Meta charges for the WhatsApp Business API per delivered message, by message type. Since 1 October 2026 that includes normal replies beyond a free monthly allowance. Here are the India rates in rupees, what changed, and worked examples.
Rates checked 23 October 2026 against Meta’s pricing documentation. Your exact rates are in WhatsApp Manager.
Monthly cost calculator
Estimated Meta charges: ₹661.55 / month
₹780.63 with 18% GST · 2,000 billable service messages after the first 1,000 free
Estimate using Meta’s India rates (October 2026). Your exact bill is in WhatsApp Manager.
Per delivered message, in INR, before 18% GST.
| Message type | Rate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | ₹0.8631 | Offers, announcements, festive greetings, re-engagement - anything promotional. Always a template. |
| Utility | ₹0.115 | Updates about something the customer did: order, booking or payment confirmations. A template. |
| Authentication | ₹0.115 | One-time passwords and login codes. A template. |
| Service | ₹0.115 | Normal replies inside the 24-hour customer-service window - from your staff or an AI assistant. First 1,000 per number each month are free. |
Conversations that start from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad or a Facebook Page call-to-action open a free entry-point window in which Meta does not charge for your messages.
A clinic answering questions. 3,000 replies a month from staff and the AI assistant. The first 1,000 are free, so 2,000 × ₹0.115 = ₹230 a month to Meta, plus GST.
A Diwali offer to 500 customers. 500 delivered marketing messages × ₹0.8631 = ₹431.55, plus GST.
Tip: every delivered message counts, so an assistant that answers in one message instead of three costs a third as much.
A WhatsApp platform charges for its software, and some also bill your messages at their own per-message rate, above Meta’s. WapTalk does not: Meta bills your WhatsApp Business Account directly at the rates above, with 0% markup, and your WapTalk plan covers the inbox and the AI. See WapTalk pricing or compare with Wati, Interakt and AiSensy.
Meta charges per delivered message: about ₹0.8631 for marketing and about ₹0.115 for utility, authentication and service messages (October 2026, before 18% GST). The first 1,000 service messages per phone number each month are free.
Not any more beyond the free allowance. From 1 October 2026 Meta charges for service messages - normal replies inside the 24-hour window - after the first 1,000 per number each month, at the utility rate (about ₹0.115 in India).
It depends on the platform. Some bill you their own per-message rate and pay Meta themselves. With WapTalk, Meta bills your WhatsApp Business Account directly at its own rate and we add 0% markup; our plan covers the software and the AI.
Yes. Meta’s rates are before tax, and 18% GST applies to Indian businesses. Registered businesses can usually claim it as input tax credit.
When a customer messages you, a 24-hour window opens. Inside it you can reply with normal free-form messages. Outside it you can only send an approved template, which is charged at the marketing, utility or authentication rate.
A payment method on your WhatsApp Business Account in Meta Business Settings. Indian accounts must move to INR billing by 31 December 2026; Meta stops delivering messages from accounts without valid billing. See the setup guide
14-day free trial with the AI included, then plans from ₹2,499/month + GST. Meta’s WhatsApp fees at cost, 0% markup.
