WhatsApp Business API FEE | AiSensy Tutorials

Since July 1, 2025, WhatsApp charges per message delivered instead of per 24-hour conversation. From October 1, 2026, service messages and utility messages sent inside the customer service window also become chargeable.

What’s Changing?

Billing is per message delivered, not per 24-hour conversation.
Applies to Marketing, Utility, Authentication and Service messages.
Every WhatsApp Business number gets 1,000 FREE service messages each month. After that, each service message costs ₹0.145 for Indian users.
Utility messages delivered within an active customer service window are now chargeable.

What is a Customer Service Window?

When a user sends you a message, a 24-hour support window begins. Each new message from the user resets this window.

During this window, you can send any free-form message without an approved template. These replies are service messages. The first 1,000 each month are free, and after that each one is charged at your user's country rate (₹0.145 for Indian users).

From October 1, 2026, utility templates delivered within this window are charged at the standard utility rate (₹0.145 for Indian users).

Note: Utility messages are charged whether they are sent inside or outside the customer service window. Incoming customer messages are always free, and messages inside an eligible 72-hour free entry point window from Click-to-WhatsApp Ads (including utility templates) stay free.

What Are WhatsApp Template Messages?

Template messages are pre-approved, structured messages used to reach users proactively. These messages fall under four categories:

Marketing
Utility
Authentication
Service (User-initiated)

Marketing WhatsApp Template message

Marketing WhatsApp templates are all about grabbing attention and promoting offers, informational updates, abandoned cart reminders, discount coupons or invitations for customers to respond or take action. Any message that doesn't fall under the utility or authentication categories is considered a marketing template.

Businesses engaging in marketing conversations will be charged at a rate of ₹1.09 per message delivered (INR)

For messaging users outside India, check country-wise WhatsApp conversation pricing

Example: "Hey there! We're thrilled to offer you a 30% discount on our new collection. Hurry, this offer ends soon! Reply with 'YES' to claim your discount."

Authentication WhatsApp Template message

Authentication WhatsApp templates play a crucial role in ensuring the security and integrity of user accounts. This Conversation category enables businesses to authenticate users with one-time passcodes, potentially at multiple steps in the login process (e.g., account verification, account recovery, integrity challenges).

These messages involve multiple steps and help businesses verify the identity of their users. The cost for each authentication message is ₹0.145 per message delivered (INR)

For messaging users outside India, check country-wise WhatsApp conversation pricing

Example: "1024 is your authentication pin. Kindly add this to log in to your AiSensy account"

Utility WhatsApp Template message

Utility WhatsApp templates are designed to facilitate specific requests or transactions that users have initiated or to provide updates related to ongoing transactions. This category includes post-purchase notifications, order confirmation, delivery updates, recurring billing statements, and other transaction-related information.

Each utility template comes with a charge of ₹0.145 per message delivered. This applies even when the template is sent inside the 24-hour customer service window.

For messaging users outside India, check country-wise WhatsApp conversation pricing

Example: "Great news! Your recent order has been shipped and is on its way to you. You can track your package using the provided tracking number. We appreciate your business!"

Service WhatsApp Template message

Service WhatsApp templates revolve around user-initiated inquiries and aim to provide exceptional customer support and assistance.

Whether users have questions, concerns, or require help, businesses are there to resolve their queries promptly.

Free-form replies you send inside the 24-hour customer service window count as service messages. This includes replies from AiSensy Live Chat, chatbots and the AiSensy AI Agent.

Effective October 1, 2026, every WhatsApp Business number gets 1,000 FREE service messages each month. From the 1,001st service message, each message costs ₹0.145 for Indian users.

The allowance covers 1,000 messages, not 1,000 conversations or customers.
Each business number gets its own allowance. Three numbers get 1,000 free service messages each.
The allowance resets on the 1st of every month.
Unused free messages do not carry forward.
Service messages do not qualify for volume discounts.

Example: After your 1,000 free service messages, you deliver 2,500 more service messages to Indian numbers that month. Your service message charge is 2,500 × ₹0.145 = ₹362.50.

For messaging users outside India, check country-wise WhatsApp conversation pricing

Example: "Hello! How can we assist you today? Our dedicated support team is here to help resolve any issues or answer any questions you may have."

WhatsApp Message Pricing for India (from October 1, 2026)

For messaging users outside India, check country-wise WhatsApp conversation pricing

Comprehensive Example

Let’s say a customer messages you at 10:00 AM on Monday.

You reply from AiSensy's Live Chat at 10:05 AM with a normal message (not a template). ✅ This is a service message. It is free while you are within your 1,000 free service messages for the month, then ₹0.145 per message for Indian recipients.
The customer replies at 10:30 AM. The customer service window refreshes, so you can send any free-form message until Tuesday 10:30 AM.
You send an order status update (utility template) at 11:15 AM. ⚠️ Charged at ₹0.145 for Indian recipients, even though it is inside the 24-hour window.
You send a marketing template at 4:00 PM. ⚠️ Charged at the marketing rate for the recipient's country (₹1.09 per message for Indian recipients).
You send another reminder (utility template) at 5:00 PM the same day. ⚠️ Charged at ₹0.145 for Indian recipients.
You send a follow-up utility template at 11:40 AM on Tuesday, after 24 hours with no reply from the user. ⚠️ Charged at ₹0.145 for Indian recipients. The window has closed, so you can only send approved templates now, not free-form replies.

