Channels Overview
respond.io supports the following channels and the platform will continue to support more channels in the future.
The table below summarizes on the connection difficulty level, the time needed, applicable cost and requirements for each channel.
Channels |
| Difficulty | Time Needed | Applicable Cost | Requirements |
| Easy | 15 mins | - | Facebook Page | |
WhatsApp | | Advanced | 7 to 10 working days | ✔ | WhatsApp Business API |
| Moderate | 15 mins | - | Live Website | |
LINE | | Moderate | 30 mins | - | LINE Official Account |
Telegram | | Moderate | 15 mins | - | Telegram Bot |
Viber | | Moderate | 15 mins | - | Viber Bot |
SMS | | Moderate | 1 to 2 working days | ✔ | Phone number provisioned by our partners |
Twitter | | Advanced | 1 to 2 working days | - | Twitter App |
WeChat | | Advanced | 3 to 5 working days | - | WeChat Official Account |
If there is a need to connect to channels that require approval such as WhatsApp, Twitter and WeChat, we will suggest proceeding with the application first. Once the account is approved, you may proceed to connect it to respond.io.
If there is a channel you don't see the list and you would like the platform to support, please do not hesitate to add a request or upvote an existing one on our Feature Requests page.
If you are missing a channel you would like to see on the platform, please add or upvote it on our Feature Requests page.
The table below will give you a quick comparison between channels.
* Channel does not support rich UI quick replies, uses numeric system instead.
^ Not all channel partners allow broadcasts.
ª Some channels have a messaging window, replies can only be sent within the messaging window.
˘ Some channels have channel-specific features, you can find out more on the channel page.
º Some channels have additional fees put in place by the channel provider.
For some channels, we are able to find out the message status whether has it been sent, delivered, read or failed. Refer to the following table on which channel offers message status availability:
Messaging Channel | Sent | Delivered | Read | Failed |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
WhatsApp - Twilio | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
WhatsApp - MessageBird | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
WhatsApp - Vonage | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
WhatsApp - Chat API | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | - |
WhatsApp - 360Dialog | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Website Chat | ✔ | - | - | - |
LINE | ✔ | - | - | - |
Telegram | ✔ | - | - | - |
Viber | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
SMS - Twilio | ✔ | ✔ | - | ✔ |
SMS - MessageBird | ✔ | ✔ | - | ✔ |
SMS - Vonage | ✔ | ✔ | - | ✔ |
✔ | - | - | - | |
✔ | - | - | - |
Some messaging channels have a limited messaging window for the contact to receive a response. The messaging window refreshes every time a message is received from a contact. Refer to the following channel and their respective messaging window:
Channel | Messaging Window |
48 Hours | |
Messenger | 24 Hours |
24 Hours |
The 24-hour messaging window is only applicable to WhatsApp Partner API channels; Twilio, Vonage, MessageBird & 360Dialog. WhatsApp Chat API does not have this limitation as it is not a WhatsApp Partner.
Messages can still be sent outside the messaging window but it will not be delivered. There will be a red exclamation mark indicating the message is not delivered along with an error message.
For Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, they have a feature that allows users to send a message to the contacts beyond the 24 hours messaging window.
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To send a message to Facebook contacts after the messaging window, you can use Facebook Messenger Message Tag to do so. For more information on, look at Facebook Messenger Message Tag.
To send a message to WhatsApp contacts after the messaging window, you can use WhatsApp Message Templates to do so. For more information on, look at WhatsApp Message Templates.
