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Alternatives to Cliengo for WhatsApp in 2026

5 min read

Cliengo is an Argentine platform with years of experience, strong at capturing leads from the web and social media. But if your priority is handling WhatsApp with a small team, you might be wondering if there's something simpler or cheaper. The short answer: yes, and on this page I'll tell you about the real alternatives, with their pros and cons.

I'll compare options used in Latin America, in Spanish, that work for WhatsApp. I won't sell you hype: each tool has its own territory, and I'll tell you which one suits each case.

Cliengo: what it is and who it's ideal for

Cliengo started as a chatbot for the website and later added WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Its strength is converting anonymous visitors into qualified leads, with a basic built-in CRM. If your business thrives on capturing contacts from the web, Cliengo is a solid option.

The entry price is high for an SME that only needs WhatsApp. Additionally, its automation combines pre-programmed flows with an AI layer, but it's not generative AI that understands free language. For a small business that wants intelligent responses without programming flows, it can be overkill and expensive.

  • Strong at: web chatbot for leads, real multichannel, basic CRM.
  • Weak at: high entry price, flow-based automation, not pure generative AI.

Prices, verified one by one

We verified the prices and plans we mention on cliengo.com, wati.io, whaticket.com, manychat.com, and botmaker.com on August 29, 2026. Always check the official site before deciding, as conditions change.

  • Cliengo Starter: US$45/month — 2 users and 500 conversations.
  • Cliengo Premium: US$119/month — more volume and marketing features.
  • Cliengo Business: US$259/month — the highest tier, aimed at teams.
  • Cliengo free trial: 14 days.
  • Wati Growth: US$45/month billed annually — 3 users and 500 active contacts, with no possibility of adding more.
  • Wati Pro: US$95/month — US$24 for each additional user.
  • Whaticket Single plan: US$49/month with monthly billing — minimum 3 users and 1 WhatsApp connection; 20% less when billed annually.
  • Whaticket free trial: 14 days.
  • ManyChat Essential: US$14/month — 250 contacts.
  • ManyChat Pro: US$29/month — 2,500 contacts.
  • ManyChat free: Real Free Plan: 25 active contacts and 1 user.
  • Botmaker Standard: US$149/month — 3,000 conversations.
  • Botmaker Scale: US$249/month — 5,000 conversations.
  • Botmaker Pro: US$499/month — 10,000 conversations.
  • Botmaker Enterprise: on request — customized.
  • Botmaker free: The account is created for free and includes up to 300 initial conversations at no charge.
  • Wando Starter: US$9.99/month — 500 contacts, 1 user.
  • Wando Pro: US$19.99/month — 5,000 contacts, 3 users.
  • Wando Enterprise: US$49.99/month — 25,000 contacts, unlimited users.
  • Wando free trial: 14 days without a card.

Wati: no-code automation for global teams

Wati is a global platform with a very polished no-code flow builder. If you like building visual automations and have a team that maintains them, Wati is powerful. It has many integrations and is proven at an international scale.

But the entry plan does not allow additional users: if you grow, you jump up a step. It is paid in dollars or euros, and support and materials are designed in English. For a Latin American SME just starting with WhatsApp, it can feel cold and expensive.

  • Strong in: mature no-code flows, many integrations, global scale.
  • Weak in: limited entry plan, English-speaking audience, cost per extra user.

Whaticket: shared inbox for teams

Whaticket is a shared multi-agent, multi-channel inbox, widely used in Latin America. If you have a team of several people handling the same number, Whaticket handles conversation distribution well without overlaps.

The problem: the minimum plan is 3 users. If you are a one-person business, you pay for three. And automation is flow-based, not AI that understands free language. For a solo seller, it is an unnecessary extra cost.

  • Strong in: shared inbox, multi-agent, local support.
  • Weak in: minimum of 3 users, flow-based automation, no generative AI.

ManyChat: chat marketing for Instagram and Messenger

ManyChat is the reference for automating Instagram and Messenger, with funnels and campaigns. It has a real free plan, not a disguised trial, and a low entry price among paid plans. If your engine is Meta's networks, ManyChat is a tempting option.

But its center of gravity is social networks, not WhatsApp as a service channel. It is designed for marketing funnels, not for a team to handle inquiries. And the material and community are mostly in English.

  • Strong in: real free plan, low price, ideal for Instagram/Messenger.
  • Weak in: WhatsApp secondary, focus on marketing, not on service.

Botmaker: omnichannel for large companies

Botmaker is an omnichannel conversational automation platform aimed at medium and large companies. If you have high conversation volume and multiple channels, Botmaker has the power and enterprise-level support.

The smallest plan is US$149/month: it's too much for an SME. The platform's complexity is the flip side of its power. For a small business that wants something simple, it's like using a bulldozer to hammer a nail.

  • Strong in: omnichannel, high volume, enterprise support.
  • Weak in: high price, complexity, designed for large companies.

Wando: the AI alternative that learns from your team

Wando is an Argentine SaaS that uses Meta's official WhatsApp API to help businesses respond to their WhatsApp Business. The key difference: the AI SUGGESTS responses and your team approves them with one click. It doesn't respond on its own without supervision by default. And it learns from the business's real responses, so it improves on its own, without programming flows.

It is designed for SMEs in Latin America, in Spanish, with local support. It includes a message inbox with AI suggestions, templates, campaigns, contacts with labels, statistics, and multi-agent support. It also integrates with Google Sheets, Mercado Pago, and webhooks to Make, Zapier, n8n, and Slack.

It has a free 14-day trial without a credit card, and plans starting from US$9.99/month. If you want to see the details, check the current plans at wando.online/pricing. For a business that wants to handle WhatsApp with AI help without going crazy setting up flows, Wando is a straightforward and accessible option.

  • AI that suggests responses and your team approves (human-in-the-loop).
  • Learns from the business's real responses.
  • Official WhatsApp API from Meta.
  • In Spanish, for LatAm, with local support.
  • Free 14-day trial without a credit card.

Choosing between Cliengo and its alternatives depends on your priority. If capturing leads from the web is your engine, Cliengo is solid. If you want to automate Instagram, ManyChat has a free plan. If you have a large team, Whaticket or Botmaker cover well. But if what you need is to handle WhatsApp with AI help that learns from your team, without overpaying and in Spanish, Wando is an option worth trying. Try it for 14 days without a credit card and see if it works for you.

Frequently asked questions

Does Cliengo have a free plan?+

No, Cliengo does not have a free plan. It offers a 14-day trial, but after that you start paying from the entry plan.

What is the cheapest alternative to Cliengo for WhatsApp?+

Among the options we compared, Wando has the lowest entry price, with plans starting at US$9.99/month and a free 14-day trial without a credit card. ManyChat also has a free plan, but it's more focused on Instagram and Messenger.

Which tool is best for a team of several people?+

Whaticket is designed for teams from the start, with a shared inbox and multi-agent support. But the minimum plan is 3 users. Wando also has multi-agent support and is more flexible for small teams.

Does Cliengo work for WhatsApp?+

Yes, Cliengo has WhatsApp as a channel, but its strength is web chat for capturing leads. If your priority is WhatsApp only, there are more specific and affordable options.

What makes Wando different from a traditional chatbot?+

Wando is not a flow-based chatbot that you have to program. It uses AI that suggests responses and your team approves them with one click. Plus, it learns from the business's real responses and improves on its own.

Does Wando use the official WhatsApp API?+

Yes, Wando uses Meta's official WhatsApp API (WhatsApp Cloud API). That means it's stable and complies with Meta's policies.