specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Respond.io
providerId: respond
created: '2026-06-20'
modified: '2026-06-20'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Messaging
- Omnichannel
- Customer Conversations
- WhatsApp
- AI
- FinOps
- Cost Management
- FOCUS
description: >-
  FinOps view of respond.io spend. Respond.io bills a tiered monthly or annual
  subscription (Starter, Growth, Advanced, Enterprise) that bundles a fixed
  number of users and Monthly Active Contacts (MAC). The primary variable cost
  driver is MAC overage, charged per 100 contacts beyond the included
  allotment (about $12/100 on Growth and $15/100 on Advanced). Per-channel
  messaging fees (e.g. WhatsApp conversation charges) and taxes are passed
  through separately. The Developer API is included from the Growth tier up.
notes: >-
  Subscription prices, included MAC, and overage rates are subject to change;
  verify against the respond.io pricing page and any signed order form during
  reconciliation. Channel pass-through costs depend on the connected providers.
sources:
- https://respond.io/pricing
- https://respond.io/blog/respondio-pricing
- https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Respond.io
serviceCategory: Customer Engagement and Messaging
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription-Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
  - Usage
  - Purchase
  - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Respond.io
  ServiceCategory: Customer Engagement and Messaging
  ProviderName: Respond.io
  PublisherName: Respond.io
  InvoiceIssuerName: Respond.io
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
  PricingCategory: Subscription-Based
meters:
- name: subscription
  description: Recurring plan subscription fee per billing period (Starter / Growth / Advanced).
  unit: subscription
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: monthly_active_contacts
  description: Contacts that sent or received a message in the billing month, counted against the plan's included MAC allotment.
  unit: contacts
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: mac_overage
  description: MAC beyond the included allotment, billed per 100 contacts at the plan overage rate.
  unit: contacts
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: included_users
  description: User seats bundled in the plan; additional seats billed separately where applicable.
  unit: users
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - plan
- name: channel_messaging
  description: Pass-through messaging charges from connected channel providers (e.g. WhatsApp conversation fees).
  unit: messages
  aggregation: sum
  dimensions:
  - account
  - channel
principles:
- name: Visibility
  description: Track active MAC against the included allotment through the workspace billing/usage views to anticipate overage.
- name: Allocation
  description: Tag workspaces, channels, and teams to map subscription and MAC spend to internal cost centers.
- name: Optimization
  description: Right-size the plan tier to actual MAC and user needs; close or merge inactive contacts to reduce MAC; consolidate channels to limit pass-through fees.
- name: Accountability
  description: Assign workspace owners; review MAC trend and overage monthly against budget and renegotiate Enterprise terms at scale.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com