WhatsApp Business Messages Become Paid from October 1

What’s Changing? Starting October 1, businesses using WhatsApp Business will have to pay for certain messages sent to customers. Here’s what businesses in India need to know about the new pricing.

Who Will Be Affected? The new pricing primarily impacts businesses using WhatsApp Business Platform to communicate with customers at scale.

Which Messages Are Paid? Businesses may be charged for business-initiated messages, depending on the message type and applicable WhatsApp pricing category.

What About Customer-Initiated Chats? When customers contact a business, businesses can respond within the applicable customer-service window without being charged for every message in the same way as business-initiated communication.

Why Is WhatsApp Introducing Charges? The pricing model is designed to help WhatsApp monetise business communication while providing companies with tools to engage customers at scale.

What Does This Mean for Indian Businesses? Businesses that frequently send promotional, transactional or service-related messages should review their WhatsApp communication strategy and pricing before the new charges apply.

What Businesses Need to Know WhatsApp Business is not becoming completely paid. The charges apply to specific business messaging services, while the exact cost depends on the message category and applicable rates.