Choosing the Right Automation Tool
InstantDM offers three automation tools. Here's how to pick the right one for your use case.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Inbox Automation | Quick DM | Flow Editor |
|---|
| Interface | Table-based list | Linear step-by-step form | Visual drag-and-drop canvas |
| Setup time | < 1 minute | 2–5 minutes | 10+ minutes |
| Multi-step sequences | No (single reply) | Yes (linear) | Yes (unlimited, with branching) |
| Branching logic | No | No | Yes |
| AI-powered replies | No | No | Yes (OpenAI, Claude) |
| Data collection | No | No | Yes (name, email, phone, etc.) |
| Conditional gates | No | No | Yes (Followers Only, Tags) |
| Images, audio, buttons | Limited | Yes | Yes (full rich media) |
| Delay nodes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Undo/Redo | No | No | Yes |
| Plan required | All plans | All plans | Trendsetter+, all Multi plans |
Decision Guide
| Your Use Case | Recommended Tool |
|---|
| "When someone says X, reply with Y" | Inbox Automation |
| "Send a welcome sequence with 3 messages and delays" | Quick DM |
| "Ask for their email, then send different content based on their answer" | Flow Editor |
| "Use AI to have a conversation with leads" | Flow Editor |
| "Auto-reply to comments on a specific post with a DM" | Post Automation or Flow Editor |
| "Gate content behind a follow requirement" | Flow Editor |
| "Tag leads and send data to my CRM via webhook" | Flow Editor |
Next: Post Automation (Comment-to-DM) →
