Instagram auto-reply messages: how to set them up + 40 examples to copy

“Price?” “Info.” “Do you ship?” If you run a business on Instagram, you answer the same questions every day, often after hours. An auto-reply answers them in seconds and frees you up for the conversations that really need a person. Done well, the customer barely notices; done badly, it sounds like a robot and they leave.

In this guide you'll see what Instagram gives you for free, what takes a tool, what can't be automated (no matter what anyone promises) and 40 ready-to-copy messages, by situation and type of business.

This isn't an exaggeration: in a 2026 Sprout Social survey, 68% of people expect a reply within 24 hours, and 14% within an hour (Sprout Social, 2026). In the Sprout Social Index 2025, run in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, 73% said that if a brand doesn't respond on social media, they'll buy from a competitor (Sprout Social, 2025).

And it's not just those countries: in a Kantar study commissioned by Meta across 22 countries, including the US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, 73% prefer messaging to communicate with a business (Meta and Kantar, 2026).

On the other side, the fatigue is real. Someone who runs a small beauty spa said on Reddit that they can't keep up: people message to ask things already answered on their website or booking page, like hours, prices or services, and they've even missed a few orders and bookings because they couldn't answer them all (Reddit). Another person, with an online store, had tried Instagram's quick replies but found them clunky, since they still had to pick and send them by hand (Reddit).

What is an Instagram auto-reply?

It's a reply that goes out on its own when something happens: someone messages you for the first time, sends a word like “price”, comments on your post or replies to your story. You write the message once and it's sent every time the condition is met, at any hour.

There are two levels: what Instagram includes (free, but limited) and what tools officially connected to Instagram can do, like answering comments, sending links with a button or booking appointments.

What Instagram gives you for free (and where it stops)

Before you pay for anything, look at what you already have. All of this is free: the FAQs with a business or creator account, and the Meta Business Suite tools with a business account connected to it:

• Frequently asked questions in the Instagram app: up to four questions people see before they write to you, each with its own automatic answer (optional). They only reply if the person taps the question; they don't read what people type (Instagram).
• Automatic greeting: in Meta Business Suite, under Inbox > Automations, a message that goes out the first time someone writes to you. Meta calls it “Auto reply” or “Instant reply”, depending on the help page.
• Away message: replies only during the hours you choose, like at night or on Sundays.
• Replies about your hours, location and contact info, also in Meta Business Suite.
• Keywords: up to five per reply, and you can only set them up on a computer. But the capitalization has to match exactly (if you set “Price” and someone writes “price”, nothing goes out), and the reply isn't instant: Meta sends it after 15 minutes unless you answer first (Meta).
• Saved replies: texts you save so you don't type the same thing over and over. Note: you pick them and send them yourself; they don't go out on their own.

Meta Business Suite also has a template to answer comments with a private message, but you can only set it up on a computer, and Meta's own help page warns that some automations aren't available on every channel (Meta). And if you turn on Meta's AI assistant (Meta Business Agent), the automations you had are paused.

For a business with few messages, this may be enough. The limit shows up when you want to reply instantly however people write, sell from your comments or follow up with whoever didn't open your link.

What takes a tool

With SocialMaker automations, connected through Instagram's official login, you can go beyond what the app includes:

• Greet the first message with buttons, your link or the card to book: only once to each person who writes to you for the first time.
• Reply by keyword: if someone writes “price”, “shipping” or “info”, they get the reply for that word, with or without capital letters.
• Turn a comment into a private message: whoever comments “INFO” on your post gets a message with a button and, when they tap it, your link, your products or the card to book.
• Reply to the comment publicly with phrases that rotate, so it's not always the same one (and doesn't look like spam).
• Reply buttons: a question like “What are you looking for?” with options, and each option with its own reply.
• Follow-ups (Starter and up): if the person didn't open your link, they get a friendly message later; if they reply, the follow-ups stop on their own.
• Ask for their email or phone before sending the info, so you build your contact list (on Pro and Max).

