# WhatsApp message categories

> WhatsApp template messages are marketing, utility or authentication; Meta prices each category differently, by the customer's country.

Canonical: https://heykiko.io/glossary/whatsapp-message-categories
Last updated: 2026-11-05

## What it means

Also called marketing, utility and authentication messages.

Marketing covers offers and news. Utility covers updates about something the customer did, such as a booking or an order. Authentication covers one-time codes. Replies inside an open chat are service messages.

[Meta: pricing](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing)

## Related

- [Template message](https://heykiko.io/glossary/template-message)
- [Service message](https://heykiko.io/glossary/service-message)
- [WhatsApp API cost calculator](https://heykiko.io/tools/whatsapp-api-cost-calculator)
- [Full glossary](https://heykiko.io/glossary)