TECH
WhatsApp will charge 14 paise per message! The new rule will come into effect on October 1st. What will be the impact on you?
WhatsApp's business version will now cost more. The revised rates for commercial utility and service messages are effective October 1st. According to these new rules, a message will be charged at 14 paise. Meta has announced new tariffs in this regard. These new rates will only apply to large companies, corporates, and banks using the WhatsApp Business Platform.
WhatsApp will remain completely free for both ordinary WhatsApp users and small businesses. There will be no direct or indirect financial burden associated with personal messaging. This rule applies only to businesses using the WhatsApp Business App or API.
Service messages sent to answer customer inquiries or provide support will now incur a fee per message. Companies that haven't added their payment method (card, etc.) by September 30th will no longer be able to send messages starting October 1st.
What will be the impact on the general public?
If you think you'll have to pay to send messages on WhatsApp, that's not true. WhatsApp will remain free to the public as always. Furthermore, if you're chatting with a business account, you won't be charged. This new billing system only applies to large corporate and enterprise-level Business API accounts.
Who will pay for the messages?
WhatsApp charges companies, banks, online shopping apps, and large startups that send automated messages to large numbers of customers for each message. When you receive a balance alert from your bank, a delivery information from an e-commerce platform, or an OTP from a company, those companies pay you. All of this money goes directly to Meta.
WhatsApp's new messaging rates and rules
Meta has implemented a system of charging per message, instead of the 24-hour conversation model, starting July 1, 2025. Even more significant changes are coming on October 1.
Companies will need to pay approximately 0.86 paise (86 paise) per message to send messages to customers about offers, sales, discounts, and promotions. Sending order status updates, delivery updates, and login passwords (OTPs) will cost approximately 11.5 paise per message. Adding GST will bring the total cost to 14 paise per message.
Each business phone number (WhatsApp Business) will receive 1,000 free messages per month for customer service and support. Beyond this limit, a charge will apply for each subsequent message.
Until now, utility messages sent within 24 hours of receiving a customer's message were free. However, starting October 1, companies will have to pay 14 paise per message for these messages as well.
