ChatDesq vs Interakt: WhatsApp API cost compared (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-30 · By Akash Saxena, Product Manager, ChatDesq · India prices, excl. GST · We make ChatDesq. Interakt facts are from Interakt's own pages, linked below.
Short answer: ChatDesq has a ₹0 platform fee, forever: every feature is free and you pay only per message. Interakt charges a plan fee (from ₹11,999 a year) and lists lower per-message rates than ChatDesq for marketing (₹0.949–₹0.970 vs ₹1.036), authentication and service; ChatDesq's utility rate (₹0.138) is lower than Interakt's (₹0.140–₹0.160). Which one costs less in total depends on your volume and message mix, so price your own numbers. Interakt is also the bigger, longer-running platform, with Instagram automation and a Sales CRM.
Who is each one best for?
ChatDesq suits brands that want no fixed fee and AI included; Interakt suits brands that want an established platform with Instagram and a CRM.
Choose ChatDesq if:
- You want no fixed monthly fee and to pay only per message, or your volume swings by season.
- You want monthly billing at the entry level. Interakt's WhatsApp Starter plan is billed quarterly or yearly only.
- You want an AI agent included rather than a ₹3,000/month add-on.
- You send mostly order and shipping updates: ChatDesq's utility rate is ₹0.138; Interakt lists ₹0.140–₹0.160.
Choose Interakt if:
- You send high marketing volume every month. Interakt lists ₹0.949–₹0.970 per marketing message against ChatDesq's ₹1.036, so price both at your volume.
- You send mostly OTPs or service replies. Interakt lists ₹0.127–₹0.129 for authentication and service; ChatDesq charges ₹0.138.
- You want Instagram DM and comment automation in the same tool, or Interakt's Sales CRM.
- You want an established vendor. Interakt says it is "trusted by 100,000+ businesses across the globe" (interakt.shop, checked 2026-10-30). ChatDesq launched in 2026.
- You are a large brand: Interakt's Enterprise plan lists "No Markup Charges".
How do the prices compare?
Interakt charges a plan fee plus per-message rates; ChatDesq charges ₹0 platform fee and per-message rates only. Per message, Interakt lists lower rates for marketing, authentication and service, and ChatDesq lists a lower rate for utility.
| ChatDesq | Interakt Starter (WhatsApp) | Interakt Growth | Interakt Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan fee, monthly billing | ₹0 | Not offered monthly | ₹2,799 | ₹3,799 |
| Quarterly | — | ₹3,499 | ₹7,699 | ₹10,499 |
| Yearly (≈ per month) | — | ₹11,999 (≈₹1,000) | ₹26,399 (≈₹2,200) | ₹35,999 (≈₹3,000) |
| Marketing message | ₹1.036 | ₹0.970 | ₹0.958 | ₹0.949 |
| Utility message | ₹0.138 | ₹0.160 | ₹0.150 | ₹0.140 |
| Authentication message | ₹0.138 | ₹0.129 | ₹0.128 | ₹0.127 |
| Service message (after 1,000 free) | ₹0.138 | ₹0.129 | ₹0.128 | ₹0.127 |
| Agents | Unlimited | Unlimited (owner role) | Unlimited (owner role) | Unlimited (all roles) |
| AI agents | Included | Not available | Add-on ₹3,000/month | Add-on ₹3,000/month |
Interakt prices are "+taxes". Enterprise: price on request, "No Markup Charges". Sources: ChatDesq pricing; Interakt pricing (plan prices from the page's Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly toggle). Checked 2026-10-30.
What does a month actually cost?
Two worked examples, for a small brand and a growing one. We used Interakt's cheapest plan for each volume, billed yearly (its lowest fee). Mix: 1 marketing message for every 2 utility messages; service replies inside the free 1,000.
| Monthly volume | ChatDesq | Interakt |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 marketing + 2,000 utility | ₹1,312 | ₹2,290 (Starter) |
| 10,000 marketing + 20,000 utility | ₹13,120 | ₹13,900 (Starter) |
Working (10,000 + 20,000): ChatDesq 10,000 × ₹1.036 + 20,000 × ₹0.138 = ₹13,120. Interakt Starter ₹1,000 + 10,000 × ₹0.970 + 20,000 × ₹0.160 = ₹13,900. Excl. GST.
These two examples don't cover every brand. At higher volumes the per-message rate counts for more than the plan fee, and Interakt lists lower marketing, authentication and service rates than ChatDesq (table above), so the result can be different. A different mix (more OTPs, fewer order updates) also changes it. Paying Interakt monthly or quarterly, or adding its AI agents, raises its total. Price your own volume and mix in the WhatsApp cost calculator.
How do the features compare?
Interakt offers more channels and a CRM; ChatDesq bundles AI and automation at ₹0. This table lists only what each company's own pages state. "Not stated" means we couldn't find it, not that it's missing.
| Feature | ChatDesq | Interakt |
|---|---|---|
| Shared team inbox | Yes | Yes |
| Broadcast campaigns | Yes | Yes (one-time and ongoing campaigns) |
| Contacts | Not stated | Unlimited on all plans |
| AI agent | Included | Add-on, Growth and Advanced only |
| No-code automation | Included | Yes (campaign triggers, auto-retries) |
| Instagram DM and comment automation | Yes (Instagram DMs and comment-to-DM) | Yes |
| Sales CRM | Conversational CRM included | Separate Sales CRM, ₹2,499/month |
| REST API and webhooks | Included | Not stated on pricing page |
| Phone-number masking | Included | Not stated |
| Shopify | Included | Yes (Shopify named on its site) |
| Markup-free option | No | Enterprise plan |
Sources: chatdesq.com/pricing; interakt.shop/pricing; interakt.shop. Checked 2026-10-30.
Frequently asked questions
How does ChatDesq's pricing differ from Interakt's?
ChatDesq has a ₹0 platform fee, forever, and you pay only per message: ₹1.036 marketing and ₹0.138 utility, authentication and service in India. Interakt charges a plan fee (WhatsApp Starter ₹11,999 a year; Growth ₹2,799 and Advanced ₹3,799 a month) and lists ₹0.949 to ₹0.970 per marketing message, ₹0.140 to ₹0.160 utility and ₹0.127 to ₹0.129 authentication and service. The total depends on your volume and mix. Excl. GST; rates checked on 2026-10-30.
What does Interakt charge per WhatsApp message?
Interakt's pricing page lists India marketing messages at ₹0.970 (Starter), ₹0.958 (Growth) and ₹0.949 (Advanced). Utility is ₹0.160, ₹0.150 and ₹0.140. Authentication and service (after 1,000 free) are ₹0.129, ₹0.128 and ₹0.127. Enterprise lists no markup charges. Prices are plus taxes.
Can I pay for Interakt monthly?
Growth (₹2,799) and Advanced (₹3,799) can be billed monthly. The WhatsApp Starter plan shows "Not Applicable" for monthly billing; it is ₹3,499 a quarter or ₹11,999 a year.
When is Interakt the better choice?
Interakt suits brands that want an established vendor (it says it is trusted by 100,000+ businesses) and brands that want Instagram DM automation or a Sales CRM in the same tool. It lists lower per-message rates than ChatDesq for marketing, authentication and service, and its Enterprise plan lists no markup charges.
Sources (checked 2026-10-30): chatdesq.com/pricing · interakt.shop/pricing/ · interakt.shop/
