WhatsApp Business API · checked 16 September 2026
WhatsApp replies start costing money on 1 October 2026
If your business uses the WhatsApp Business API, directly or through any provider, two things change around 1 October. One of them can silently stop your replies reaching customers. Here is what changes, what it costs, and the one thing to do before 30 September 2026.
1. Replies are charged from 1 October 2026
Until now, the messages you send inside the 24 hours after a customer writes to you have been free. From 1 October 2026, Meta charges for each of them, at the same rate as utility messages.
- • The first 1,000 replies each month are free, per WhatsApp number. Unused ones do not carry over.
- • Chats that start from a click-to-WhatsApp ad stay free for 72 hours.
- • A chatty bot now has a price: every extra message is a charge.
2. A payment method by 30 September 2026
Every WhatsApp Business account needs a payment method on file by 30 September 2026. Without one, Meta stops delivering your replies from 1 October 2026.
Your customers keep writing and never hear back.
What it will cost
For most small businesses, less than they fear. Roughly, for one WhatsApp number:
| Replies a month | About, paid to Meta |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 | ₹0 |
| 3,000 | ₹240 |
| 10,000 | ₹1,080 |
The bigger risk is not Meta’s charge. It is replies silently not arriving because no card was attached, or a provider adding its own charge to every reply.
Estimate your replies from October
2,000 replies above the free 1,000.
About ₹240 a month plus taxes, paid to Meta
Assumes about ₹0.12 per reply, the approximate India utility rate. Meta can change rates up to once a quarter, and your provider may add its own charge on top.
Do this this week (about 10 minutes)
- 1
Open Billing and payments in Meta Business Suite
Add a card, or check the one there is valid and not expired.
- 2
Attach that card to your WhatsApp account
In WhatsApp Manager, set it as the payment method for the WhatsApp Business Account your number is on. A card on the business alone is not enough.
- 3
Fill in your business address and GST details
Missing tax details are a common reason Meta payments fail.
- 4
Ask your WhatsApp provider what they will charge per reply
Meta’s charge is the same for everyone. Some providers add their own charge on top of each message. Ask for the number in writing.
Not sure your account is ready? We’ll check it, free.
A 15-minute call. We confirm your payment method is attached to the right WhatsApp account, estimate your October bill from your real message volume, and tell you what your provider charges per reply. No obligation, whichever provider you use.
How businesses on KayChat are covered
- You pay Meta directly, from your own Meta account, at Meta’s rate. We never add a charge to any message.
- KayChat warns you, on your dashboard, when it cannot confirm a working payment method on your WhatsApp account.
- The assistant answers concisely from your own business information, so replies stay useful rather than long.
Questions
- I use the free WhatsApp Business app. Does this affect me?
- No. This change is for businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform (the API), whether directly or through a provider. The free app on your phone is not part of it.
- What counts as a reply?
- Any ordinary message your business sends inside the 24 hours after a customer writes to you: answers, confirmations, follow-ups, including replies written by a chatbot or AI assistant. Template messages are already charged per message, as they have been since July 2025.
- Are chats from my Facebook or Instagram ads still free?
- Yes. When a customer messages you from a click-to-WhatsApp ad, Meta keeps that conversation free for 72 hours, including your replies.
- What if I miss 30 September?
- According to Meta’s notice to its partners, replies from accounts without a payment method stop being delivered from 1 October. Your customers keep writing and never hear back, with no error on their side. If you have missed it, add a payment method as soon as you can.
- Who do I pay?
- Meta, directly or through your provider, depending on how your account is set up. Businesses on KayChat pay Meta directly from their own Meta account, at Meta’s rate, with nothing added.
Sources. Charging from 1 October 2026, the utility rate and the free ad window: Meta’s own pricing documentation. The 1,000 free replies and the 30 September 2026 payment deadline: Meta’s notice to its partners, as published by 360dialog. Costs use about ₹0.12 per reply, an approximate India rate; Meta can change rates up to once a quarter.
- Meta: pricing information for non-template messages
- 360dialog (Meta partner): service message charging from 1 October 2026
This page explains a Meta change for general information. It is not financial or legal advice.