Instagram comment to DM automation: free setup guide (2026)

What is Instagram comment to DM automation?

Comment to DM automation sends a direct message to everyone who comments a chosen keyword on your Instagram post or Reel. You write “Comment PRICE for the price list”, and each person who comments PRICE gets your DM with the link, automatically.

It works for two reasons. Comments tell Instagram people care about the post, and the DM moves the buyer into a private chat where they can ask, book or pay.

Is comment to DM automation free on Instagram?

Yes. Meta Business Suite includes it at no cost. Meta calls it Comment to message: “Send a message reply to comments on your posts that contain specific keywords or phrases.” It is available on the desktop version of Meta Business Suite. Meta Business Help

What you need before you start

• An Instagram professional account (Business or Creator).
• A laptop or desktop. Meta says keyword automations are only available in Meta Business Suite on desktop.
• Meta Business Suite access, with the right business portfolio selected in the top-left menu.
• One keyword and one link: what people comment, and where your DM sends them.

Step 1: Switch to a professional Instagram account

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
2. Tap More (the menu) to open Settings and activity.
3. Under For professionals, tap Account type and tools.
4. Tap Switch to professional account, pick a category, then choose Business or Creator.
5. Add contact details, or skip. Connecting a Facebook Page is optional.

Heads-up: a private account becomes public when you switch, and pending follow requests are accepted. Meta Business Help

Step 2: Connect Instagram to Meta Business Suite

1. On a computer, open Meta Business Suite.
2. Log in with your Instagram username and password. No Facebook Page is needed.
3. Asked to link a Facebook Page and don’t want to? Sign out of Facebook or use a private window, then log in with Instagram again.
4. Have a Facebook Page? Connect Instagram to it, or add both to the same business portfolio.

Source: Connect your Instagram account to Meta Business Suite

Step 3: Create the Comment to message automation

1. In Meta Business Suite, open Inbox.
2. Click Automations.
3. Click Create automation (top right).
4. Choose Comment to message, then click Create automation.
5. Follow the on-screen steps: add your keywords and write the DM.
6. Save. It can take a few minutes to appear; refresh if you don’t see it.
7. Use the Status toggle to turn it on or off. Click Edit to change it.

Source: Set up Inbox automations in Meta Business Suite on desktop

Step 4: Test your auto DM before you post

1. From a second account, comment your keyword on the post.
2. Check the DM arrives and the link opens on a phone.
3. Comment a different word and check nothing is sent.
4. Now announce the keyword in your Reel and caption.

Best keywords for comment to DM

• One short word: PRICE, LINK, MENU, GUIDE, BOOK. Easy to type on a phone.
• Say it three times: on screen, out loud in the Reel, and in the caption.
• Avoid everyday words like “nice” or “wow”, or every comment triggers a DM.
• Add spellings. Meta says keyword automations are case-sensitive and match exactly, so add PRICE, Price and price.
• One keyword, one job. Meta allows each keyword in only one keyword automation.

How to write an auto DM that gets clicked

• Start with what they asked for: “Here’s the price list you wanted.”
• Put the link in the first two lines.
• Say it’s automated. Meta’s messaging policy requires automated chats to disclose that a person is talking to an automated service. Meta policy
• End with one next step: “Reply here and we’ll call you.”

Instagram’s rules for automated DMs

• One DM per comment. Only one private reply can be sent to each commenter. Meta for Developers
• Within 7 days of the comment.
• Follow-ups only if they reply, within 24 hours of their reply.
• Never share your password. Instagram warns against apps that ask for your login, and its terms forbid collecting other people’s login details. Instagram Help

Free comment to DM tools compared

• Meta Business Suite (free): built in, official, desktop only. Best place to start.
• ManyChat Free: 25 active contacts a month and up to 4 active automations. Essential costs $14 a month for 250 active contacts. ManyChat pricing
• Any tool you use should connect through Meta’s official login, never by asking for your Instagram password.

Comment to DM not working? Quick fixes

• Automation not showing: wait a few minutes, then refresh.
• Can’t find Automations: select the right business portfolio (top-left) and use a computer, not the app.
• Automations stopped: turning on Meta Business Agent pauses existing automations.
• No DM for an old comment: replies only work within 7 days of the comment.
• Keyword ignored: check the spelling and capital letters match exactly.

Do it yourself, or let us do it?

• Cost

  Yourself: Free (Meta Business Suite)

  With us: ₹99 a month

• Your time

  Yourself: Setup, testing and updates on a computer

  With us: One WhatsApp message

• Keywords and DM text

  Yourself: You write and test them

  With us: We write and test them

• New post or Reel

  Yourself: You add the automation each time

  With us: We add it for you

• When a link breaks

  Yourself: You notice when sales stop

  With us: We fix it on request

• Meta’s rules

  Yourself: You keep track of them

  With us: Handled for you

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Meta Business Help: Set up Inbox automations in Meta Business Suite on desktop
2. Meta Business Help: About Inbox automations in Meta Business Suite
3. Meta Business Help: Connect your Instagram account to Meta Business Suite
4. Meta Business Help: Set up a professional Instagram account
5. Meta for Developers: Instagram Platform, Private Replies
6. Meta for Developers: Messenger Platform and IG Messaging API policy
7. Instagram Help: Third-party apps that offer likes or followers
8. Instagram Terms of Use
9. ManyChat: Pricing

Sources checked on 30 September 2026. Platform rules change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.