Instagram API Rate Limits
Instagram applies API rate limits to messaging per Instagram account. These apply across all tools using the API, not just CreatorFlow.
If you hit the limit:
Some DMs may not be delivered while you're over the hourly limit. There is no permanent penalty for your account.
The limit mainly matters during viral spikes — you'd need 200 people commenting your keyword within the same 60-minute window.
Plan DM Limits
Your CreatorFlow plan also has monthly limits:
500 DMs per month.
5,000 DMs per workspace per month.
10,000 DMs per workspace per month.
When you reach your monthly plan limit, DMs pause until next month, you upgrade, or you buy a DM Add-On pack — extra DMs that never expire and kick in automatically (1,000 for $5 up to 5,000 for $19, Pro and Growth only). See [DM Add-Ons](/help/billing/dm-add-ons). Check usage in Settings > Billing.
Messaging Windows
Each trigger type has a time window during which Instagram allows the DM to be sent:
Replies are sent right after someone comments. Rewind can reach comments up to 7 days old, though Instagram's 24-hour reply window often blocks older ones.
24 hours from the interaction.
24 hours from the user's last message.
If a window expires before the DM is sent (e.g., your token was expired during that time), the DM will not be delivered.
Do Automations Send Duplicate DMs?
Automations send one DM per comment and do not dedupe. If the same person comments your keyword again, they receive another DM.
Only Rewind dedupes — it skips anyone it has already DMed within its own runs. Regular automations do not.
Spam Prevention
Sending identical messages to many users quickly can trigger Instagram's spam detection. Here's how to reduce spam risk:
Add message variations to your public reply. CreatorFlow rotates them automatically.
Keep messages personal with context before the link. Avoid link-only messages.
Avoid sending the same text to hundreds of people in a short window.
CreatorFlow uses Meta's official API and stays inside Instagram's published limits, which is lower risk than unofficial browser tools or bots. Instagram alone decides how it enforces its rules, so no tool can promise an account will never be restricted.
Still need help? Contact us at hello@creatorflow.so or use the chat widget inside the app (bottom-right corner).