Collaboration Feature (Post-Level Access)
Grant partners access to manage automation for specific posts — without sharing your full workspace.
What Is the Collaboration Feature?
The Collaboration Feature lets you invite someone to manage automation for a specific Instagram post without giving them access to your entire InstantDM workspace. This is post-level access — the collaborator can only see and manage the automation settings for the post you invited them to.
This is ideal for agencies managing client posts, influencer-brand partnerships, and any scenario where you need someone else to handle automation on a specific piece of content without exposing your full account.
Collab vs. Team Workspaces
| Feature | Collaboration (Collab) | Team Workspace |
|---|---|---|
| Access scope | Single specific post | Entire workspace (all posts, flows, settings) |
| Best for | External partners, clients, one-off collaborations | Internal team members, ongoing access |
| Invite method | Shareable invite link | Email invitation with role assignment |
| Permissions | Manage automation for that post only | Role-based (Owner, Admin, Editor, Viewer) |
| Can access other posts? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (based on role) |
| Can access flows? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (based on role) |
| Can access settings/billing? | ❌ No | Depends on role |
| Revocable? | ✅ Yes, per post | ✅ Yes, per member |
How to Send a Collab Invite
- Navigate to Instagram DM in the sidebar.
- Select the post you want to share collaboration access for.
- On the post automation page, click Invite Collaborator.
- InstantDM generates a unique invite link for that post.
- Copy the link and send it to your collaborator via DM, email, or any messaging platform.
What the Invite Contains
When the collaborator opens the invite link, they see a preview page with the following information:
| Invite Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Sender info | The name and profile of the person who sent the invite |
| Post preview | A thumbnail and caption preview of the Instagram post |
| Owner username | The Instagram username of the account that owns the post |
| Access description | A clear explanation of what the collaborator will be able to do |
How to Accept or Decline a Collab Invite
- Open the invite link shared with you.
- Review the invite details — sender info, post preview, and owner username.
- If you have an InstantDM account, log in. If not, create a free account first.
- Click Accept to gain access, or Decline to reject the invite.
- If accepted, the post appears in your InstantDM dashboard under Collaborations.
💡 Tip: You can accept collab invites even on a free plan. You don't need a paid subscription to collaborate on someone else's post automation.
What a Collaborator Can Do
Once a collaborator accepts the invite, they gain access to manage automation for that specific post. Here's what they can and cannot do:
| Action | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| View post automation settings | ✅ Yes |
| Edit trigger words | ✅ Yes |
| Configure DM reply content | ✅ Yes |
| Configure comment reply content | ✅ Yes |
| Toggle automation ON/OFF | ✅ Yes |
| Enable/disable follow gate | ✅ Yes |
| Access other posts | ❌ No |
| Access Flow Editor | ❌ No |
| Access account settings | ❌ No |
| Access billing or subscription | ❌ No |
| Invite other collaborators | ❌ No |
How to Revoke Collab Access
- Go to the post automation page for the post in question.
- Scroll to the Collaborators section.
- Find the collaborator you want to remove.
- Click Revoke Access.
- The collaborator immediately loses access to that post's automation.
Revoking access does not delete any automation settings the collaborator configured. The settings remain in place — the collaborator simply can no longer view or edit them.
Use Cases
Agencies Managing Client Posts
An agency can invite a client to view and approve the automation setup on their post. The client sees exactly what triggers are configured and what DMs will be sent, without accessing the agency's other client accounts.
Influencer-Brand Collaborations
A brand can invite an influencer to manage automation on a sponsored post. The influencer sets up trigger words and DM content that align with their voice, while the brand retains ownership of the post and account.
Content Partnerships
Two creators collaborating on a joint post can share automation access so both parties can configure and monitor the DM automation without sharing login credentials.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use collab for external partners, team workspace for internal staff. Collab is designed for people outside your organization who need limited access.
- Review automation after collaboration ends. When a project wraps up, revoke access and review the automation settings to make sure everything is still configured correctly.
- Communicate expectations. Let collaborators know what trigger words and messaging style you expect before they start configuring.
- One post at a time. Each collab invite is for a single post. If you need to share access to multiple posts, send separate invites for each one.
Plan Requirements
| Feature | Required Plan |
|---|---|
| Send collab invites | Starter and above |
| Accept collab invites | All plans (including free) |
| Manage post automation as collaborator | All plans (including free) |
| Revoke collab access | Starter and above (post owner only) |