doTask vs respond.io
respond.io and doTask both put WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, web chat and email into one team inbox with an AI agent. respond.io is built for larger sales and support teams that need workflows across many channels. doTask is built for small businesses that also need bookings and email marketing in the same place.
doTask, comparedWhich to choose
Choose doTask if
- You want a free plan, and paid plans priced in ringgit from RM 129 a month.
- You take appointments, classes or table bookings and want them booked from the chat, with WhatsApp reminders.
- You want email newsletters and automations in the same workspace as the inbox.
- You sell on Shopify and want the AI to answer from your catalogue and look up a customer's own order.
Choose respond.io if
- You need channels doTask does not offer, such as TikTok, LINE, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, SMS or voice calls.
- You run large teams and need workflow automation, HubSpot or Salesforce sync, multiple workspaces or SSO.
- You want AI agents that can take voice calls (Advanced plan and above).
- You need 5 to 10 users included from the first paid plan.
Side by side
| doTask | respond.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan. Paid from RM 129 a month. | USD 79 a month, billed yearly (USD 948 a year). No free plan. |
| Plans | Free RM 0, Starter RM 129, Growth RM 299, Business RM 599 a month. Monthly with no contract, or yearly with two months free. | Starter USD 79, Growth USD 159, Advanced USD 279 a month billed yearly; Enterprise custom. Billed monthly: USD 1,188, 2,388 and 4,188 a year. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial on paid plans. | 7-day free trial, no credit card. |
| Users included | 1 (Free), 2, 5 or 15. | 5 (Starter), 10 (Growth and Advanced), unlimited (Enterprise). |
| How usage is counted | AI conversations per month: 50, 300, 1,000 or 3,000. | Monthly Active Contacts: unlimited on Starter, from 1,000 on Growth and Advanced. AI credits from 5,000. |
| Channels | WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, website chat, email. | WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, TikTok, LINE, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, web chat, email, SMS and calls. |
| AI agent | On every plan, including Free. Answers from your own pages, files, Q&A, products and policies, and hands over. | AI Agents on Growth and above. Starter has AI Assist, AI Prompts and AI summaries. |
| WhatsApp fees | Meta bills WhatsApp messages to your own WhatsApp Business account at Meta's rates. doTask adds nothing. | Not included in any plan; Meta charges by usage. respond.io says it adds no usage markup. |
| Keep the WhatsApp Business app (Coexistence) | Yes. | Yes. |
| Bookings | Built in: services, staff, rooms, classes, a booking page and WhatsApp reminders (paid plans). | Connects to Cal.com, Calendly and Google Calendar. |
| Workflows and broadcasts | Flows and broadcasts on every plan, within plan caps. | Workflows and Broadcasts on Growth and above. |
| Data and company | Stored in Singapore. Built in Kuala Lumpur. | Not compared here. |
Prices as listed on 28 September 2026, before tax. Meta's WhatsApp charges are separate on every tool; see WhatsApp API pricing in Malaysia.
Pricing
doTask has a free plan and three paid plans in ringgit. Each plan caps seats, AI conversations, staff calendars, flows, contacts and emails. Plans are monthly and can be cancelled from the app.
respond.io prices in US dollars by users and Monthly Active Contacts. A Monthly Active Contact is anyone you messaged or called in the billing month. The Starter plan leaves out AI Agents, Broadcasts and Workflows, so most teams that want automation start on Growth.
Where respond.io is stronger
respond.io covers more channels and goes deeper on automation. Its Workflows, CRM integrations and multi-workspace setup suit teams with many agents, regions or brands. It also offers voice calling and AI voice agents on higher plans.
Where doTask is different
doTask puts bookings, a help centre, tickets and email marketing beside the inbox. A salon, clinic or studio can let the AI Agent book a slot in the chat and send a WhatsApp reminder before the visit. Online bookings are on the Starter plan and above.
The AI Agent answers only from what you give it and says when it does not know. A person can take over any conversation, and the AI stays quiet until it is handed back.
Questions
Does either tool charge extra on WhatsApp messages?
doTask connects your own WhatsApp Business account, and Meta bills it directly at Meta's rates. respond.io says WhatsApp fees are not part of its plans and that it adds no usage markup.
Which one has a free plan?
doTask has a free plan with one seat and 50 AI conversations a month. respond.io offers a 7-day free trial instead.
Can I keep using the WhatsApp Business app?
Yes, on both. Meta calls this Coexistence. Some app features are switched off by Meta while it is on.
Sources
- doTask pricing · checked 28 September 2026
- doTask FAQ · checked 28 September 2026
- doTask Chatbot · checked 28 September 2026
- respond.io pricing · checked 28 September 2026
- respond.io: WhatsApp Coexistence · checked 28 September 2026