WhatsApp Business API pricing in India (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-30 · By Akash Saxena, Product Manager, ChatDesq · All prices exclude GST · We make ChatDesq, one of the platforms compared below
WhatsApp Business API pricing in India has two parts: Meta's per-message charge and the platform's fee. Meta charges for each delivered message by category. In India its list rate is ₹0.8631 for a marketing message and ₹0.115 for a utility, authentication or service message. Platforms such as AiSensy, WATI and Interakt then add a monthly plan fee, a per-message markup, or both. ChatDesq has a ₹0 platform fee, forever: brands pay only per message.
What does Meta charge per WhatsApp message in India?
Meta charges per delivered message, and the rate depends on the message category. There are four categories a D2C brand uses. (A fifth, Meta Business Agent, applies only to Meta's own AI agent.)
| Category | Used for | Meta's India list rate (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Offers, launches, cart reminders, win-back | ₹0.8631 |
| Utility | Order, shipping and payment updates; COD confirmation | ₹0.115 |
| Authentication | One-time passwords (OTP) | ₹0.115 |
| Service | Free-form replies inside the 24-hour window | ₹0.115 after 1,000 free per number per month |
Source: Meta, WhatsApp Business Platform pricing (rules and categories) and its INR rate card, effective 2026-10-01. Utility and authentication rates drop in volume tiers at higher monthly volumes; the table shows the standard list rate.
What changed in 2026?
Replies and in-window utility messages are no longer free. From 2026-10-01, Meta charges:
- Service messages after the first 1,000 free per business phone number per month.
- Utility messages sent inside the customer service window. These were free from July 2025 to September 2026.
Also in 2026, Meta raised India's marketing rate (2026-01-01) and its authentication-international rate (2026-04-01). India's rates did not change on 2026-10-01. Source: Meta pricing, "Prior updates".
Which messages are still free?
Two kinds: the first 1,000 service messages per number each month, and every message in a free entry point window. That window opens when a customer messages you from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad and you reply; it can stay open for up to 7 days. Messages customers send you are never charged.
What do WhatsApp API platforms add on top of Meta?
Usually a monthly plan fee plus a per-message markup. The platform gives you the inbox, broadcasts, automation and integrations. Here is what each charges in India, from their own pricing pages (checked 2026-10-30):
| Platform | Cheapest paid plan (per month) | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service | Free plan / trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatDesq | ₹0 (one plan, all features) | ₹1.036 | ₹0.138 | ₹0.138 | ₹0.138 | ₹0 plan |
| AiSensy Basic | ₹1,500 monthly; ₹1,350 billed yearly | ₹1.09 | ₹0.145 | ₹0.145 | ₹0.145 | Free Forever plan (no broadcasting) |
| WATI Growth | ₹2,999 monthly; ₹2,199 billed yearly | ₹1.0357 | ₹0.1495 | ₹0.1495 | ₹0.1380 | 7-day trial |
| WATI Pro | ₹6,499 monthly; ₹4,899 billed yearly | ₹0.9926 | ₹0.1495 | ₹0.1495 | ₹0.1380 | 7-day trial |
| Interakt Starter (WhatsApp) | Quarterly or yearly only: ₹11,999/yr (≈₹1,000/mo) | ₹0.970 | ₹0.160 | ₹0.129 | ₹0.129 | Free trial (length not published) |
| Interakt Advanced | ₹3,799 monthly; ₹35,999/yr (≈₹3,000/mo) | ₹0.949 | ₹0.140 | ₹0.127 | ₹0.127 | Free trial (length not published) |
| Gallabox Basic | ₹2,999 billed quarterly; ₹2,399 billed yearly | ₹0.9926* | ₹0.1323* | ₹0.1323* | ₹0.1323* | 7-day trial |
| DoubleTick | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | No free trial |
| Zoko Starter | US$49.99 (charged in USD) | Meta's rate + US$0.015 | Meta's rate + US$0.015 | Meta's rate + US$0.015 | Meta's rate + US$0.015 | 7-day trial |
* Gallabox's published rate card; it does not say whether Gallabox's markup is included.
Sources: ChatDesq · AiSensy · WATI and its India rate cards dated 2026-10-01 · Interakt · Gallabox and its rate card · DoubleTick · Zoko. All checked 2026-10-30.
What is the total monthly cost at different volumes?
Add the plan fee to messages × rate. The table does this for two example brands, a small one and a growing one. It does not cover every volume: at higher volumes the per-message rate counts for more than the plan fee, so price your own volume (see the next section).
How we calculated it:
- 1 marketing message for every 2 utility messages (a typical D2C mix of campaigns plus order updates).
- Service replies stay inside the 1,000 free per month; no authentication messages.
- Each platform's cheapest published plan that fits the volume, at its billed-yearly price per month (the lowest fee it offers). Monthly billing costs more on every platform except ChatDesq.
