# WhatsApp Business API pricing in India

> Meta's WhatsApp Business API rates for India from 1 October 2026, per message, with what a month costs for a shop, a clinic and a growing brand, and the move to rupee billing.

Canonical: https://heykiko.io/whatsapp-api-pricing/india
Last updated: 2026-11-07

What Meta charges per WhatsApp message in India, what a month costs for a small shop, a clinic and a growing brand, and what changes as Meta moves Indian accounts to rupee billing.

## Meta's rates in India

Per delivered message, from Meta's USD rate card for India effective 1 October 2026.

| Message | What it's for | Rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Marketing | Offers and announcements, to customers who opted in | $0.0118 |
| Utility | Booking reminders, order and delivery updates | $0.0014 |
| Service | Replies inside the 24-hour window, after 1,000 free a month per number | $0.0014 |
| Authentication | One-time passwords to Indian numbers, from a business based there | $0.0014 |
| Authentication (international) | One-time passwords to Indian numbers from a business based abroad | $0.0304 |

Utility messages are charged at this rate up to 25,000,000 a month and authentication up to 750,000; Meta's lower volume rates apply after that. Source: [Meta](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing)

## What a month costs in India

- For a salon in Jaipur with 250 chats a month and about 3 replies each, all 750 replies are inside the free 1,000, so they cost nothing. Adding 300 reminders and updates ($0.42) brings Meta's bill to about $0.42 a month.
- For a clinic in Pune with 3,000 chats a month and about 4 replies each, 12,000 replies are 11,000 paid after the free 1,000: $15.40. Adding 2,000 reminders and updates ($2.80) and 1,000 offers ($11.80) brings Meta's bill to about $30.00 a month.
- For a clothing brand in Mumbai with 15,000 chats a month and about 5 replies each, 75,000 replies are 74,000 paid after the free 1,000: $103.60. Adding 40,000 reminders and updates ($56.00) and 60,000 offers ($708.00) brings Meta's bill to about $867.60 a month.

## How Meta bills Indian businesses

Meta bills your own WhatsApp Business account, not HeyKiko, and HeyKiko adds nothing to Meta's fees. A few things are specific to India.

- **Rupee billing by 31 December 2026**: Meta started billing India-based accounts in rupees on 1 January 2026. Eligible accounts must move to INR by 31 December 2026; from 1 January 2027 Meta stops delivering messages from accounts that haven't. A currency can't be changed once an account is created.
- **The rates here are Meta's USD card**: Meta publishes a separate INR card with its own amounts. Check that card for the exact rupee price.
- **Free for up to 7 days after an ad**: When someone messages you from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad and you reply, every message to them is free for up to 7 days.
- **Before tax**: Meta's rates are before tax. Check with your accountant how GST applies to your Meta invoice.

Source: [Meta: WhatsApp Business Platform pricing](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing)

## Questions about WhatsApp pricing in India

### How much does a WhatsApp Business API message cost in India?

From 1 October 2026, Meta charges $0.0118 per marketing message and $0.0014 per utility or authentication message in India, on its USD card. Service replies are free for the first 1,000 a month per number, then $0.0014 each.

### Is WhatsApp cheaper in India than elsewhere?

Yes. A marketing message costs $0.0118 in India against $0.0635 in the UK and $0.1365 in Germany, and a utility message $0.0014.

### Do Indian businesses have to pay Meta in rupees?

Eligible India-based accounts must move to INR billing by 31 December 2026, or Meta stops delivering their messages from 1 January 2027. The currency is set when the account is created and can't be changed.

### Are AI chatbot replies charged on WhatsApp?

They're service messages, the same as a person's reply: free for the first 1,000 a month per number, then Meta's service rate. Your AI platform charges separately for its own use.

### Does HeyKiko add a margin to WhatsApp fees?

No. Meta bills your WhatsApp account directly and HeyKiko adds nothing. A HeyKiko plan covers the AI agent, the inbox and campaigns, with its own credits.

## Related

- [HeyKiko in India](https://heykiko.io/ai-agent/india)
- [Customer support in India](https://heykiko.io/ai-customer-support/india)
- [Sales and leads in India](https://heykiko.io/ai-sales-agent/india)
- [WhatsApp API cost calculator](https://heykiko.io/tools/whatsapp-api-cost-calculator)