Hooklink vs LinkDM (2026): Which Instagram DM tool suits India?

If you've shortlisted two Instagram comment-to-DM tools, Hooklink vs LinkDM is a close call on the basics: both send an instant DM when someone comments a keyword. They differ on currency, on how plans are limited, and on growth features like a follow-gate and a link-in-bio page.

We build Hooklink, so we've stuck to facts we could check. LinkDM details come from LinkDM's pricing page as checked on 13 November 2026. LinkDM is run by Webdot.club, based in Melbourne, Australia.

#Hooklink vs LinkDM at a glance

	Hooklink	LinkDM
Free plan	✓ 1 account, 3 active automations	✓ 1 account, 1,000 DMs/month
Entry paid price	₹199/mo (₹49 first month) · ₹1,999/yr	$19/mo or $182/yr (Pro)
Currency	INR	USD
UPI payments	✓ UPI Autopay via Razorpay	Not stated on their pricing page
Billing model	Flat price	Tiers with monthly DM limits
Comment → DM	✓ Posts and reels	✓ Posts, reels and ads
Story replies	✓	✓ Replies and mentions
Live comments	✓	Pro and above
DM keywords	✓	✓
Shared-post DM trigger	✓	Not stated
Follow-gate	Pro	Not stated
Email capture	Pro, with CSV export	Pro and above
Link-in-bio page	✓ Hookcard	✕
Multiple accounts	Up to 5 on Pro	3 on Pro, 10 on Platinum+
Branding on free DMs	✓	✓

#Pricing in detail

#Hooklink

• Free — ₹0 forever: 1 Instagram account, up to 3 active automations, all 5 triggers, public replies, a Hookcard and 7-day analytics, with a "Powered by hooklink.app" line on DMs.
• Pro — ₹199/month (₹49 for the first month) or ₹1,999/year: up to 5 accounts, unlimited automations, image/video/voice DMs, Lead Collection with export, the follow-gate, Pro Hookcard, no watermark, 365-day analytics and priority support.

No per-contact or per-DM fees, and no DM top-up packs. Sending is paced by Meta's per-account rate limits, which Hooklink enforces for you.

#LinkDM

The free plan carries LinkDM branding; removing it needs Pro or above.

#Triggers and automations

LinkDM triggers on comments on posts, reels and ads, on story replies and mentions, and on DM keywords, with the option to reply to every comment or only to keywords. Live auto-reply needs Pro or above. Ad-comment triggers are a genuine plus if you run paid campaigns.

Hooklink has five triggers, all on the free plan: a comment on a post or reel, a DM keyword, a story reply, a comment on a Live, and a DM where someone shares one of your posts or reels. Keyword filters decide who gets the DM, and you can target a specific post or the next post you publish. Each automation sends an instant private-reply DM with text, buttons and links, and can also post a public reply under the comment. Pro adds image, video and voice messages.

#What a typical setup looks like

Say you post a reel offering a free checklist. In Hooklink you would:

1. Create an automation with the comment trigger and set it to your next post, so it's live the moment the reel publishes.
2. Add a keyword filter such as "CHECKLIST", so only people who ask get the DM.
3. Write the DM: a short line, a button and the link.
4. Optionally turn on a public reply, for example "Sent! Check your DMs", so other viewers see it working.
5. On Pro, switch on the follow-gate so the link is delivered only once the person follows you, and ask for their email to build your list.

In LinkDM the core comment-keyword-DM setup is similar. The difference is in steps 5 and beyond: a follow-gate isn't listed there, while ad-comment triggers are.

#Follow-gate, leads and link-in-bio

These are the biggest feature gaps between the two.

• Follow-gate: Hooklink Pro's Follower Growth feature delivers your reward link only after the person actually follows you, with capped, polite reminders if they haven't. LinkDM's pricing page doesn't mention a follow-gate.
• Email capture: both offer it on paid plans. Hooklink's Lead Collection asks for an email inside the DM and exports to CSV. It captures email only, not phone numbers.
• Link-in-bio: LinkDM's FAQ says it has no link-in-bio page. Hooklink gives every account a free Hookcard at hooklink.app/p/yourhandle with a "save contact" vCard and a QR code; Pro adds premium themes, custom images and analytics.

#Analytics

LinkDM offers click analytics. Hooklink reports accounts reached and followers gained per automation, with 7 days of history on Free and 365 days on Pro. Hooklink doesn't advertise link-click tracking, so if clicks are your key metric, that's a point for LinkDM.

Hooklink also has a Claude connector (MCP), so you can review your automations and draft new ones from Claude.

#Payments and billing for India

	Hooklink	LinkDM
Currency	INR	USD
UPI	UPI Autopay via Razorpay	Not stated on their pricing page
Limit you hit first	Active automations (Free)	Monthly DMs
Cancelling	Settings → Billing, anytime	See vendor terms

For an Indian creator, rupee billing with UPI Autopay means no foreign-currency card needed and a price that doesn't move with exchange rates. LinkDM's plans are clear and generous on DM volume, but they're billed in dollars.

#When LinkDM is the better choice

LinkDM has real strengths, and for some accounts it's the better fit:

• You run Instagram ads and want comments on ads to trigger DMs. LinkDM lists ad comments explicitly.
• You manage many accounts. Platinum+ covers 10 accounts; Hooklink Pro tops out at 5.
• You want published DM ceilings. LinkDM spells out 25,000 DMs a month on Pro and 300,000 on Platinum+, which helps with planning at scale.
• Click analytics matter most to how you report results.
• You already pay for tools in USD, so the currency isn't a concern.

#Who should pick which

• Indian creators and coaches sending freebies, course links or affiliate links from reels: Hooklink, for INR + UPI, a follow-gate and a free Hookcard.
• Small D2C brands that want followers and emails from comments: Hooklink Pro.
• Agencies with 6–10 accounts or brands driving DMs from ad comments: LinkDM.
• High-volume accounts that want written DM limits on the plan: LinkDM.

#How to switch from LinkDM to Hooklink

1. Create a free account at hooklink.app.
2. Connect your Instagram Business or Creator account through Meta's official login. No password sharing.
3. Note each LinkDM automation: the post, the keyword and the DM text and links.
4. Rebuild it in Hooklink: choose the trigger, add the keyword filter, paste the message and buttons, and switch on a public reply if you want one.
5. Pause the LinkDM automation on that post first, so followers don't receive two DMs.
6. Test from a second account by commenting the keyword.
7. Go Pro when you need it: ₹49 for the first month, then ₹199, via UPI Autopay. Then cancel LinkDM.

Compare every tool we track on the comparison page, or see Hooklink's full pricing. For the wider market, read our guide to the best Instagram DM automation tools in India.

#Final verdict

LinkDM is a solid comment-to-DM tool with high DM limits, ad-comment triggers and room for 10 accounts. For creators and brands in India, Hooklink adds what LinkDM doesn't list (a follow-gate and a free link-in-bio page) and bills a flat ₹199 a month in rupees with UPI Autopay.