is exceptionally user-friendly, making it easy for new users to start immediately.
Customer support: Respond.io has excellent customer support.
Unstable platform: Kommo constantly develops new versions to improve productivity and add new features. While there have been some bug reports, the developers are committed to addressing them immediately.
Slow productivity: The chat history and dashboard lag a lot.
✅Two Types of WhatsApp Integrations:Free WA Lite: Offers cost-effective solutions for basic needs.Paid WhatsApp Business API Integrations: Provides advanced features and scalability for businesses.
Multiple chats management: It facilitates efficient management of multiple chats across departments.
Comprehensive Solution: Kommo provides an omnichannel solution that seamlessly integrates sales and marketing functionalities, encompassing both CRM tools and a chat inbox within a single subscription plan.
Workflow automation: Some workflows can be automated, helping filter queries.

Pros & cons of Kommo & Respond.io

Kommo vs. Respond.io: Final thoughts

Whether you're a small business navigating the early stages of growth or a larger organization ready for expansion, Kommo and Respond.io support your conversational marketing journey.

Choose the platform that best aligns with your current needs and will help you meet your future growth ambitions. With Kommo or Respond.io, you can transform customer interactions and grow your business.

Bottom line

If you’re still unsure which platform is best for you, we suggest giving Kommo and Respond.io a try for free before deciding on your favorite.

To explore all the capabilities of Kommo and understand how the platform can help increase your business revenue, click here and try a 2-week trial period, that is free, no credit card required.

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Anton Kildyushov

Anton, a seasoned marketer, passionately explores and masters CRM platforms with a hands-on approach, engaging with support, sales reps and experts worldwide.

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