Note: If the customer reached you through an eligible Click-to-WhatsApp ad, messages inside the 72-hour free entry point window, including utility templates, stay free.

How to recharge WhatsApp Conversation Credits on AiSensy?

Watch this video to learn how you can recharge WhatsApp Conversation credits on AiSensy.

Note: You get ₹50 worth of WhatsApp Conversation Credits when you signup on AiSensy. These can only be used to send broadcast to up to 9 users in one go. To send messages to more people, you must recharge your WCC Balance.

When are conversation credits charged?

Credits are deducted only when a chargeable message is successfully delivered. The amount depends on the message category and the recipient's country.

From October 1, 2026, WhatsApp Conversation Credits also pay for service messages beyond your 1,000 free each month and for utility templates delivered inside the customer service window. Messages covered by the free service allowance do not use credits.

What does the updated WhatsApp Conversation pricing mean for AiSensy users?

The updated billing applies from October 1, 2026, at 12:00 AM in your WhatsApp Business Account timezone. Charges are applied automatically based on the message category, the recipient's country and your free service allowance.

Review your Live Chat, chatbot and AI Agent message volumes to estimate your monthly messaging cost.

E.g. If you pick Utility Conversation category but add a promotional text in it, the submitted message will get approved under marketing & you will be charged for a marketing message.

The 24-hour customer service window still opens and refreshes the same way. Only the billing has changed.

Why do I see a Low Conversation Credit Message?

Whenever the conversation credits are less than 10₹(for INR pricing)/ 1$ (for USD pricing), you need to recharge the conversation credits to send messages. Without recharging, you will be restricted to:

Intervene and send new messages to users
Create new Broadcast campaigns
Trigger API campaigns

Note: A minimum of ₹10 (INR pricing) / $1 (USD pricing) is required to keep chatbots and automation working. Chatbot and AI Agent replies beyond your 1,000 free service messages each month are also paid from this balance.

How do I recharge Conversation Credit?

If you are a project owner, you'll see a similar section on the Dashboard page or in the Billings section as shown in the above image.

** Agents/Managers can contact the project owner for the recharge.

Why do I need to separately recharge Conversation Credits apart from platform pricing?

Charges for WhatsApp Conversation Credits (WCCs) are levied directly by WhatsApp, acting as their main source of revenue from the WhatsApp Business API.

But, there's another separate cost charged by the WhatsApp partner for providing you the platform, services & assistance so that you can use the WhatsApp Business API for your organisation.

You can start with the AiSensy Platform for as low as ₹1,500/month on the Basic plan. Kindly note that the WhatsApp Conversations charges are separate from the AiSensy Plan.
There's also a Pro plan that costs ₹3,200/month, which includes all features of the Basic plan plus Campaign Scheduler, Campaign Click Tracking, Campaign Budget & Analytics, up to 100 Tags and 20 Attributes. For higher scale, Premium (₹9,100/month) and Unlimited (₹45,000/month) plans are available. Kindly note that the WhatsApp Conversations charges are separate from the AiSensy Plan.
You get ₹50 worth of WhatsApp Conversation Credits when you sign up on AiSensy. These can only be used to send a broadcast to up to 9 users in one go. To send messages to more people, you must recharge your WCC Balance.

Explore features included in both pricing plans here.

Is there any WhatsApp Business API procurement fee for a brand/business?

No, AiSensy doesn’t charge a single penny to procure the WhatsApp Business API for a Brand/Business. The Businesses can procure the API completely Free through AiSensy.

Do I need to pay for the WhatsApp Green Tick (now Blue Tick)?

There is no extra charge for the Green Tick. You can apply for the Green Tick once you are eligible for it through AiSensy, free of charge.

Is there any monthly maintenance fee for the API?

There is no monthly WhatsApp Business API maintenance fee with AiSensy. There is just the AiSensy platform fee.

No hidden/ extra costs.

Is there any Live Agent Dashboard Fee in AiSensy?

You get 1 Owner + 5 FREE Agent Logins in the Basic and Pro plans, and 1 Owner + 9 in Premium. Need more agents? Add as many as you like for ₹750/month per additional agent.

Do I need to pay for messages sent?

Yes! Besides the AiSensy platform fee, WhatsApp charges for each chargeable message delivered: marketing, utility and authentication templates, plus service messages after your 1,000 free each month.

We have a dedicated article to help you understand WhatsApp template message pricing. Check it out here

How can I use the ₹50 WhatsApp Conversation Credits (WCC) balance I received when I signed up?

WhatsApp Conversation Credits are needed to send messages to your customers on WhatsApp. These credits are charged directly by Meta. You get ₹50 worth of WhatsApp Conversation Credits when you sign up on AiSensy. These can only be used to send a broadcast to up to 9 users in one go. To send messages to more people, you must recharge your WCC Balance.