WhatsApp Business API Pricing: Meta Charges Explained for India

By Growwup Ai Solutions · Updated 10 Nov 2026 · 2 min read

Quick answer: Meta charges per delivered message, by category and by the customer's country. You pay your Growwup plan fee and Meta's message charges separately.

The two parts of your cost

1. Growwup plan fee: the platform, inbox, chatbot and automation. See our pricing.
2. Meta message charges: what Meta charges for each delivered business message.

Message categories

• Marketing: promotions, offers, re-engagement. Highest rate.
• Utility: order updates, appointment reminders, delivery alerts.
• Authentication: OTPs and verification codes.
• Service: free-form replies to customers inside the 24-hour customer service window.

Meta charges only when a message is delivered. Messages from customers to you are not charged.

What changed on 1 October 2026

• Meta started charging for service messages, after a free tier of 1,000 service messages per business phone number each month.
• Utility templates sent inside an open 24-hour window are now charged too.
• Make sure a valid payment method is set up for your messaging account, or messages above the free tier may not be delivered.

Ways to pay less

• Click-to-WhatsApp ads: when a customer messages you from such an ad and you reply within the window, messages in the free entry point window (up to 7 days) are not charged.
• Choose the right category. Genuine order updates should be utility, not marketing. Do not disguise promotions as utility, as Meta can recategorise them.
• Utility and authentication volume tiers lower the rate as monthly volume grows.
• Send fewer, better targeted campaigns.

Where to see exact rates

Rates differ by country and are updated by Meta only on the first day of each quarter. Always check the official Meta pricing page for current India rates.

Frequently asked questions

Meta changes its rules and prices from time to time. Always check Meta's official documentation for the latest details.

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