WhatsApp Business API Cost Calculator
The WhatsApp Business API has two costs that confuse almost everyone: the platform (BSP) subscription and Meta's per-message charge. Meta moved India from per-conversation to per-message billing on 1 January 2026, so most older cost guides are now out of date. This calculator uses the current per-message model - by category, plus GST - so you see your real monthly cost before you commit.
Meta messages per month
Rates: India, per delivered messagePlatform fee
Rs.2,500
Meta messages
Rs.1,841
GST (18%)
Rs.781
Total / month
Rs.5,123
Total = BSP platform subscription + (messages x per-message Meta rate, by category) + 18% GST. Meta switched WhatsApp Business from per-conversation to per-message billing effective 1 January 2026. Customer-care (service) replies inside the 24-hour window are free, and utility messages are free inside that window too - so your real Meta cost is often lower than the worst case above. Per-message rates change and some BSPs add a markup; the rate fields are editable, and you should confirm current rates with Meta and your provider.
The two costs explained
1. The BSP platform subscription. Providers like AiSensy, Wati, Interakt and Gallabox charge a monthly fee for the shared inbox, broadcasts, chatbots and automation.
2. Meta's per-message charge. On top of the platform fee, Meta bills per delivered template message (since 1 January 2026), billed through your BSP. Rates vary by category: in India, marketing runs around Rs.0.86 per message, utility around Rs.0.115 (free inside the 24-hour service window), and authentication around Rs.0.145. Customer-care replies inside the 24-hour window are free. Rates change, so confirm current pricing and set it in the calculator.
Related reading
- WhatsApp Business API pricing in India
- How to send WhatsApp marketing legally in India
- Best WhatsApp Business API for Indian SMBs
- AiSensy vs Wati vs Interakt
- All WhatsApp Business tools
Frequently asked questions
- How much does the WhatsApp Business API cost in India?
- There are two costs: the BSP platform subscription (for example AiSensy from around Rs.2,500/mo, Gallabox from Rs.2,999/mo, DoubleTick from Rs.3,000/mo) and Meta's per-message charges billed through the BSP. Since 1 January 2026 Meta bills per delivered message, not per conversation. Your total is platform fee + (messages x per-message rate, by category) + 18% GST. Use the calculator above with your real message volume.
- What are Meta's WhatsApp per-message charges in India (2026)?
- Effective 1 January 2026, Meta charges per delivered template message in India: marketing messages around Rs.0.86 each, utility messages around Rs.0.115 each (free inside the 24-hour service window), and authentication messages around Rs.0.145 each. Customer-care (service) replies within the 24-hour window are free. Rates change, so confirm current pricing with Meta and your BSP.
- Did WhatsApp pricing change from per-conversation to per-message?
- Yes. Meta retired the per-conversation pricing model and moved to per-message billing for India effective 1 January 2026. You are now charged for each delivered template message by category, rather than for a 24-hour conversation window. This usually makes costs more predictable for low-volume senders and easier to forecast.
- Is the platform fee the only cost?
- No - and this is the most common mistake. The BSP subscription (AiSensy, Wati, Gallabox, Interakt, DoubleTick) is separate from Meta's per-message charges, which are billed on top through the BSP, plus 18% GST. A low platform fee can still mean a high total bill at high message volume, so always budget for both.
- Which WhatsApp Business API provider is cheapest?
- On platform fee, AiSensy (from around Rs.2,500/mo) is among the lowest, and it also has a free tier. But the cheapest in practice depends on your message volume, because Meta charges dominate at scale. Compare AiSensy, Wati, Interakt and Gallabox on both platform fee and your expected Meta per-message cost.
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