- Prices excl. GST, rounded to the nearest rupee. Rates checked 2026-10-30.
| Monthly volume | Meta only (no platform) | ChatDesq | AiSensy | WATI | Interakt | Gallabox | DoubleTick | Zoko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small: 1,000 marketing + 2,000 utility | ₹1,093 | ₹1,312 | ₹2,730 (Basic) | ₹3,534 (Growth) | ₹2,290 (Starter) | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Growing: 10,000 marketing + 20,000 utility | ₹10,931 | ₹13,120 | ₹15,150 (Basic) | ₹15,546 (Growth) | ₹13,900 (Starter) | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Working for the "Growing" row:
- ChatDesq: 10,000 × ₹1.036 + 20,000 × ₹0.138 + ₹0 = ₹13,120
- AiSensy Basic: ₹1,350 + 10,000 × ₹1.09 + 20,000 × ₹0.145 = ₹15,150
- WATI Growth: ₹2,199 + 10,000 × ₹1.0357 + 20,000 × ₹0.1495 = ₹15,546
- Interakt Starter: ₹1,000 + 10,000 × ₹0.970 + 20,000 × ₹0.160 = ₹13,900
Why some cells say "Not published": Gallabox's rate card doesn't say whether its markup is included; DoubleTick doesn't publish prices; Zoko bills in US dollars, and we don't convert currencies.
"Meta only" is what you would pay with Meta's Cloud API directly and no platform. You would then need your own developers to build the inbox, campaigns and automation.
How do plan fees and per-message rates trade off?
A plan fee is fixed; message charges grow with volume. At low volume the plan fee is a big part of the bill. At high volume the per-message rate matters more, so compare rates category by category (published rates, checked 2026-10-30):
- AiSensy: ChatDesq's published rates are lower in every category, and ChatDesq has no plan fee.
- WATI: level on marketing with Growth (ChatDesq ₹1.036, WATI ₹1.0357); WATI Pro (₹0.9926) and Business (₹0.9667) list lower marketing rates. On utility and authentication, ChatDesq (₹0.138) is lower than Growth and Pro (₹0.1495) and level with Business (₹0.1380).
- Interakt: lists lower marketing rates (₹0.949–₹0.970) and lower authentication and service rates (₹0.127–₹0.129) than ChatDesq; ChatDesq's utility rate (₹0.138) is lower than Interakt's (₹0.140–₹0.160).
Your volume and mix decide the total. A brand that sends mostly OTPs or order updates gets a different answer from one that sends mostly campaigns. Try your own numbers in the WhatsApp cost calculator.
What else should I check besides price?
Seats, add-ons and limits often cost more than the plan. Before you choose, check:
- Team seats. WATI Growth includes 3 users with no option to add more; Gallabox Basic has a hard cap of 3 users; AiSensy Basic includes 1 owner + 5 agents (₹750 per extra agent per month). ChatDesq and Interakt list unlimited agents (Interakt: owner role on Starter and Growth).
- AI and chatbots. AiSensy sells its chatbot builder (₹2,500/month) and AI agent (₹1,350/month) as add-ons; Interakt's AI agents are a ₹3,000/month add-on on Growth and Advanced. WATI and Gallabox include AI credits by plan. ChatDesq includes its AI agent and flow builder at ₹0.
- Broadcast and API limits. WATI Growth: 15,000 broadcasts and 10,000 API calls a month, no webhooks.
- Integrations you need, such as Shopify, HubSpot or Salesforce. Some platforms include more than others.
- Track record and support. Larger platforms have years of customers and partner badges. ChatDesq launched in 2026.
Sources: the pricing pages linked above, checked 2026-10-30.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a WhatsApp marketing message cost in India?
Meta's India list rate for a marketing message is ₹0.8631 (excl. GST). Platforms add their own fee, so brands typically pay about ₹0.95 to ₹1.09 per marketing message, depending on the platform and plan.
Are WhatsApp utility messages free in India?
No. Since 2026-10-01 Meta charges for utility messages, including those sent inside the 24-hour customer service window. Meta's India list rate is ₹0.115 per utility message before platform fees.
Are service messages (replies) free?
The first 1,000 service messages per business phone number each month are free. From the 1,001st, Meta charges its service rate (₹0.115 in India before platform fees), since 2026-10-01.
What is the cheapest WhatsApp Business API platform in India?
No single platform is cheapest for every brand; it depends on your volume and message mix. Platforms charge a plan fee, per-message rates, or both, and their rates differ by category. ChatDesq has a ₹0 platform fee, forever, and you pay only per message (₹1.036 marketing, ₹0.138 utility, authentication and service, excl. GST). Compare plan fee plus messages times rate at your own volume, using published rates.
Do I pay GST on WhatsApp API charges?
Yes. Indian platforms add 18% GST to plan fees and message charges or wallet top-ups. All figures on this page exclude GST.
Sources (all checked 2026-10-30)
- Meta, WhatsApp Business Platform pricing: developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing
- Meta, interactive rates: business.whatsapp.com/products/platform-pricing#rates
- ChatDesq: chatdesq.com/pricing
- AiSensy: aisensy.com/pricing
- WATI: wati.io/pricing/ (India rate cards: Growth, Pro, Business PDFs linked from "View Rate Card", dated 2026-10-01)
- Interakt: interakt.shop/pricing/
- Gallabox: gallabox.com/pricing and docs.gallabox.com/pricing-and-billing-modules/new-per-message-pricing
- DoubleTick: doubletick.io/pricing
- Zoko: zoko.io/pricing
