WhatsApp Business API pricing in India (2026)

With the WhatsApp Business API, Meta charges per message based on its category. Your software provider charges separately for the platform. Here are the current India rates, what changed on 1 October 2026, and a calculator for your monthly bill.

Last checked: 2 November 2026 · Rates per Meta's INR rate card effective 1 October 2026 · By Toolsduniya

Meta's per-message rates for India

Rates below are for messages delivered to Indian (+91) numbers, in rupees per message, before GST. You pay these to Meta from the payment method in your WhatsApp Business account.

Category	Used for	Rate per message	When you are charged
Marketing	Offers, announcements, product launches, re-engagement	₹0.8631	Every delivered marketing template
Utility	Order and payment updates, reminders, account alerts	₹0.1150	Every delivered utility template. Since 1 Oct 2026 this includes ones sent inside the 24-hour window
Authentication	One-time passwords (OTP) for login and verification	₹0.1150	Every delivered authentication template
Service	Your free-form replies inside the 24-hour customer service window	₹0.1150	First 1,000 per phone number each month are free, then charged (from 1 Oct 2026)
Customer messages	Messages customers send to you	Free	Never charged

Meta also offers lower volume-tier rates for utility and authentication at high monthly volumes, and messages inside a free entry point window (opened when someone messages you from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad) are not charged for service and utility. Rates change from time to time. Always check Meta's official pricing page before budgeting.

Monthly cost calculator

Enter how many messages you expect to send in a month. The estimate uses the list rates above and Toolsduniya Connect plan prices.

Marketing: –
Utility: –
Authentication: –
Service (after 1,000 free): –
Meta charges (before GST): –
Platform fee incl. 18% GST: –

Estimated total per month–

Meta bills its charges to you directly, with taxes as per Meta's invoice. Toolsduniya adds 0% markup. This is an estimate, not a quote.

What changed on 1 October 2026

The India list rates themselves stayed the same, but two things that used to be free now cost money:

Service replies: only the first 1,000 free-form replies per business number each month are free. After that, each reply is charged.
Utility templates inside the 24-hour window: these were free from July 2025. From 1 October 2026 they are charged at the utility rate.

If you run support on WhatsApp at high volume, budget for service messages now, and use the free entry point window from Click-to-WhatsApp ads where it fits.

How to keep your WhatsApp bill low

Send marketing only to engaged, opted-in contactsMarketing is about 7.5× the utility rate. Segment by tags instead of blasting everyone.

Pick the right category honestlyReal order and payment updates are utility. Meta re-categorises promotional content as marketing anyway.

Use Click-to-WhatsApp ads for new leadsConversations that start from these ads open a free entry point window for service and utility messages.

Remove opted-out and invalid numbersToolsduniya Connect skips contacts who replied STOP, so you don't pay for messages they don't want.

Platform fee: Toolsduniya Connect plans

Prices exclude 18% GST. Unlimited contacts and broadcasts on every plan, 14-day free trial, no auto-renewal.

Plan	Monthly	Yearly	Team members	Chatbot flows	API campaigns
Starter	₹999	₹9,588	3	2	5
Growth	₹1,999	₹19,188	8	10	25
Pro	₹3,499	₹33,588	20	Unlimited	Unlimited

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Frequently asked questions

How much does one WhatsApp marketing message cost in India?

₹0.8631 per delivered marketing message before GST, as per Meta's India rate card effective 1 October 2026. Utility and authentication messages cost ₹0.1150 each.

Is the WhatsApp Business API free?

Messages customers send you are free, and the first 1,000 service replies per number each month are free. Template messages (marketing, utility, authentication) are charged per delivered message. You also pay your software provider for the platform.

Who do I pay the per-message charges to?

With Toolsduniya Connect you pay Meta directly, from the payment method added in your own WhatsApp Business account. We charge only the plan fee and add no markup on Meta's rates.

Am I charged for messages that are not delivered?

Meta charges template messages when they are delivered. Failed messages are not charged.

Do I pay for replies inside the 24-hour window?

From 1 October 2026, the first 1,000 free-form service replies per business number each month are free; after that each is charged at ₹0.1150. Utility templates sent inside the window are also charged now.

Is GST charged on top?

The rates above exclude taxes. Meta applies taxes as per its invoice to you. Toolsduniya's plan fee is charged with 18% GST and you get a GST invoice.

Why do some providers show different prices?

Some providers add a markup on each message or bundle message credits into their plans. Always compare the per-message price against Meta's official rate card and check what the platform fee includes.

Sources

Meta – Pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform (service message and utility changes from 1 Oct 2026, INR billing)
Meta's INR rate card effective 1 October 2026 (linked from the page above). Rates were last cross-checked on 2 November 2026.