Overview
IG DM and Amplaud serve very different purposes in the digital marketing landscape. IG DM is a Chrome extension designed to automate Instagram direct messaging for outreach and lead generation. It allows users to send bulk DMs to targeted audiences such as followers, post likers, commenters, or custom username lists. Amplaud, on the other hand, is a comprehensive workspace for collecting, approving, and publishing customer testimonials and reviews. It helps businesses turn customer goodwill into public proof through campaigns, approval workflows, Walls of Love, and automated rewards.
While both tools aim to help businesses grow, they operate in distinct areas: IG DM focuses on outbound Instagram messaging, whereas Amplaud focuses on inbound customer proof management.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | IG DM | Amplaud |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Automates Instagram direct messaging | Collects, manages, and publishes testimonials |
| Platform | Chrome extension | Web application |
| Core Functionality | Bulk DM sending to targeted audiences | Campaigns, approval workflow, Wall of Love, embeds, rewards, analytics |
| Target Audience | Instagram marketers, small business owners | Businesses seeking customer proof |
| Automation | Automates message delivery | Automates reward fulfillment; webhooks/integrations |
| Approval Workflow | Not applicable | Centralized approval queue |
| Publishing Options | N/A | Wall of Love, embeds, widgets, proof library |
| Rewards System | N/A | Automated rewards on approval |
| Analytics | Limited | Insights on review trends, wall views, clicks |
| Integrations | None mentioned | Slack, Discord, Teams, Zapier, webhooks, REST API |
| Free Plan | Not specified | Available (does not expire) |
| Trial | Not specified | 14-day free trial (Starter & Growth) |
Pricing
IG DM: Pricing details are not provided. It is likely a paid subscription or one-time purchase. Users should check the Chrome Web Store listing or the official website for current pricing.
Amplaud: Offers a free plan that does not expire. Paid plans include:
- Starter: $29/month – 1 workspace, 3 seats, unlimited campaigns, all 15 review sources, Wall of Love with 9 templates, embed options, proof library, CSV import.
- Growth: $99/month – 3 workspaces, 10 seats, automated rewards on approval, gift cards via Tremendous, integrations (Slack, Discord, Teams, Zapier, webhooks), REST API, insights, remove branding.
- Scale: $249/month – unlimited workspaces and seats, multi-currency rewards, custom usage limits, onboarding and named contact.
A 14-day free trial is available for Starter and Growth plans, no credit card required. Scale is sold without a trial.
Pros and Cons
IG DM
Pros:
- Automates Instagram DM outreach, saving significant time.
- Targets specific audiences (followers, likers, commenters) for personalized campaigns.
- Easy to install and use as a Chrome extension.
Cons:
- Limited to Instagram DM automation; lacks broader marketing features.
- Pricing and free plan details are unclear.
- Potential risk of violating Instagram's terms of service, leading to account restrictions.
Amplaud
Pros:
- Comprehensive solution for collecting and publishing customer proof.
- Automated reward system incentivizes advocates.
- Free plan available; robust features across plans.
- Integrations with popular tools and API access.
Cons:
- Higher-tier plans can be costly for small businesses.
- Focused on testimonials; not a direct messaging tool.
- Requires setup and integration for full workflow.
Verdict
IG DM is ideal for Instagram-focused marketers who need to scale direct messaging outreach quickly and efficiently. It is best suited for those who rely heavily on Instagram for lead generation and engagement. Amplaud is better suited for businesses looking to systematically collect, approve, and showcase customer testimonials to build social proof. It offers a complete workflow from request to publication, with rewards and analytics. Choose IG DM for outbound DM campaigns; choose Amplaud for managing and leveraging customer reviews to enhance credibility and conversions.