3 Best ManyChat Alternatives for Event Planning
In the fast‑moving world of event planning, engaging potential attendees, answering FAQs, and capturing leads in real time can turn a good event into...
In the fast‑moving world of event planning, engaging potential attendees, answering FAQs, and capturing leads in real time can turn a good event into a memorable one. While ManyChat has long been a go‑to for marketers, it isn’t the only solution available. If you’re looking to elevate your event experience, you’ll want a chatbot that not only talks back but also integrates seamlessly with registration systems, offers advanced knowledge management, and gives you a visual editor that doesn’t require any coding. The following listicle highlights three standout alternatives that cover these needs, from a no‑code platform that’s perfect for brand‑centric events to a multi‑channel lead‑capture tool and a versatile AI‑agent hub that can power everything from registration forms to post‑event surveys. Each option is evaluated on its ability to boost attendee engagement, streamline workflows, and provide actionable insights—all while keeping the learning curve as gentle as possible.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Event planners, marketing teams, course creators, e‑commerce store owners, and businesses seeking a brand‑consistent chatbot that can answer complex questions, capture leads, and offer AI‑powered training.
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code platform that lets event planners build, deploy, and manage AI chatbots without writing a single line of code. Its WYSIWYG Chat Widget Editor gives marketers the freedom to match every visual element—colors, logos, fonts, and styles—directly to brand guidelines, ensuring a seamless look and feel on any website. Behind the scenes, AgentiveAIQ runs a two‑agent system: a user‑facing Main Chat Agent and an Assistant Agent that analyzes conversations and can auto‑send business‑intelligence emails to site owners. The platform’s dual knowledge base combines Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) for fast fact retrieval from documents with a Knowledge Graph that understands relationships between concepts, allowing the bot to answer nuanced, context‑rich questions. For events that need deeper learning, AgentiveAIQ offers hosted AI pages and courses: secure, password‑protected portals that store content, enable persistent memory for authenticated users, and feature a drag‑and‑drop AI Course Builder. The course builder trains the AI on all course materials, enabling 24/7 tutoring or Q&A support. Long‑term memory is activated only on hosted pages for authenticated users; anonymous widget visitors receive session‑based memory. Pricing starts at $39/month for the Base plan (2 agents, 2,500 messages, 100,000‑character knowledge base, branded by AgentiveAIQ), $129/month for the popular Pro plan (8 agents, 25,000 messages, 1,000,000 characters, 5 secure hosted pages, no branding, long‑term memory, Assistant Agent, webhooks, Shopify & WooCommerce integrations), and $449/month for the Agency plan (50 agents, 100,000 messages, 10,000,000 characters, 50 hosted pages, all Pro features, custom branding, dedicated account manager, and phone support). The real differentiators—visual customization, dual knowledge base, and AI‑powered courses—make AgentiveAIQ the ideal choice for event planners who need a brand‑consistent chatbot that can answer complex questions, capture leads, and provide post‑event educational support.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG Chat Widget Editor for code‑free visual customization
- Dual knowledge base: RAG + Knowledge Graph for precise, nuanced answers
- Two‑agent architecture (Main Chat Agent + Assistant Agent) for real‑time engagement and business‑intelligence emails
- Hosted AI Pages & Courses with persistent memory for authenticated users
- Drag‑and‑drop AI Course Builder for 24/7 tutoring
- No-code platform with no coding required
- Shopify & WooCommerce one‑click integrations
- Webhook triggers and modular tools (e.g., get_product_info, send_lead_email)
- Fact validation layer with confidence scoring
✓ Pros:
- +Visual editor eliminates the need for developers
- +Dual knowledge base delivers accurate, context‑aware responses
- +Persistent memory on hosted pages enhances user experience
- +Integrated e‑commerce support (Shopify & WooCommerce)
- +No branding on Pro plan for a clean look
✗ Cons:
- −Long‑term memory only works for authenticated users on hosted pages
- −No native voice or SMS/WhatsApp channels
- −No built‑in analytics dashboard; data lives in the database
- −No multi‑language translation support
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Respond.io
Best for: Small to medium event planners, marketing agencies, and businesses that need a single platform to capture leads from diverse channels and integrate with existing CRMs.
