How to Migrate from ManyChat to BlazeReply (Step-by-Step)

Why People Are Moving Away from ManyChat

ManyChat has been the default choice for Instagram DM automation for years. But their pricing changes in 2026 — reducing the free tier from 1,000 contacts to just 25, and charging $29 per month extra for AI features — have pushed many creators and small businesses to look for alternatives.

If you have decided to make the switch to BlazeReply, this guide walks you through the entire migration process. The good news is that it is simpler than you might expect because Instagram DM automation tools do not store your Instagram messages or contacts permanently — they work through Meta's API in real time.

Before You Start: What You Need

Before beginning the migration, make sure you have these things ready:

1. Your Instagram Business or Creator account credentials. You will need to connect your Instagram account to BlazeReply through Meta's official OAuth flow. This is the same process you used when you first connected to ManyChat.

2. A list of your current ManyChat keywords. Go into your ManyChat dashboard and write down every keyword you have set up, along with the DM message that each keyword triggers. You will recreate these in BlazeReply.

3. Your DM message templates. Copy the text of every automated DM you are currently sending through ManyChat. This includes your initial DM, any follow-up messages, and any links or resources you share.

4. A note of any active ManyChat flows. If you have built complex multi-step flows in ManyChat's flow builder, write down the logic. BlazeReply uses a simpler keyword-to-DM model with AI conversations, so you may need to rethink some flows.

Step 1: Sign Up for BlazeReply

Head to blazereply.com and create your free account. The free plan gives you 1,000 DMs per month with 50 AI conversations — enough to test everything before you commit.

Click "Get Started" and sign up with your email. No credit card is required for the free plan.

Step 2: Connect Your Instagram Account

After signing up, you will be prompted to connect your Instagram Business account. Click the connect button, and Meta's OAuth screen will appear asking you to authorize BlazeReply to access your Instagram messaging.

Important: You do not need to disconnect ManyChat first. Both tools can be connected to your Instagram account simultaneously while you test. However, if both tools are listening for the same keywords, you will get duplicate DMs. So either pause your ManyChat automations first, or use different test keywords in BlazeReply during setup.

Step 3: Recreate Your Keywords

This is the core of the migration. In BlazeReply, go to your dashboard and click "Add Keyword" for each keyword you had in ManyChat.

For each keyword, you will set:

The trigger word: The exact keyword someone comments on your post. Keep these the same as your ManyChat keywords so your existing content (posts, Reels, stories that reference specific keywords) continues to work.

The DM message: Paste in the same DM text you were using in ManyChat. You can update it later, but keeping it the same initially ensures continuity.

The comment reply: The public reply that appears under the person's comment (like "Check your DMs!"). Set this to match what you had in ManyChat.

AI conversation goal (optional): This is where BlazeReply adds value that ManyChat charges $29 per month extra for. You can set an AI goal for each keyword — "collect email," "qualify lead," or "book call." The AI will continue the conversation after your initial DM to achieve that goal naturally.

Step 4: Handle Your Existing Contacts

Here is an important thing to understand: Instagram DM automation tools do not own your contacts. Your Instagram DMs, followers, and conversations all live on Instagram's platform. When you switch tools, your Instagram inbox, followers, and conversation history remain exactly as they are.

What you lose when you leave ManyChat is any contact data stored in ManyChat's CRM — tags, custom fields, and conversation analytics. If this data matters to you, export it from ManyChat before canceling your subscription. ManyChat allows CSV exports of your contact data.

BlazeReply will start tracking new interactions from the moment you activate your keywords. It will not retroactively import your ManyChat conversation history.

Step 5: Test Before Going Live

Before turning off ManyChat, test your BlazeReply setup thoroughly:

1. Post a test story or post with one of your keywords

2. Comment the keyword from a personal account (or ask a friend to)

3. Verify the comment reply appears

4. Verify the DM arrives correctly

5. If you have AI enabled, respond to the DM and check that the AI conversation flows naturally

Run this test for each keyword you have set up. The entire testing process should take about 15 minutes.

Step 6: Deactivate ManyChat

Once you have confirmed everything works in BlazeReply, go into ManyChat and either:

If you are on ManyChat's paid plan, check their billing cycle. You may want to time the switch so you are not paying for both tools simultaneously.

What Changes After Migration

What stays the same: Your Instagram account, followers, existing DMs, post history, and audience remain unchanged. Your posts that reference specific keywords will continue to work because you have set up the same keywords in BlazeReply.

What improves: You now have AI-powered conversations included at no extra cost. Your pricing is flat regardless of how many contacts you accumulate. And you can manage up to 3 Instagram accounts on the Pro plan (or 10 on Scale) versus ManyChat's 1 account per plan.

What you lose: ManyChat's visual flow builder for complex multi-step automation. ManyChat's multi-platform support (WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS). ManyChat's 1,000+ third-party integrations. If you relied heavily on any of these, factor that into your decision.

Common Migration Questions

Will I lose my Instagram followers or DM history? No. These live on Instagram, not on ManyChat or BlazeReply.

Can I run both tools at the same time? Technically yes, but you should not have both listening for the same keywords simultaneously or people will receive duplicate DMs.

How long does the whole migration take? For most people with 5-10 keywords, the entire process takes about 30 minutes including testing.

What if I want to go back to ManyChat? You can. The same process works in reverse. Your Instagram account is not locked to any tool.

The Bottom Line

Migrating from ManyChat to BlazeReply is not a complex technical process — it is mostly about recreating your keywords and testing. The hardest part is deciding to make the switch. If ManyChat's pricing changes have pushed you past that decision, the actual migration is straightforward.

Start your free BlazeReply account at blazereply.com — 1,000 DMs per month, AI included, no credit card required.