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WhatsApp Business API Pricing in India 2026: New Per-Message Rates + AiSensy vs Wati vs Interakt vs Gallabox
WhatsApp Business API pricing in India: Meta bills per message, not per conversation, and from 1 October 2026 it charges service replies too. Here are the INR rates, how the platform fee differs from Meta's charges, and how AiSensy, Wati, Interakt and Gallabox compare.
WhatsApp is where Indian customers actually reply, so moving off a personal number onto the official WhatsApp Business API is one of the highest-return steps an SMB can take. But the pricing confuses almost everyone, and it keeps changing. Since 1 July 2025, Meta has billed the WhatsApp Business API per message, not per conversation, and from 1 October 2026 it also charges your service replies. Most older cost guides are now out of date. Get the model straight first, then the tool comparison makes sense.
What changed: per-message billing, then paid service replies
Until 30 June 2025, Meta charged per 24-hour conversation. From 1 July 2025, Meta charges per delivered template message in India, priced by category, so you pay for what you actually send. From 1 October 2026 Meta also charges service messages (your replies to customers) at the utility rate after the first 1,000 free per business number each month, and charges utility templates sent inside the 24-hour window. Messages to a customer who reached you from a click-to-WhatsApp ad stay free for 72 hours.
The two costs you are actually paying
- The platform (BSP) subscription. AiSensy, Wati, Interakt and Gallabox are Business Solution Providers. You pay them a monthly fee for the shared team inbox, broadcast tools, chatbots, templates and automation. This is the number in their pricing tables below.
- Meta's per-message charge. On top of the platform fee, Meta bills you per delivered template message, billed through your provider. This is separate from the subscription, and 18% GST applies on both.
So when a tool advertises a low monthly price, remember Meta's per-message charges sit on top. Budget for both. Our WhatsApp Business API cost calculator adds them up for your real volume.
Meta's India per-message rates (2026)
Meta's charges in India are priced per delivered template message by category:
| Message category | Rate, India (from 1 Oct 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Rs.0.86 per message | Promotions, offers, broadcasts. Always charged |
| Utility | Rs.0.115 per message | Order updates and alerts. Charged inside the 24-hour window too from 1 Oct 2026 |
| Authentication | Rs.0.115 per message | OTPs and login codes. Always charged |
| Service | Rs.0.115 per message | Your replies to customers. First 1,000 per business number a month are free |
These are Meta's India rate card figures effective 1 October 2026. Rates change and some BSPs add a small markup, so confirm with Meta and your provider. The calculator lets you edit each rate.
AiSensy
AiSensy is a popular India-first default for broadcasts and template messaging at low cost. It has a free forever plan (fair use) and paid plans from around Rs.2,500/month, with an AI tier near Rs.3,500. Strong fit for businesses focused on marketing broadcasts and reorder campaigns at a low platform cost.
Wati
Wati is built around a multi-agent shared inbox, which suits a front desk or support team handling many one-to-one chats. Its entry is a Rs.999 pay-as-you-go option, with subscription tiers above that; it also offers a free trial. Choose it when team collaboration on conversations matters more than pure broadcast volume.
Interakt
Interakt is an India-built option with good automation and catalogue features, well suited to small e-commerce sellers who want order updates, reorder nudges and a product catalogue on WhatsApp. It offers a free trial; confirm current INR plan pricing on their site as the tiers are not always shown statically.
Gallabox
Gallabox leans towards sales and CRM-style contact handling with strong automation. Paid plans start around Rs.2,999/month (lower billed annually), with a free trial that includes AI credits. Good fit for teams that want WhatsApp tied into a light sales workflow.
Which one fits?
- Low-cost marketing broadcasts: AiSensy.
- Multi-agent support inbox: Wati.
- Small e-commerce order updates and catalogue: Interakt.
- Sales workflows and automation: Gallabox.
A few buying tips that apply to all of them: template messages need Meta approval and must respect opt-in rules, so collect consent at signup (having someone's number is not consent). Model your expected message volume by category and add Meta's per-message charges to the platform fee before deciding - at high marketing volume the Meta cost can dwarf the subscription.
If WhatsApp is part of a bigger lead flow, see our stack for automating WhatsApp leads in India, or browse all providers in the WhatsApp Business category.
Plan prices and Meta's per-message rates change. Confirm both on the provider's site before committing.
Written by
Swapnil Singh · Co-founder, FindThatSoftware
Swapnil co-founded FindThatSoftware. He focuses on how Indian teams find customers and grow - the CRM, marketing, commerce, and support tools that fit local budgets and workflows - and on keeping the catalog honest and source-backed.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- How is the WhatsApp Business API priced in India in 2026?
- Two costs: your BSP platform subscription (e.g. AiSensy from ~Rs.2,500/mo) and Meta's per-message charges. Since 1 July 2025 Meta bills per delivered message, not per conversation, and from 1 October 2026 service replies are charged too after 1,000 free per number a month. Total = platform fee + (messages x per-message rate by category) + 18% GST.
- What are Meta's WhatsApp per-message rates in India?
- Per Meta's India rate card effective 1 October 2026: marketing messages cost about Rs.0.86 each, and utility, authentication and service messages about Rs.0.115 each. Service replies are charged after the first 1,000 free per business number a month, and utility messages are charged even inside the 24-hour window. Rates change, so confirm current pricing.
- Did WhatsApp move from per-conversation to per-message pricing?
- Yes. Meta retired per-conversation pricing and moved to per-message billing effective 1 July 2025. You are charged per delivered template message by category, which is usually more predictable than the old 24-hour conversation window. From 1 October 2026 service replies are charged too, after 1,000 free per business number a month.
- Which WhatsApp Business API provider is cheapest in India?
- On platform fee, AiSensy (from ~Rs.2,500/mo, with a free tier) is among the lowest. But the cheapest in practice depends on your message volume, since Meta's per-message charges dominate at scale. Compare AiSensy, Wati, Interakt and Gallabox on both platform fee and expected Meta cost.
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