WhatsApp Business API charges in India
What Meta charges per message on the WhatsApp Business Platform for Indian (+91) numbers — by category, with the free windows, volume discounts and the changes that took effect on 1 October 2026.
Source: Meta's official INR rate card · Last checked 16 October 2026 · Rates before applicable taxes
Rate card · India · INR
Cost per delivered message
Meta charges per message, only when it is delivered, based on the message category and the recipient's country code.
Marketing
No volume discounts.
₹0.8631
per message · $0.0118 USD
Template messages that promote a product, offer or event, or re-engage customers.
Examples: Festive offers, new launches, bulk WhatsApp broadcasts, abandoned-cart reminders
Utility
Charged inside and outside the 24-hour customer service window from 1 October 2026.
₹0.115
per message · $0.0014 USD
Template messages about an existing order, booking, account or transaction the customer started.
Examples: Order confirmations, payment reminders, meeting reminders, delivery updates
Authentication
₹0.115
per message · $0.0014 USD
Template messages with a one-time password (OTP) or code to verify a user.
Examples: Login OTPs, account verification codes
Authentication-International
₹2.4971
per message · $0.0304 USD
Authentication messages sent to Indian numbers by businesses that qualify for international rates (generally, businesses based outside India).
Examples: OTPs from an overseas business to +91 numbers
Service
First 1,000 service messages per business phone number each month are free.
₹0.115
per message · $0.0014 USD
Free-form (non-template) replies you send while the 24-hour customer service window is open.
Examples: Answering a customer's question, sharing a brochure in a chat, support replies
Meta also offers Meta Business Agent (AI) messages, charged at $2.00 USD per 1 million tokens. Rates shown are Meta's list rates for messages delivered to Indian numbers and exclude applicable taxes. Meta's charges are separate from your WayCRM plan.
What changed on 1 October 2026
Replies are no longer always free.
Meta resumed charging for two kinds of messages that had been free. If you run high-volume support on WhatsApp, check your estimate below.
- 1
Service messages are charged again
Free-form replies inside the 24-hour customer service window now cost ₹0.115 each — after 1,000 free service messages per business phone number each month. The free tier resets monthly and does not roll over.
- 2
Utility templates inside the 24-hour window are charged
Utility templates sent while a customer service window is open were free from July 2025. From 1 October 2026 they are charged at the utility rate.
A payment method is required for service messages
If your WhatsApp Business account has no payment method in Meta's Billing Hub, Meta delivers service messages within the free tier but stops delivering them once the 1,000 free messages are used.
When you don't pay
Messages Meta doesn't charge for
Messages customers send you
Meta never charges for messages a WhatsApp user sends to your business.
First 1,000 service messages a month
Every business phone number gets 1,000 free service messages each month. Charges start from the 1,001st.
Free entry point window — up to 7 days
When a customer messages you from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad or a Facebook Page call-to-action button (on the Android or iOS app) and you reply in time, all marketing, utility, authentication and service messages to that customer are free for up to 7 days.
Cost calculator
Estimate your monthly WhatsApp bill
Enter how many messages you expect to send each month to Indian numbers.
Estimated Meta charges per month
₹9,436.00
Before applicable taxes. Messages to Indian (+91) numbers.
- Marketing10,000 charged messages
- ₹8,631.00
- Utility5,000 charged messages
- ₹575.00
- Authentication0 charged messages
- ₹0.00
- Service (after 1,000 free)2,000 charged messages
- ₹230.00
Estimate only, using Meta's India rates effective 1 October 2026. Messages in a free entry point window (from click-to-WhatsApp ads) are free and not deducted here. Volume tier discounts for utility and authentication are included.
Volume tiers
Discounts for high-volume utility and authentication
Lower rates apply only to the messages within each band, counted per month across your whole business portfolio. Marketing and service messages have no tiers.
Utility
| Messages per month | Rate | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2,50,00,000 | ₹0.1150 | List rate |
| 2,50,00,001 – 5,00,00,000 | ₹0.1081 | −6% |
| 5,00,00,001 – 10,00,00,000 | ₹0.1012 | −12% |
| 10,00,00,001 – 20,00,00,000 | ₹0.0943 | −18% |
| 20,00,00,001 – 30,00,00,000 | ₹0.0874 | −24% |
| 30,00,00,001+ | ₹0.0805 | −30% |
Authentication
| Messages per month | Rate | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 7,50,000 | ₹0.1150 | List rate |
| 7,50,001 – 1,50,00,000 | ₹0.1081 | −6% |
| 1,50,00,001 – 2,00,00,000 | ₹0.1012 | −12% |
| 2,00,00,001 – 5,00,00,000 | ₹0.0943 | −18% |
| 5,00,00,001 – 10,00,00,000 | ₹0.0874 | −24% |
| 10,00,00,001+ | ₹0.0805 | −30% |
Authentication-International
| Messages per month | Rate | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 7,50,000 | ₹2.4971 | List rate |
| 7,50,001 – 1,50,00,000 | ₹2.3473 | −6% |
| 1,50,00,001 – 2,00,00,000 | ₹2.1974 | −12% |
| 2,00,00,001 – 5,00,00,000 | ₹2.0476 | −18% |
| 5,00,00,001 – 10,00,00,000 | ₹1.8978 | −24% |
| 10,00,00,001+ | ₹1.7480 | −30% |
How Meta bills
- You pay per delivered message, not per conversation (since 1 July 2025)
- The recipient's country code sets the rate — +91 numbers are charged India rates
- Messages outside the 24-hour window must use an approved template
- Send only to customers who have opted in to hear from you
- Eligible Indian businesses are billed in INR and must move all accounts to INR by 31 December 2026
- Rates change only on the first day of a quarter, with a month's notice
How WayCRM helps you spend less
- Reply from one shared inbox, so customers get answers while the 24-hour window is open
- Manage templates and submit them to Meta in the right category
- Capture Click-to-WhatsApp and Facebook Lead Ads leads and follow up quickly
- Target bulk WhatsApp broadcasts with labels, tags and lead stages instead of messaging everyone
- Track delivery and read status for every message
FAQ
WhatsApp API pricing questions
How much does one WhatsApp marketing message cost in India?
Meta charges ₹0.8631 per delivered marketing message to an Indian (+91) number, effective 1 October 2026, before applicable taxes. Marketing messages have no volume discounts.
Are WhatsApp service messages still free?
Not completely. From 1 October 2026, Meta charges ₹0.115 per service message after the first 1,000 free service messages per business phone number each month.
Do I pay when a customer messages me?
No. Meta does not charge for messages that customers send to your business. You pay only for messages your business sends that are delivered.
Are Meta's charges included in my WayCRM plan?
No. Meta's WhatsApp message charges are separate from your WayCRM plan.
Which rate applies — my country or my customer's?
Meta charges based on the recipient's phone number country code. Messages to +91 numbers are charged India rates, wherever your business is.
Do I have to pay in rupees?
Meta started billing in INR on 1 January 2026 for eligible businesses whose Sold-To country in Billing Hub is India. Eligible businesses must move all WhatsApp Business accounts to INR by 31 December 2026; from 1 January 2027, Meta stops delivering messages from their non-INR accounts.
How often does Meta change these rates?
Meta can change rates only on the first day of a quarter (1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October) and gives at least one month's notice.
How can I lower my WhatsApp API bill?
Use the right template category, reply inside the 24-hour window when you can, use Click-to-WhatsApp ads to open free 7-day windows, and send marketing broadcasts only to opted-in customers who are likely to respond.
This page summarises Meta's published pricing for information only. Meta sets and may change these rates — always check Meta's official pricing page for the latest figures.
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