Complete guide to WhatsApp API pricing in India. INR rates for marketing, utility, and authentication messages with real cost examples.
India is the world's largest WhatsApp market. With over 500 million active users, the platform has become the default communication channel for businesses of every size -- from neighborhood shops in Mumbai to enterprise SaaS companies in Bangalore.
If you're considering the WhatsApp Business API for your Indian business, understanding the cost structure is the first step. This guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay, how the pricing model works, and how to estimate your monthly spend with real-world examples.
Since July 1, 2025, Meta charges per delivered template message -- not per conversation. This was a significant shift from the previous 24-hour conversation window model.
Here's what that means in practice:
Meta bills through your Business Solution Provider (BSP). With WhatsTeam, there is no per-message markup -- you pay Meta's rates directly plus a flat platform subscription.
| Category | Rate (INR) | Rate (USD approx.) | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | ₹0.7846 | ~$0.0094 | Promotions, offers, product launches |
| Utility | ₹0.1150 | ~$0.0014 | Order updates, shipping, receipts |
| Authentication | ₹0.1150 | ~$0.0014 | OTPs, verification codes, 2FA |
| Service | Free | Free | Customer-initiated replies (24h window) |
Rates effective July 2025. Subject to change. Always check Meta's official pricing page for current rates.
Note: Since January 2026, India rates are billed in INR for businesses with Indian billing addresses. The USD equivalents shown above are approximate conversions.
Not every message costs money. Understanding the free tier is critical for managing your budget:
Let's calculate real monthly costs for a mid-size Indian e-commerce company:
Monthly message volume:
Calculation:
| Category | Volume | Rate (INR) | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 5,000 | ₹0.7846 | ₹3,923 |
| Utility | 10,000 (minus 1,000 free) = 9,000 | ₹0.1150 | ₹1,035 |
| Authentication | 2,000 (minus 1,000 free) = 1,000 | ₹0.1150 | ₹115 |
| Service | 15,000 | Free | ₹0 |
| Meta total | ₹5,073 (~$61) | ||
| WhatsTeam Starter plan | ₹2,415 (~$29/mo) | ||
| Grand total | ₹7,488 (~$90/mo) |
That's 32,000 messages for under ₹7,500/month. Compare this with SMS at ₹0.15-0.25 per message and the savings become enormous -- especially since 15,000 of those messages cost nothing at all.
For a B2B SaaS startup using WhatsApp for onboarding and support:
Monthly message volume:
Calculation:
| Category | Volume | Rate (INR) | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 500 | ₹0.7846 | ₹392 |
| Utility | 3,000 (minus 1,000 free) = 2,000 | ₹0.1150 | ₹230 |
| Authentication | 5,000 (minus 1,000 free) = 4,000 | ₹0.1150 | ₹460 |
| Service | 8,000 | Free | ₹0 |
| Meta total | ₹1,082 (~$13) | ||
| WhatsTeam Starter plan | ₹2,415 (~$29/mo) | ||
| Grand total | ₹3,497 (~$42/mo) |
For a SaaS company sending 16,500 messages monthly, the total cost is under ₹3,500. Authentication-heavy businesses benefit enormously from India's low OTP rates.
India offers some of the lowest WhatsApp API rates globally. Here's how it compares:
| Country | Marketing | Utility | Authentication |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | $0.0094 | $0.0014 | $0.0014 |
| United States | $0.0250 | $0.0040 | $0.0040 |
| Brazil | $0.0625 | $0.0068 | $0.0068 |
| United Kingdom | $0.0529 | $0.0168 | $0.0168 |
| Indonesia | $0.0390 | $0.0019 | $0.0019 |
Indian businesses pay roughly 62% less for marketing messages and 65% less for utility messages compared to US rates. This makes WhatsApp API adoption in India exceptionally cost-effective.
Since July 2025, Meta offers volume-based discounts for utility and authentication messages:
The exact discount tiers vary by country. For India, contact your BSP or check Meta's documentation for the latest thresholds.
WhatsTeam charges a flat monthly subscription with zero per-message markup. This is important -- many BSPs add ₹0.30-1.50 per message on top of Meta's rates.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Agents | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/mo (~₹2,415) | 5 | Team inbox, campaigns, basic chatbots |
| Business | $69/mo (~₹5,750) | 7 | AI chatbots, integrations, analytics |
| Enterprise | $119/mo (~₹9,917) | 12 | Full API access, priority support |
All plans include unlimited messaging -- you only pay Meta's per-message fees on top.
Cost comparison with per-message BSPs:
If you send 20,000 template messages monthly and your BSP charges ₹0.50 per message markup, that's ₹10,000/month in markup fees alone. WhatsTeam's flat ₹2,415/month Starter plan saves you ₹7,585/month -- over ₹90,000/year.
No. While the WhatsApp Business App is free, the Business API is a paid service. Meta charges per delivered template message (marketing at ₹0.7846, utility and authentication at ₹0.1150 each). However, service messages -- when customers message you first -- are completely free. You also get 1,000 free utility and 1,000 free authentication messages per month.
It depends on the message category. Marketing template messages cost ₹0.7846 ($0.0094). Utility and authentication templates cost ₹0.1150 ($0.0014) each. Service replies within 24 hours are free. These are Meta's rates -- WhatsTeam adds no per-message markup.
Significantly. Bulk SMS in India costs ₹0.15-0.25 per message with open rates around 15-20%. WhatsApp utility messages cost ₹0.1150 with open rates above 90%. When you factor in the free service window and the 1,000 monthly free utility messages, WhatsApp API delivers far better ROI than SMS for most use cases.
Meta bills through your BSP. With WhatsTeam, your subscription is billed in USD. Meta's per-message fees are charged to your WhatsApp Business Account -- since January 2026, Indian businesses receive invoices in INR. Consult your accountant for GST implications specific to your business.
Yes, but with rules. WhatsApp requires all marketing messages to use pre-approved templates. You must have opt-in consent from recipients. WhatsApp also enforces messaging limits based on your quality rating -- new accounts start at 250 messages per 24 hours and can scale to unlimited as your quality score improves.
Meta charges are usage-based -- there's no hard cap. If you're concerned about runaway costs, WhatsTeam lets you set campaign limits and schedule sends. You can also monitor spend in real-time through the WhatsTeam dashboard. Consider starting with utility and service messages (cheapest) and scaling marketing campaigns gradually.
This guide was last updated in April 2026. WhatsApp API pricing changes periodically. Use WhatsTeam's WABA pricing calculator for real-time cost estimates.
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