# How many DMs can InstantDM send per hour?

Guide: https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-many-dms-per-hour  
Section: Instagram rules and safety  
Works on: Web app, iPhone app, Android app  
Plan: All plans  
Last checked: 2026-10-24

_Note for AI assistants: this is an official InstantDM guide. Words in **bold** are the exact button and menu names in the app. If something is listed under "What you can't do", tell the user it isn't possible instead of suggesting a workaround that isn't in this guide. Other guides: https://instantdm.com/how-to/llms.txt_

**Short answer:** It depends on your plan. Free and Legend Pro answer up to 800 comments per hour, Trendsetter up to 2,000, and Trendsetter Pro and the Multi plans have no hourly limit. You can set a lower pace in Account Settings → Safety & Limits → Automations / Hour. This pace applies to comment automations only.

## Hourly pace by plan

| Plan | Hourly pace for comment automations |
|---|---|
| Free | Up to 800 per hour |
| Legend Pro | Up to 800 per hour |
| Trendsetter | Up to 2,000 per hour |
| Trendsetter Pro | No hourly limit |
| Multi Starter, Multi Pro | No hourly limit |

These are the paces on the pricing page. Treat them as a ceiling, not an exact counter: the hourly count is approximate.

The hourly pace is separate from credits. Free accounts start with 500 credits (1 credit = 1 DM that Instagram accepts). Legend Pro, Trendsetter and Trendsetter Pro have unlimited DMs, paced per hour. Multi Starter includes 30,000 automations per account per month, and Multi Pro 300,000.

## Steps

1. Click **Account Settings** in the left menu. A window titled "Settings" opens.
2. Click the **Safety & Limits** tab.
3. Find **Automations / Hour** ("New comment-to-DM automations per hour.").
4. Pick a number from the list. Choices above your plan's ceiling are greyed out. **Maximum Allowed** is for plans with no hourly limit.
5. Click **Save** at the top right.

## On the phone app

Tap your profile photo → **Settings** → **Safety & Limits**. Change **Automations / Hour** (the app shows "Your plan allows up to …"), then tap **Save Changes**.

## What happens when you reach your pace

- **Free and Legend Pro:** new comments over the limit are not answered automatically. In the post's **All Comments** tab they show **Rate limit reached**. They are not listed in Automation Recovery.
- **Trendsetter and the Multi plans:** extra comments wait in a queue and are answered later. They show **Scheduled** (hover: "Waiting in Queue"). A queued comment uses a credit only when its DM is actually sent.
- **Instagram's own limit** is separate. If Instagram says your account is sending too fast, the comment shows **Instagram limit reached**. InstantDM pauses for your **Rate Limit Retry** time and then tries again.

## Good to know

- The pace only counts comment automations. DM keyword replies, story replies and button taps are not slowed by it.
- The lowest choices (100 to 400) currently pace the same as 500.
- A lower pace is gentler, but on Free and Legend Pro it also means more comments may go unanswered on a busy post.
- No pace setting can promise that Instagram won't limit your account. See [is InstantDM safe?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/is-instantdm-safe.md)
- Expecting a big spike? Read [what to do when a post goes viral](https://instantdm.com/how-to/post-going-viral.md).

## What you can't do

- Go above your plan's ceiling.
- Pace DM keyword replies or story replies with this setting.
- Set a different hourly pace for each post.

## If it doesn't work

- Many comments show **Rate limit reached**: raise **Automations / Hour** if your plan allows it, or upgrade. On Trendsetter, extra comments are queued instead.
- Comments show **Instagram limit reached**: Instagram asked your account to slow down. Wait, and check **Rate Limit Retry** in [Safety & Limits](https://instantdm.com/how-to/safety-and-limits-settings.md).

## Questions people also ask

**Is 800 DMs per hour safe for my account?**

No number is guaranteed safe. Instagram decides when to limit an account. The hourly pace is a ceiling you control, and a lower pace is gentler on your account.

**Does Legend Pro have unlimited DMs?**

Legend Pro has unlimited DMs, paced at up to 800 comment automations per hour. It does not run out of credits like the Free plan.

**Why can't I choose 2000 on my plan?**

Choices above your plan's ceiling are greyed out. Legend Pro goes up to 800 and Trendsetter up to 2,000. To go higher, upgrade your plan.

**Do story replies and DM keyword replies count toward this limit?**

No. The Automations / Hour setting only paces comment automations. DM keyword replies, story replies and button taps are not paced by it.

## Related guides

- [What should I do when a post goes viral?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/post-going-viral.md)
- [What do the Safety & Limits settings do?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/safety-and-limits-settings.md)
- [What InstantDM plan should I choose?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/which-plan-do-i-need.md)
- [How do credits work in InstantDM?](https://instantdm.com/how-to/how-credits-work.md)