Cost comparison · Updated 3 October 2026

The cheapest WhatsApp AI agent in India, with the maths

Most WhatsApp platforms charge a monthly plan and sell AI on top; Meta's own agent charges by the token. Altrnative charges nothing a month and ₹0.30 per AI conversation. Here is what that means at real volumes.

One AI conversation, everything included

A typical agent conversation: a customer writes, the agent sends 6 replies over the day. Since 1 October 2026 Meta charges every reply, on every platform.

What you pay for that conversation
Altrnative ₹0.99: 6 replies at Meta's ₹0.115 + ₹0.30 for the conversation, AI included
Meta Business Agent about ₹22.8 to ₹28.5: Meta charges $2 per million tokens and says a message typically uses 20,000–25,000 tokens, about 4–5 US cents a message (Meta)
Platforms with AI credits Meta's replies + credits used, on top of a monthly plan (below)

An AI agent answering WhatsApp, per month

Platform and AI fees only (Meta's own charges are the same everywhere). Competitor figures are from their own pricing pages, checked 25–26 September 2026, before GST.

Conversations a month Altrnative BotPulsar Pro AiSensy Gallabox Essential WATI Astra Pro
100 ₹30 ₹1,999 plan + ₹1,350 AI add-on (1,000 AI messages) ₹5,599 (yearly) $99 (5,000 credits)
1,000 ₹300 ₹1,999 plan + add-on + more AI messages ₹5,599 + more credits $99 + more credits
10,000 ₹3,000 ₹1,999 plan + add-on + more AI messages ₹5,599 + more credits $99 + more credits
100,000 ₹30,000 ₹1,999 plan + add-on + more AI messages higher plan $399+

Altrnative costs less than every monthly plan above up to about 6,663 AI conversations a month, and has nothing to pay in a quiet month. Above that, a flat plan is cheaper on the platform fee.

Campaigns without AI, per month

Marketing messages a month Altrnative (10% on Meta) BotPulsar Growth MSG91 Basic
1,000 ₹86.31 ₹999 ₹1,500
10,000 ₹863 ₹999 ₹1,500
25,000 ₹2,158 ₹999 ₹1,500

Up to about 11,575 marketing messages a month, Altrnative costs less than a ₹999 plan. On your own WhatsApp account Meta bills you directly and Altrnative charges only the 10%.

What you get for it

Since 1 October 2026: replies in the 24-hour window are charged by Meta

Free-form replies and utility templates inside the 24-hour customer service window become billable per message at the utility rate (₹0.115 in India today), on every provider (Meta). On Altrnative an agent's replies are charged at Meta's rate at cost, plus ₹0.30 per conversation; replies you send yourself at Meta's rate + 10%.

Questions

What is the cheapest WhatsApp AI agent in India?

For most businesses, Altrnative: no monthly fee, and an AI conversation costs ₹0.30 plus Meta's per-message charge, about ₹0.99 for a conversation with 6 replies. Monthly plans with AI start around ₹1,999, and only become cheaper above about 6,663 conversations a month.

Is Meta Business Agent cheaper than a WhatsApp AI platform?

Not per conversation. Meta charges $2 per million tokens and says a message typically uses 20,000–25,000 tokens, about 4–5 US cents a message, so a 6-reply conversation costs about ₹22.8 to ₹28.5. The same conversation on Altrnative costs about ₹0.99.

What is the cheapest WhatsApp Business API provider for campaigns?

For up to about 11,575 marketing messages a month, Altrnative: Meta's rate plus 10%, with no monthly fee. Above that volume, a flat plan with zero markup on Meta's rates costs less.

Does Altrnative charge a monthly subscription?

No. There is no subscription, no seat fee and no platform fee. You pay per message sent (10% on Meta's rate) or per AI conversation (₹0.30), from a prepaid balance. You start with $5 free.

Are replies free on WhatsApp Business API?

Until 30 September 2026, replies inside the 24-hour window were free from Meta. Since 1 October 2026, Meta charges each reply at its utility rate (₹0.115 in India today), on every provider.

Try it on your own number

Describe your agent in plain words, test it in a chat, and put it on your WhatsApp. $5 free to start, no subscription.

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