Reply with a Reel
Tap Reply under a comment, then the camera icon next to the text box to answer with a short video. The comment shows as a sticker. Great for 'how does it look on?' questions.
How to reply to comments on Instagram
To reply to a comment on Instagram, tap the speech bubble under the post or Reel, find the comment, tap Reply, type your answer and post it; Instagram adds the person's @username so they are notified. Comments on your ads are easier to answer from Meta Business Suite's inbox. For a shop, comments are where people ask price, sizing and shipping questions in public, so a quick, friendly reply is often a sale. Below are the steps, 10 reply examples and the mistakes to avoid.
Updated 12 October 2026
How to reply to a comment on Instagram (step by step)
- Open the post or Reel and tap the speech bubble to see the comments.
- Tap Reply under the comment you want to answer. Instagram adds their @username.
- Type your reply. Keep it short and friendly, and answer the actual question.
- Tap Post. The person gets a notification and your reply shows under their comment.
- On a computer, open the post on instagram.com and click Reply under the comment; it works the same way.
Other ways to reply and manage comments
Pin helpful comments
Swipe left on a comment (or press and hold) and tap the pin icon. You can pin up to three comments on a post, such as your own answer about sizing or shipping.
Like comments
Tap the heart next to a comment to show you have seen it. Useful for compliments, but buying questions deserve a real reply.
Hide or delete spam
Swipe left on a comment (or press and hold) to delete it, restrict the account or report it. For filters that hide spam automatically, see our guide to stopping spam comments.
How to reply to comments on Instagram ads
Comments on ads do not always appear in your normal notifications, and ads made in Ads Manager are not posts on your profile. The easiest place to answer them is Meta Business Suite: open Inbox, then Instagram comments, which includes ad comments. You can also open the ad's preview in Ads Manager and view the post with comments.
Ad comments are often the most valuable on your account: the person just saw your product and asked a question. Answer them first.
10 Instagram comment replies for online stores
1. Price question
Hi [Name]! It is $[price] and in stock now. You can shop it here: link in bio, or we can DM you the link 😊
2. Shipping to Australia or NZ
Yes, we ship Australia-wide and to New Zealand! Usually [X] business days. Full details in our bio link.
3. Sizing
Great question! It fits [true to size]. If you are between sizes, we would go [up/down]. Happy to help in DMs too!
4. Is it back in stock?
Not yet, sorry! We expect more around [date]. Follow along and we will post the moment it lands 🙌
5. Compliment
Thank you so much, [Name]! That made our day 💛
6. Someone tagging a friend
Ha! [Friend name], you have been told 😉
7. Question about an order
Hi [Name], sorry for the wait! We have sent you a DM so we can check your order straight away.
8. Complaint
So sorry to hear this, [Name]. That is not the experience we want for you. We have messaged you to sort it out today.
9. Discount question
We do not have a code running right now, but join our email list (link in bio) and you will be first to know!
10. Wholesale or collab
Thanks for your interest! Please email [email] and the team will get back to you.
What never to do in a public comment reply
- Never post order numbers, addresses, tracking links or anyone's personal details. Move it to a DM.
- Do not argue or get defensive. Reply once, kindly, then take it private.
- Do not delete genuine complaints. Hide spam and abuse only.
- Do not paste the same canned reply under every comment. It looks like a bot and people notice.
- Do not use tools that post automatic comment replies. Meta has been restricting accounts that automate public comment replies.
How Paperflower helps you reply faster
Paperflower brings your Instagram and Facebook comments, including ad comments, into one list with your DMs and support email. It spots the comments that could be a sale and puts them first, and writes a reply for each from your brand knowledge and Shopify.
Because Meta restricts automated comment replies, Paperflower never posts public replies for you: press the button and it copies the reply and opens the comment on Instagram, so you paste and post it yourself in seconds. See how comments work, or read how to stop spam comments on Instagram.
How Paperflower is different
Comments are a sales channel, not a chore
Most tools treat comments as noise. Paperflower reads every one, spots buying questions like “do you ship to NZ?” and makes sure they get answered before the customer moves on.
Buying Intent and Opportunity Score
Every conversation gets a score so the people ready to buy come first. You see who to reply to now, and who can wait.
Shopify context in every draft
Order status, shipping and product details are pulled in automatically, so drafts are right the first time and private order details never go out in public.
You stay in control
AI drafts are on and auto-send is off by default. Complaints are escalated to you. Refunds and cancellations always need a human.
Simple pricing
Paperflower starts free with 100 customer interactions a month, no card needed: every message in one list, and you write the replies. AI sorting, reply drafts and spam hiding come with Standard, which is A$47 a month for 3,000 customer interactions, with a 7-day free trial. Human replies are always free. See all plans.
Built for AU and NZ brands
Local time zones, local shipping questions, and support from people who know the market.
Frequently asked questions
Tap the speech bubble under the post or Reel, tap Reply under the comment, type your reply and tap Post. Instagram adds the person's @username so they get a notification.
Open Meta Business Suite, go to Inbox and choose Instagram comments, which include ad comments. You can also view an ad's comments from its preview in Ads Manager.
Yes. Tap Reply under the comment, then the camera icon to record a Reel reply. The comment appears as a sticker on the video.
Reply to every question and complaint, and to as many compliments as you can. Buying questions come first, because a quick answer is often a sale.
Not unless you turn that on. By default it drafts a reply and you approve it. You can switch on auto-send for simple, safe questions once you trust the drafts.
Instagram, Facebook and TikTok comments and DMs, support email through Gmail or Google Workspace, and Shopify for order details.
Yes. The Free plan is the basics: 100 customer interactions a month in one list, no card needed, and you write each reply. Standard adds AI sorting, reply drafts and spam hiding, and comes with a 7-day free trial. You can cancel any time. Compare plans.
Start Paperflower free
Connect Instagram, Facebook, email and Shopify in a few minutes. On Standard, AI sorts every message and drafts every reply, you stay in control, and nothing is sent without your say-so unless you switch that on. Free puts every message in one list for you to answer.