Instagram auto reply for DMs, comments, and Stories
Answer common questions in seconds, day or night. Hypello replies to DMs, comments, Story replies, and Story mentions automatically, and its AI agent can handle the questions keywords can't.
- Free plan available
- Meta's official APIs
- No credit card required
What is an Instagram auto reply?
An Instagram auto reply is an automatic response to a DM, comment, Story reply, or Story mention. Keyword automations handle predictable questions, and an AI agent can answer open-ended ones using your own FAQs and policies.
The challenge
Why slow replies cost you customers
Most Instagram questions repeat: price, shipping, sizes, opening hours, booking links. Answering them by hand takes hours, and people who wait too long often move on.
Instagram's messaging rules also favour quick responses: businesses can generally reply freely within 24 hours of a person's last message. Automation helps you answer inside that window, even outside business hours.
Example flow
What your audience sees
Your Brand
yourbrand
Your Brand
yourbrand · Instagram
View profileToday 9:41 AM
Hi! Do you ship to Canada?
Hi Ava! Yes, we ship to Canada. Delivery times and rates are on our shipping page.
Shipping info
Perfect, thank you!
Seen
1A customer asks, Hypello answers instantly
How it works
How to set up Instagram auto replies
- 1
List your most common questions
Check your inbox and comments for the questions you answer most, and the words people use to ask them.
- 2
Create keyword DM automations
Open Automations, click Add Automation, and set up DM replies with trigger keywords such as PRICE or SHIPPING. Each automation supports up to 30 keywords.
- 3
Cover comments and Stories
Use DM from Comments for posts and Reels, DM from Stories for Story replies and reactions, and Respond to story mentions to thank people who mention you.
- 4
Add an AI agent
Create a support or sales AI agent and add your docs, FAQs, or policies as a knowledge source so it can answer questions in your own words.
- 5
Review and refine
Check conversations regularly, add keywords people actually use, and step in personally when a conversation needs a human.
In detail
How Instagram auto replies work in Hypello
Keyword replies for predictable questions
Most questions use the same few words. A DM automation with trigger keywords such as PRICE, SHIP, or SIZE replies the moment a message contains one of them. Each automation holds up to 30 keywords, which is enough to cover spelling variations and the different ways people ask the same thing. Add a button to the reply to send people straight to the right page.
Comments, Story replies, and mentions
Questions don't only arrive in DMs. DM from Comments answers people who ask under your posts, privately in the DM and publicly under the comment. DM from Stories responds when someone replies to, likes, or reacts to your Story.
Respond to story mentions sends a thank-you, an offer, or a link when someone mentions you in their Story, which is a good moment to reward customers who share your products.
AI agents for the questions keywords can't cover
Some questions are too varied for keywords. Hypello's AI agents answer in your own words using the knowledge you add: your website (a single page or several pages), files, articles, and question-and-answer pairs.
You choose what the agent focuses on (growing sales, scaling support, or generating leads), set its tone of voice to friendly, professional, or casual, and connect it to Instagram, Facebook, or both.
Handing over to a person
Some conversations need a human, such as a complaint, a refund, or a custom order. Hypello shows which chats have been transferred to a human, so your team can see what needs attention and pick it up, while routine questions keep getting answered automatically.
Features used
Hypello features for auto replies
DM keyword replies
FreeReply instantly when a DM contains one of your trigger keywords.
DM from Comments
FreeAnswer comment questions privately and publicly.
DM from Stories
FreeAuto-DM people who reply to, like, or react to your Stories.
Respond to story mentions
FreeSend a thank-you message, offer, or link when someone mentions you in their Story.
AI Agent
FreeAnswer questions from your docs, FAQs, and policies with a support, sales, or lead agent.
Facebook automation
Run the same comment and DM replies on your Facebook Page.
Who it's for
Who uses Instagram auto replies
Online stores
Answer sizing, shipping, and returns questions instantly, and let an AI agent trained on your policies handle the rest.
Salons, studios, and clinics
Send your booking link, prices, and opening hours to everyone who asks, day or night.
Restaurants and cafés
Reply with the menu, location, and reservation link, and thank guests who mention you in their Stories.
Creators
Route collaboration and press enquiries to the right email, so brand deals don't get lost in your inbox.
Ideas
Questions worth automating
Pricing and availability
Send the price list or product page when people ask “how much?”.
Shipping and returns
Share delivery times, regions, and your returns policy.
Bookings and hours
Send your booking link, location, and opening hours.
Collabs and press
Route partnership enquiries to the right email or form.
Best practices
Auto reply best practices
- Write replies that sound like your brand, not a robot.
- Answer the question first, then add the link.
- Tell people how to reach a human for anything the automation can't handle.
- Keep your AI agent's knowledge sources up to date when prices or policies change.
- Don't send unrelated promotions to people who asked a simple question.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about this use case.
Instagram professional accounts can use tools like Hypello, which connects through Meta's official APIs, to reply automatically to DMs, comments, Story replies, and Story mentions.
Yes. DM from Comments sends a private DM and can post public replies under comments, using three or more reply variations.
Yes. Hypello's AI agents can answer sales and support questions using the docs, FAQs, and policies you add as knowledge sources. An AI agent is included on the free plan.
Yes. DM from Stories responds to people who reply to or react to your Stories, and Respond to story mentions sends a message when someone mentions you in their Story.
Keep reading
Related guides
More use cases
Explore other workflows
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Answer every question, even while you sleep.
Set up keyword replies and an AI agent in minutes. Both are available on the free plan.