WhatsApp Business charges in India (2026), explained simply
Is WhatsApp Business free? The app is — but sending messages through the WhatsApp Business Platform (the “API”) is charged by Meta per message. Rates in India changed on 1 October 2026. Here is what you pay, what is still free, and how to keep the bill small.
App vs Platform: which one costs money?
| WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business Platform (API) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Charged per message by Meta |
| Who uses it | One phone, small lists | Shops sending offers and order updates to many customers, through tools like NavDoot |
| Broadcasts | Limited, and only reach people who saved your number | Approved message templates to customers who agreed to hear from you |
| Automation | Basic quick replies | Order updates, payment flows, reports |
Meta's per-message rates in India (from 1 October 2026)
Meta charges by message type. Approximate rates for India, excluding 18% GST:
| Message type | What it is | Approx. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Offers, new arrivals, festival sales | ₹0.86 per message |
| Utility | Order confirmations, payment and delivery updates | ₹0.115 per message |
| Authentication | One-time passwords (OTP) | ₹0.115 per message |
| Service | Your replies within 24 hours of a customer's message | 1,000 free a month per number, then about ₹0.115 |
Rates are set by Meta and can change. Check Meta's official WhatsApp pricing page for current rates before budgeting.
What changed on 1 October 2026
- Replies are no longer fully free. Service messages (your replies inside the 24-hour window) used to be free; they are now charged after a free monthly allowance.
- Utility messages inside the 24-hour window are now charged at the normal utility rate. Earlier, these were free.
- Marketing messages are still charged on every delivery, as before.
What does it actually cost? Three examples
- One offer to 1,000 customers: about 1,000 × ₹0.86 = ₹863 + GST.
- 100 orders a month with 3 updates each (confirmed, shipped, delivered): 300 × ₹0.115 ≈ ₹35 + GST.
- Replying to 800 customer chats a month: within the 1,000 free service messages, so ₹0.
For most shops, the real cost is marketing messages. Order updates and replies cost very little.
How to keep WhatsApp costs low
- Send offers to people likely to buy. Customers who opened your last message or bought recently respond far better than your whole list.
- Use the free routes: post on WhatsApp Status, reply to customers inside the 24-hour window, and share your shop link in groups and on Instagram.
- Click-to-WhatsApp ads: conversations that start from these Facebook and Instagram ads get a free messaging window (reported as 72 hours), so follow-ups in that window cost nothing extra.
- Measure results. Compare what a campaign cost with the orders it brought, and send fewer, better messages.
Who do you pay, and how?
With the WhatsApp Business Platform, Meta bills your WhatsApp Business account directly — you add your own card or payment method and get Meta's invoice. Your software provider (like NavDoot) charges its own plan fee separately. NavDoot adds nothing on top of Meta's charges and takes no commission on your sales; see NavDoot plans.
Frequently asked questions
Is WhatsApp Business free in India?
The WhatsApp Business app is free. The WhatsApp Business Platform (API), used to message many customers through software, is charged per message by Meta.
How much does one WhatsApp marketing message cost in India?
About ₹0.86 plus 18% GST per delivered marketing message, as per Meta's rates from 1 October 2026. Meta can change rates, so check its official pricing page.
Are replies to customers free?
From 1 October 2026, each WhatsApp business number gets 1,000 free service messages a month; after that, replies within the 24-hour window are charged at about ₹0.115 each.
Does NavDoot charge for WhatsApp messages?
No. Meta bills your WhatsApp Business account directly for messages. NavDoot charges only its plan fee and takes no commission on sales.
Let NavDoot handle the busywork.
Orders, payments to your own UPI and delivery — all on WhatsApp, with ₹0 commission.