How much does the WhatsApp Business API cost in India?

The two parts of the bill

1. Meta's message charges. On the WhatsApp Business Platform, Meta charges when a template message is delivered. Templates fall into three categories: marketing, utility and authentication. Marketing templates are charged every time. The rate depends on the category and on the country code of the customer's number, and Meta publishes its rate cards in several currencies, including Indian rupees.

2. The provider's fee. You reach the API through software from a provider such as WAnee, Wati, AiSensy, Interakt or Gallabox. They charge a monthly or yearly plan. On 9 October 2026, Interakt's Growth plan was ₹2,799 a month, Gallabox's Basic plan ₹2,999 a month billed quarterly, and WAnee's Starter plan ₹1,499 a month.

What's free

• Messages a customer sends you.
• Your replies inside the 24-hour customer service window that opens when the customer messages you. Meta's pricing page says it doesn't charge "for service messages, or for utility messages businesses send in response to users".
• Everything for 72 hours after a customer reaches you from a click-to-WhatsApp ad or a Facebook Page button, if you reply within 24 hours.

What costs money

• Starting a conversation, or messaging after the 24-hour window has closed. Both need an approved template, and the template is charged.
• Broadcasts, which are marketing templates.

How to estimate your monthly cost

1. Count the template messages you'll send each month by category: reminders and order updates are usually utility, offers are marketing.
2. Multiply by Meta's India rate for each category.
3. Add your provider's monthly plan, and check whether they bill Meta's charges at cost or at their own rate.

A note on October 2026: some WhatsApp providers report that from 1 October 2026 Meta charges for service messages beyond 1,000 a month per number, and for utility templates sent inside the 24-hour window. Meta's own pricing pages didn't show this change when we checked on 9 October 2026. We'll update this page when Meta confirms either way. Check Meta's pricing page before you budget.

How WAnee bills it

WAnee's plans cover the front desk: Starter is ₹1,499 a month and Pro ₹2,999, plus GST. Messages are paid from a prepaid wallet, based on Meta's pricing; Instagram messages are ₹100 per 1,000. WAnee doesn't cap your messages. See pricing.