The short answer
Meta's automations send a fixed, pre-written message when a message or comment matches a keyword or hashtag you chose. They run on their own, 24/7, and they're free.
AI Meta Suite writes a new public reply for each comment, based on what the person wrote, when you click. It doesn't run on its own: you check and send every reply.
They solve different problems. Automations handle predictable, repetitive messages while you're away. AI Meta Suite helps you answer the unpredictable comments yourself, much faster.
What Meta's automations can do
According to Meta's help center, Business Suite Inbox automations include: Instant reply, Away message, Frequently asked questions, Location, Contact information, Hours, Custom keywords, and Comment to message, which "replies to a comment that contains specific hashtags" by sending the person a private message. A few details matter in practice:
- Custom keyword automations match up to 5 keywords or phrases, and keywords are case-sensitive: the message must match exactly.
- Each keyword can only be used in one automation.
- Keyword automations send after 15 minutes unless you reply first.
- Custom keywords and Comment to message are only available in Business Suite on desktop.
Source: Meta Business Help Center, "About Inbox automations in Meta Business Suite Inbox", checked October 2026. Meta changes these features often, so check the current page before you rely on a detail.
Side by side
| Meta Inbox automations | AI Meta Suite | |
|---|---|---|
| How a reply is chosen | Fixed text you wrote in advance, sent when a keyword or hashtag matches | Written fresh by AI for each comment |
| Public replies under posts | No: Comment to message replies privately | Yes, in the post's comment thread |
| Comments without the keyword | Not answered | Any comment, including questions, complaints and jokes |
| Stickers, GIFs, photos | Not understood | Read and answered, on every plan |
| Languages | Only the text you wrote | Replies in the commenter's language |
| Runs while you're offline | Yes | No: you click and send each reply |
| Human check before sending | No | Always |
| Price | Free | Free for 20 replies/month; $3.99 or $9.99/month |
When Meta's automations are the better choice
- You want an instant answer to "What are your hours?" or "Where are you?" in Messenger, day and night.
- You run a giveaway or lead magnet where people comment a specific hashtag and get a link by private message.
- You don't want to spend any money.
When AI Meta Suite is the better choice
- Your comments are varied: questions about products, sizes, delivery, plus complaints and compliments.
- You want public replies under your posts, which show other visitors that the Page is active and helpful.
- You get comments in more than one language, or a lot of stickers and photos.
- You want every public reply checked by a person before it goes out.
Using both
Most busy Pages benefit from both: keep Meta's Instant reply and Away message for Messenger, use Comment to message for hashtag campaigns, and use AI Meta Suite when you sit down to work through the comments under your posts. They don't conflict, because the extension only fills the reply box when you click.