What can't be automated (no matter what anyone promises)

• Messaging first someone who never wrote to you. With tools approved by Meta, the conversation starts when the person messages you, comments or replies to a story, and only then can you reply (Meta).
• Sending a message to every new follower. You can't with Meta's free tools, and following an account doesn't open the conversation through the official route: the person opens it when they write to you (Meta). And not everyone likes it: on Reddit, someone said they often unfollow accounts that send them an automated welcome message (Reddit).
• Doing it with an app that asks for your password. Instagram warns that an app like that gets full access to your account, and that giving your username and password to one is among the reasons it may restrict your account (Instagram; Instagram). A legitimate tool connects through the official login.

What does work on any account is replying to people who already raised their hand: whoever comments, messages you or replies to your stories. That's where the sale is.

How to set up your auto-replies, step by step

1. 1

   Connect your Instagram

   You need a professional account (business or creator). SocialMaker connects through Instagram's official login: we never ask for your password.

2. 2

   Choose what triggers it

   A comment with a word, a direct message with a word, a reply to your story or a mention.

3. 3

   Write the messages

   The public comment, the first message with its button and what you deliver: a link, products, a PDF, a coupon or the card to book. You can start with the examples below.

4. 4

   Test it and turn it on

   Comment or message yourself from another account to see how it arrives. If you don't like something, change it and you're done.

40 Instagram auto-reply examples to copy

Copy them as they are or change whatever you need: your name, your prices, the way you talk. They're grouped by situation, and each one says what type of business it was written for.

Welcome messages

The first reply for someone who writes to you for the first time or sends “info”. It should say hello, explain what happens next and give clear options with reply buttons.

• Clothing store

  Hi! Thanks for reaching out 😊 Looking for something special? Tap an option: Prices, Sizes or Shipping.

  Copy
• Nail salon

  Hi, welcome! To book your appointment, tap “Book”. If you have another question, type it here and I'll reply as soon as I can.

  Copy
• Restaurant

  Hi! Thanks for writing. Here's our menu with today's hours. Would you like to book a table or order to go?

  Copy
• Coach

  Hi! So glad you reached out. Tell me in one sentence what you'd like to achieve and I'll tell you which of my programs fits.

  Copy
• Real estate

  Hi! Thanks for writing. Are you looking to buy, rent or sell? Tap an option and I'll help you with what you need.

  Copy

Replies to “price?”

The question you get the most. Answer with the price (or a starting price) and the link to see more: hiding it annoys people and makes them leave.

• Bakery

  Hi! Custom cakes start at $35 and the price depends on the size. Here's the catalog with all the prices 👇

  Copy
• Online store

  Sure! This product is $29 and shipping is free over $50. Tap the button to see it in the store.

  Copy
• Beauty salon

  Hi! Full color starts at $60, depending on your hair length. Here you can see every service and book.

  Copy
• Photographer

  My sessions start at $120 and include 15 edited photos. I'm sending you the packages so you can pick yours.

  Copy
• Online course

  The full course is $49 and you get lifetime access. Here's the link with the syllabus and sign-up 👇

  Copy

Hours and location

• Coffee shop

  We're open Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We're at 120 Main Street, across from the park. See you soon! ☕

  Copy
• Barbershop

  We're open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Walk-ins may have to wait; with an appointment, we see you on time.

  Copy
• Dental clinic

  Our hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturdays until 1:00 PM. Here's our location on the map.

  Copy
• Store

  We're at Plaza Norte mall, Suite 14. We're open every day, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

  Copy
• Food truck

  Today we're at Central Park from noon to 8:00 PM. Every week we post where we'll be in our stories.

  Copy

Shipping and orders

• Clothing store

  Yes, we ship nationwide! It takes 3 to 5 business days. Place your order here and we'll send you the tracking number.

  Copy
• Bakery

  We deliver in the city Tuesday to Sunday. Orders need 48 hours' notice: tap the button and pick the day.

  Copy
• Plant shop

  Order before 1:00 PM and we'll deliver your plants the same day within the city. Here's what we have.

  Copy
• Artisan

  I make every piece by hand, so it takes 7 to 10 days to be ready. Here's the form to place your order.

