Quick Answer
The best Interakt alternative for Indian businesses in 2026 is Chat Mitra. The Starter plan is free forever at ₹0.20 per conversation with no subscription and zero markup on Meta rates. Pro is ₹999/month (15-day free trial) when you need Auto Reply, AI Chatbot, API access and Webhooks. While Interakt excels for Shopify-heavy e-commerce with its native app, its free plan is limited to Instagram only, and the Growth plan at ₹2,499/month adds per-message markups (marketing messages cost ₹0.958). Chat Mitra offers free Shopify integration, built-in e-commerce features, and works across all industries. Other alternatives include WATI (enterprise features), AiSensy (free plan), Gallabox (CRM integrations), and DoubleTick (mobile-first).
Best Interakt Alternatives in 2026: 5 Platforms Compared
Interakt's Instagram-only free plan, per-message markups on Growth tier, and e-commerce-heavy focus leave many businesses underserved. Here are 5 platforms worth considering.
Why Businesses Leave Interakt
Free Plan = Instagram Only
Interakt's free starter plan does not include WhatsApp access. Businesses signing up for WhatsApp API must start at ₹2,499/month minimum.
Per-Message Markups
Marketing messages on the Growth plan cost ₹0.958 each. At 10,000 messages/month, per-message charges alone reach ₹9,580.
E-Commerce-Heavy Focus
Interakt is built around Shopify and e-commerce flows. Healthcare, education, real estate, and service businesses find many features irrelevant.
Basic Chatbot on Lower Tiers
Advanced chatbot automation is reserved for higher-tier plans. Growing businesses hit feature walls that force expensive plan upgrades.
5 Best Interakt Alternatives for 2026
#1 Chat Mitra
Businesses wanting transparent pay-per-use pricing across any industry, not just e-commerce
Strengths
- Zero markup on Meta charges
- Free Shopify, Razorpay & Google Sheets integrations
- ₹999/month advanced chatbot
- 24/7 phone support
- Built-in product catalog & shopping cart
Limitations
- No free plan (14-day trial instead)
- Smaller brand recognition than Interakt
#2 WATI
Businesses needing enterprise-grade features with global support
Strengths
- 1,000 free conversations to start
- Strong HubSpot/Zoho integrations
- Well-known global brand
Limitations
- 20% markup on Meta rates
- ₹14,400/month for chatbot
- $4.99/month per integration
#3 AiSensy
Businesses wanting a free plan to test WhatsApp API first
Strengths
- Free forever plan
- Dialogflow chatbot integration
- Good blog/documentation
Limitations
- Limited features on free plan
- Per-message charges on top of subscription
#4 Gallabox
Businesses needing native CRM integrations (Zoho, HubSpot)
Strengths
- Native Zoho/HubSpot CRM sync
- WhatsApp Flows support
- 7-day free trial
Limitations
- USD pricing (expensive for Indian businesses)
- Extra users ₹1,000/month each
#5 DoubleTick
Field sales teams needing a mobile-first WhatsApp app
Strengths
- Mobile app with WhatsApp-like UI
- First 1,000 conversations free
- 7-day free trial
Limitations
- Most expensive option
- Limited to 5-10 agents per plan
Feature Comparison: Interakt vs Alternatives
| Feature | Chat Mitra | Interakt | WATI | AiSensy | Gallabox | DoubleTick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | Starter free; Pro ₹999 | ₹0-₹3,499 | ₹2,499-₹16,999 | ₹0-₹3,200 | $89-$377 | ₹5,700-₹8,300 |
| Markup on Meta Rates | Zero | Per-message (₹0.958 marketing) | 20% | Per-message | Included | Included |
| Chatbot Cost | Free basic, ₹999 advanced | Basic on lower tiers | ₹14,400/month | ₹2,500/month | Included in Growth+ | Included |
| Integration Fees | Free | Free | $4.99/month each | Free | Shopify $5/month | Free |
| Phone Support | 24/7 | No | No (email only) | No | No | No |
| Multi-Project | Yes (unlimited) | No | No | No | Extra ₹1,200/month | No |
| Free Trial/Plan | 14 days | Free starter (Instagram only) | 1,000 free conversations | Free plan | 7 days | 7 days |
| Shopify Integration | Free | Native app | $4.99/month | Free | $5/month | Free |
How to Switch from Interakt to ChatMitra
Export Your Contacts & Orders
Download your contact list and order data from Interakt as CSV. Customer tags, attributes, and conversation history can be preserved.
Transfer Your WhatsApp Number
Your existing WhatsApp Business number migrates to ChatMitra seamlessly. Your messaging limits, templates and conversation history stay intact.
Reconnect Shopify & Import Data
Connect your Shopify store to ChatMitra (free integration). Upload contacts, recreate templates, and set up automated order notifications.
Go Live
Start sending messages immediately. ChatMitra's onboarding team provides a free setup call covering Shopify integration, chatbot setup, and broadcast configuration.
When Interakt Is Still the Right Choice
- Your business runs entirely on Shopify and you need the deepest possible native Shopify integration
- You want Haptik's AI-powered conversational commerce features backed by Jio's ecosystem
- You only need Instagram automation and the free starter plan covers your use case completely
Ready to Switch from Interakt?
Start free on the Starter plan — no subscription. Zero markups, free Shopify integration, free migration support. Pro is ₹999/month with a 15-day trial when you need automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do businesses switch from Interakt?
The most common reasons are Interakt's free plan being limited to Instagram only, per-message markups on the Growth plan (marketing messages cost ₹0.958 vs Meta's base rate), the e-commerce-heavy focus that doesn't serve non-retail industries well, and basic chatbot capabilities on lower tiers.
What is the cheapest Interakt alternative in India?
Chat Mitra is the most affordable option. The Starter plan is free forever at ₹0.20 per conversation with zero markup on Meta rates and no subscription. Pro is ₹999/month with a 15-day free trial when you need Auto Reply, AI Chatbot, API access or Webhooks — still well below Interakt's ₹2,499/month Growth plan.
Can I migrate from Interakt to ChatMitra?
Yes. Export your contacts from Interakt as CSV, import them into ChatMitra in minutes. Your WhatsApp Business number can be transferred seamlessly. ChatMitra's team provides free migration support including Shopify reconnection and template recreation.
Which Interakt alternative is best for Shopify stores?
Chat Mitra integrates with Shopify for free and adds built-in e-commerce features like product catalog, shopping cart, and Razorpay payments. While Interakt has a deeper native Shopify app, ChatMitra covers most Shopify use cases at a fraction of the cost.
Is Interakt's free plan worth using?
Interakt's free starter plan is limited to Instagram only - it does not include WhatsApp access. For businesses specifically needing WhatsApp API, this free plan has no value. Chat Mitra's 14-day free trial gives full access to all WhatsApp features.
Which alternative works best for non-e-commerce businesses?
Chat Mitra is industry-agnostic and works well for healthcare, education, real estate, finance, and services businesses. Interakt is heavily optimized for e-commerce, which can be a limitation for other industries.
Does any Interakt alternative have Haptik AI features?
Interakt's Haptik AI backing is unique to its platform. Chat Mitra offers its own chatbot builder at ₹999/month. AiSensy integrates with Google Dialogflow. For advanced AI, WATI has a chatbot at ₹14,400/month.