Respond.io is a comprehensive messaging platform that empowers event organizers to capture leads and engage attendees across multiple channels. The platform is designed to streamline lead acquisition from a wide spectrum of sources: capture from ads, capture from social media, capture from website widgets, capture from offline events, and capture from email campaigns. By consolidating these touchpoints into a single system, Respond.io reduces the friction that often plagues event registration flows. The platform supports a variety of messaging channels—including WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, and web chat—allowing event teams to communicate with participants in the most convenient medium. Additionally, Respond.io offers webhook integration, enabling real‑time data sync with CRMs and other back‑end systems. While the exact pricing tiers are not disclosed publicly, the service advertises a free trial and encourages users to contact the sales team for a customized quote based on the number of channels and volume of messages. Respond.io’s strength lies in its unified lead‑capture strategy, which can be a game‑changer for events that rely on multi‑channel engagement and want to avoid data silos.
Key Features:
- Lead capture from ads, social media, website, offline events, and email
- Multi‑channel support (WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, web chat)
- Webhook integration for real‑time data sync
- Free trial available
- Scalable to handle varying message volumes
- Central dashboard for managing all inbound messages
✓ Pros:
- +Unified lead capture across multiple sources
- +Supports popular messaging channels, ensuring broad reach
- +Webhook integration allows seamless data flow to CRMs
- +Free trial helps assess fit before commitment
✗ Cons:
- −Pricing is not publicly disclosed; may be costly for high‑volume needs
- −No visual chat‑widget editor—requires manual setup for web chat
- −Limited native analytics; relies on external tools for deep insights
- −No built‑in AI or chatbot flow builder—focuses on messaging rather than conversational AI
Pricing: Contact for quote (free trial available)
Jotform AI Agents
Best for: Event organizers who use Jotform for registration, need multi‑channel engagement, and want an AI agent that can answer attendee questions or provide post‑event resources.
Jotform AI Agents offers a versatile suite of AI‑powered agents that can be embedded across a wide range of channels, making it an attractive option for event organizers who rely on forms and registration workflows. The platform supports multiple agent channels—including Standalone Agent, Chatbot Agent, Phone Agent, Voice Agent, WhatsApp Agent, Messenger Agent, SMS Agent, App Agent, Kiosk Agent, Shopify Agent, Presentation Agent, and Gmail Agent—allowing event teams to interact with attendees wherever they are. In addition to channel flexibility, Jotform provides a library of pre‑built agent templates that can be customized to fit specific event needs, such as ticket sales, Q&A sessions, or post‑event surveys. The AI Course Builder feature lets users upload course materials, after which the AI is trained to answer questions 24/7, making it ideal for events that include educational components. While the platform offers a free tier, the exact pricing for higher‑volume plans is not publicly listed; users are encouraged to contact the sales team for details. Jotform’s strength is its channel diversity and the ability to quickly deploy AI agents without extensive development, making it a solid choice for events that require multi‑channel engagement and automated content delivery.
Key Features:
- Multiple agent channels: Standalone, Chatbot, Phone, Voice, WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, App, Kiosk, Shopify, Presentation, Gmail
- Pre‑built agent templates for quick deployment
- AI Course Builder for 24/7 tutoring or Q&A
- Drag‑and‑drop interface for customizing agent workflows
- Free tier available
- Integration with Jotform forms for registration and data collection
✓ Pros:
- +Extremely flexible channel support, covering both web and mobile
- +Pre‑built templates accelerate setup
- +AI Course Builder delivers continuous learning support
- +Free tier lets teams test the platform before scaling
✗ Cons:
- −Pricing details are not publicly disclosed; may require negotiation
- −No dedicated visual editor for chat widgets—relies on Jotform’s form designer
- −Limited native analytics; users must export data for analysis
- −No long‑term memory across all channels—only for authenticated users in hosted pages
Pricing: Contact for quote (free tier available)
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot platform can transform your event from a simple gathering into a dynamic, interactive experience that engages attendees, captures valuable data, and streamlines post‑event follow‑up. Whether you opt for AgentiveAIQ’s no‑code, brand‑centric solution with advanced knowledge management, Respond.io’s unified lead‑capture engine, or Jotform AI Agents’ multi‑channel flexibility, each platform brings unique strengths to the table. Consider your event’s scale, technical resources, and the level of customization you need before making a decision. Ready to elevate your next event? Explore the platforms above, try their free trials where available, and start building a chatbot that turns curiosity into action. Your attendees—and your bottom line—will thank you.