Part 1: Meta’s message charges
Meta sets per-message prices by category and country. Marketing messages (offers, broadcasts) cost the most; utility (order updates, reminders) and authentication (OTPs) cost less; service replies inside the 24-hour customer-service window are the cheapest. Check the current rates on Meta’s WhatsApp pricing page.
Part 2: the platform fee and markup
Platforms charge a subscription, and some also bill messages from their own rate card. For example, on 17 October 2026 AiSensy listed ₹1.09 per marketing message and Interakt listed ₹0.958–₹0.970 depending on plan. Compare any listed rate with Meta’s published rate: the difference is markup, and it adds up quickly on broadcasts.
How to work out your monthly cost
- Platform fee (ChatWaba: ₹600, or ₹417/month on the yearly plan) + 18% GST
- + marketing messages per month × marketing rate
- + utility and authentication messages × their rates
- + any extra seats or add-ons (chatbot builder, AI credits)
With ChatWaba, steps 2–3 use Meta’s own rate and step 4 is zero, because every feature is in the one plan.
The most affordable WhatsApp API platforms in India
| Platform | Entry paid plan (as listed) | Billing | Team members on entry plan | Meta message charges | Free plan / trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatWaba | ₹600/month or ₹5,000/year + 18% GST, everything included | Monthly or yearly | Team members & permissions included in the one plan | Meta’s published rate, zero markup | No free trial; free demo |
| AiSensy | Basic ₹1,500/month (Pro ₹3,200, Premium ₹9,100); chatbot builder +₹2,500/month, AI agent +₹1,350/month | Monthly, quarterly (−5%), yearly (−10%) | Owner + 5 agents; extra agents ₹750/month each | Listed as ₹1.09 per marketing message, ₹0.145 utility/authentication/service | Free Forever plan (no broadcasting) |
| Interakt | Starter ₹3,499/quarter (+taxes); Growth ₹7,699/quarter; Advanced ₹10,499/quarter | Quarterly or yearly | See their page | Listed as ₹0.958–₹0.970 per marketing message depending on plan; “No template markups” listed on Enterprise | Free trial |
| Wati | Growth ₹2,699/month (Pro ₹5,799, Business ₹16,799) | Shown billed quarterly; up to ~25% off yearly | 3 users, no extra users on Growth | Charged per Wati’s rate card | 7-day free trial |
| Gallabox | ₹2,399/month (next tiers ₹5,599 and ₹13,599) | Billed annually | 3 users (hard cap); extra users ₹1,200–₹1,500/month on higher tiers | See their page | See their page |
ChatWaba wrote this page. Competitor prices are copied from each company’s public pricing page on 17 October 2026 (linked in the table) and can change; always confirm on their site before you buy. Prices exclude GST unless stated.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the WhatsApp Business API cost in India?
You pay a platform fee plus Meta’s per-message charges. With ChatWaba the platform fee is ₹600/month or ₹5,000/year + GST, and messages are billed at Meta’s published rate with zero markup.
Which is the most affordable WhatsApp API in India?
ChatWaba’s ₹600/month plan (or ₹5,000/year) is lower than the entry paid plans listed by AiSensy, Interakt, Gallabox and Wati as of 17 October 2026, and it includes every feature.
Is the WhatsApp Business API free?
Meta does not charge to access the API, but it charges for messages, and platforms charge for their software. Some offer free plans with limits, such as AiSensy’s Free Forever plan without broadcasting.
What is message markup?
It is the amount a platform charges per message above Meta’s published rate. ChatWaba adds no markup.
Continue exploring
See ChatWaba with your own workflow.
One plan with everything included: ₹600 a month or ₹5,000 a year (+18% GST). Meta’s message charges at Meta’s own rate, with zero markup.
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