  Copy
• Restaurant

  Yes, we deliver! You can order on our website or on the delivery apps. Here's the direct link.

  Copy

Booking appointments

If you work by appointment, send a button in the same message so the person can pick the day and time on your booking page.

• Nail salon

  Of course! Tap “Book” and pick the day and time that work best for you. You'll get the confirmation by email.

  Copy
• Clinic

  You can book your first visit here. If you don't see a time that works, reply and we'll find another one.

  Copy
• Tattoo studio

  For a new tattoo, we start with a 20-minute design appointment. Book it here and bring your ideas.

  Copy
• Trainer

  The trial class is free. Pick your time here and arrive 10 minutes early in comfortable clothes 💪

  Copy
• Real estate

  I'd love to show you the house! Pick the day and time for the showing here and I'll confirm the exact address.

  Copy

After-hours messages

These work for the away message in Meta Business Suite: the person knows when you'll reply and what they can do in the meantime.

• Any business

  Thanks for writing! We're closed right now, but we'll reply first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, here are our FAQs.

  Copy
• Salon

  We're closed right now, but you can book your appointment here without waiting for us to reply 🙌

  Copy
• Online store

  We're done answering for today, but the store is still open: you can shop here and we'll prepare your order tomorrow.

  Copy
• Freelancer

  Thanks for your message. I reply Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. I'll write back as soon as I'm in.

  Copy
• Restaurant

  We're closed now and open tomorrow at noon. If you'd like, you can book your table from here 👇

  Copy

Replies to comments

These are public, under the comment. They should only say you sent a message, with no prices or details, and they should vary: if they all say the same thing, Instagram may treat it as spam (we explain it in auto replies without getting blocked).

• Short

  I sent you the info in a DM! 📩

  Copy
• Direct

  Done, check your direct messages

  Copy
• With thanks

  Thanks for commenting! I messaged you privately 😊

  Copy
• With the link

  I just sent you the link in a direct message

  Copy
• In case they miss it

  If you don't see my message, look in your message requests 🔎

  Copy

Follow-ups when they don't reply

One, friendly, with the link handy. If the person replies or asks you to stop, they won't get any more follow-ups.

• Store

  Hi again! I noticed you didn't get to open the link. Here it is again, in case you want to take a look.

  Copy
• Course

  Do you have any questions about the course? Reply here and I'll help you see if it's for you.

  Copy
• Salon

  Hi! Were you able to book your appointment? If you didn't find a time, tell me which day works and we'll find one.

  Copy
• Real estate

  Just checking in in case you'd like to see the house this weekend. There are still times on Saturday morning.

  Copy
• Coach

  I'll leave this here in case it helps later. Whenever you're ready to start, just write “READY”.

  Copy

Mistakes that make your message sound like a robot

• A wall of text: if the message can't be read in five seconds, it won't be read. Two or three sentences and a button.
• Asking people to reply with numbers (“type 1 for prices, 2 for shipping”): reply buttons are clearer.
• No way out: always say how to reach a person if the reply doesn't help.
• Hiding the price: if someone asks how much and your reply doesn't say (“message me for a quote”), it wears people out; if you have a price, say it.
• The same phrase on every comment: vary the public replies so they don't look copied.
• Promising what doesn't happen: if you say “I'll write back in a minute”, make it true.

What about ManyChat?

ManyChat is the best-known tool for this. But in 2026 it changed how it charges: its free plan, which used to allow up to 1,000 contacts, now includes 25 active contacts a month, and on paid plans every extra person you talk to in a month is billed separately. On the Essential plan (US$17 a month, 250 contacts), if 1,000 people message you in a month, you pay for 750 extra contacts: US$75 more, although you can set a cap on those charges (ManyChat; ManyChat, 2026).

For a small business, that's exactly the problem: a post that does well raises your bill. With SocialMaker you pay a flat monthly price whether 100 or 10,000 people message you, and the link in bio and bookings are included. Here's the side-by-side comparison.

Frequently asked questions

A good auto-reply doesn't replace a person: it frees them up for what matters. Start with a single automation, the one for the question you get the most, and build from there. For more ideas, see the 5 automations every business needs.