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WhatsApp Business Messages to Become Paid from October 1: India Prices and What Changes
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News18•30-09-2026, 18:21
WhatsApp Business Messages to Become Paid from October 1: India Prices and What Changes
- •Meta will begin charging businesses for service messages on WhatsApp Business Platform starting October 1, 2026, a service previously free.
- •The new charges will apply to businesses in India and other markets, with service messages billed on a per-message basis, aligning with existing utility and authentication message rates.
- •Businesses must add a payment method to their accounts by September 30, 2026, or risk service message delivery stopping from October 1.
- •The change affects non-template service messages and utility messages sent in response to customers, which were previously free under certain conditions.
- •AI-powered conversations via Meta Business Agent already have a separate token-based pricing model, distinct from the new service message charges.
Key Questions Answered
Starting October 1, 2026, Meta will begin charging businesses for service messages on the WhatsApp Business Platform in India and other markets that were previously free, billing them on a per-message basis.
Businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform via a direct integration or Solution Provider must add a valid payment method to their accounts by September 30, 2026, or risk having service messages stop being delivered from October 1.
No, while non-template service messages and utility responses will incur per-message fees, conversations starting after a user clicks an ad to WhatsApp will maintain a free entry-point window, though Meta Business Agent AI token charges may still apply.
