WhatsApp Business API pricing · Updated 3 October 2026

WhatsApp Business API pricing in India

Meta charges per template message, by category, and since 1 October 2026 for replies inside the 24-hour window too. Here is what each costs in India today, and what Altrnative adds on top.

What Meta charges in India

WhatsApp Business API pricing is set by Meta and charged per template message delivered, by the template's category. Current rates for India, per message:

Template category Used for Meta's rate (India)
Marketing Offers, launches, re-engagement ₹0.8631
Utility Order updates, reminders, confirmations ₹0.115
Authentication One-time passwords ₹0.115

These rates are read live from Altrnative's price list, the same numbers every charge is calculated from.

Replies: charged since 1 October 2026

A reply costs far less than a marketing template, so an AI agent stays cheap to run: a reply costs about an eighth of a marketing template.

What Altrnative adds

Two prices, nothing else:

Altrnative's price
Send only (campaigns, no AI replies) Meta's rate + 10%. On your own WhatsApp account, Meta bills you directly and Altrnative charges only the 10%.
An AI agent answers Meta's rate at cost + ₹0.30 per conversation — one person, one number, 24 hours from the agent's first reply, however many messages, AI included.

No subscription, no seats, no platform fee, no per-message fee, and AI is never billed by the token. Balance is prepaid by UPI or bank transfer; you start with $5 free.

Worked example

A real-estate developer sends a marketing template to 1,000 people and 150 reply; the AI agent handles each reply.

Try any campaign size on the pricing calculator, or see what each provider costs at 100, 1,000 and 10,000 a month.

Questions

How much does one WhatsApp business message cost in India?

Meta charges per template message delivered: ₹0.8631 for marketing, ₹0.115 for utility and ₹0.115 for authentication, at current India rates. Since 1 October 2026, replies inside the 24-hour customer service window are charged too, each at the utility rate.

Is the WhatsApp Business API free?

The API itself has no fee, but Meta charges for template messages you send to start or re-open conversations. Replies within 24 hours of the customer's last message were free until 30 September 2026; since 1 October 2026 Meta charges them at the utility rate (₹0.115 in India).

Is there a monthly fee on Altrnative?

No. There is no subscription and no per-seat fee. You pay Meta's rate plus 10% when you only send, or Meta's rate plus ₹0.30 per conversation when an AI agent answers.

What is a conversation on Altrnative?

One person, on one of your numbers, for 24 hours from the agent's first reply — however many messages it takes. It costs ₹0.30, with the AI included.

Can I use my own WhatsApp Business account?

Yes. On your own account, Meta bills you directly for templates and Altrnative charges only its 10% on send-only messages, or ₹0.30 per agent conversation.

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.

Start free   Book a demo

Read next