GuidesGuide
By SmartDuke TechnologiesUpdated 23 October 2026
How much does the WhatsApp Business API cost in India?
The short answer
Meta charges businesses for template messages it delivers, at rates that depend on the category (marketing, utility or authentication) and the customer's country, and bills you directly. Replying to a customer within 24 hours of their message is generally free. Software costs are separate. Rates change, so check Meta's official pricing page before planning large sends.
What you pay Meta for
The WhatsApp Business Platform (the official API) is free to set up, but Meta charges for the template messages you send to start or restart a conversation. Templates fall into categories: marketing (offers, announcements), utility (reminders, order and booking updates) and authentication (one-time codes). Marketing messages cost the most and utility the least of the common ones. The rate depends on the country of the customer's phone number, so messages to Indian numbers are priced in Meta's India rates.
What is free
When a customer messages you, a 24-hour window opens in which you can reply freely, without a template. Meta has generally not charged for these customer-service replies. That makes it cheap to answer enquiries quickly, and it is why an assistant that replies within minutes, like Duke on duty, keeps costs low.
Where to find current rates
Meta publishes its rates per category and country on its official WhatsApp Business Platform pricing page and updates them from time to time, including how it counts messages and conversations. Always check that page before a campaign. Meta bills the business directly through its own payment method or a provider, so the same rates apply whichever software you use.
What software adds
On top of Meta's charges, you pay for the software that sends and receives messages. Some providers add a markup per message; others charge a monthly fee. DukeOS includes WhatsApp in every plan from $49 a month per business: each business connects its own number through Meta's official Cloud API, Meta bills the business directly, and SmartDuke adds no markup per message.
- Meta's charges for template messages (per category and country).
- Your software's fee (monthly, per message, or both).
- Optional: a business verification and display name review by Meta (free).
How to keep costs down
Reply to enquiries within 24 hours so most replies are free. Keep reminders as utility templates, without offers, so they are charged at the lower rate. Send only to customers who expect your messages, and stop reminders when someone has already renewed or paid, which is easy when reminders come from your records rather than a list.
How DukeOS is sold
| Plan (per business) | Price a month | Team members |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $49 | Up to 3 |
| Growth | $99 | Up to 10 |
| Pro | $199 | Up to 25 |
Pay yearly and get 2 months free. Every business app is in every plan, and customers are unlimited. Full pricing
An agency? Sell DukeOS to your clients under your own brand. DukeOS for agencies
