How much does it cost to use the WhatsApp Business API and are there any hidden charges?

Using the WhatsApp Business API involves WhatsApp’s usage fees for messages and calls and a platform subscription from your Business Solution Provider (BSP).

Some BSPs add extra charges like onboarding fees, number-porting fees or markups on WhatsApp rates. But with respond.io, there are no onboarding fees, no number-porting charges and no markups on WhatsApp fees.

For teams scaling chats and calls via WhatsApp, the cost model matters too. So if you’re looking for transparency, scalability and predictable cost control, respond.io is the right partner.

To estimate the cost for WhatsApp messaging & call fees, use respond.io’s WhatsApp pricing calculator.

WhatsApp Business API costs consist of

WhatsApp messaging & call fees

WhatsApp charges for usage based on message type, customer country and call volume.

• Messaging is billed per business-initiated template message sent (Marketing, Utility, Authentication). Customer-initiated conversations are free for the business and replies within the 24-hour service window do not incur charges.
• Voice calls initiated by the business are charged in 6-second increments, rounded up.

Platform subscription fees

Your software provider (e.g., respond.io) charges a monthly subscription for the platform — including team access, features, integrations and support. This is separate from WhatsApp’s usage fees.

BSP setup or hidden fees

Some providers add onboarding fees, number-porting fees or markups on WhatsApp fees. Respond.io doesn’t charge for onboarding or porting and passes WhatsApp’s fees through with no markup.

Key WhatsApp Business API pricing rules from Meta

Messaging fees

• Billed per template message sent: WhatsApp charges for each business-initiated template message.
• Customer-initiated chats are free: If you respond within the 24-hour window, there’s no fee.
• Pricing varies by category and country: Rates differ for Marketing, Utility and Authentication templates and the recipient's country code
• Volume discounts apply: WhatsApp may offer lower rates for businesses that send large volumes.

Voice Calling fees

• Incoming WhatsApp calls from customers are free.
• Outgoing calls (business-initiated) are charged in 6-second increments, rounded up.
• Rates vary by country and volume — for example, calls to the US cost less than calls to Europe.

Common hidden charges from other WhatsApp BSPs

Some BSPs aren’t transparent about their fees. These are the most common hidden charges to look out for:

• WhatsApp fee markups: Some providers increase WhatsApp’s official messaging or call rates — without making it clear. This inflates your cost at scale.
• Onboarding or setup fees: Even though WhatsApp Cloud API doesn’t require setup, some BSPs charge a one-time activation or onboarding fee.
• Number-porting fees: Moving your WhatsApp number from one BSP to another may incur a fee.

With respond.io, there are no onboarding charges, no porting fees and no markups on WhatsApp fees. Just one transparent subscription.

Why B2C businesses choose respond.io as their WhatsApp BSP

Choosing the right BSP matters when scaling WhatsApp as a channel. Here’s why companies choose respond.io:

• Official Meta Business Partner: Get reliable access and direct support, backed by a platform that meets Meta’s standards.
• No hidden fees or markups: Respond.io passes WhatsApp’s fees through at cost — no usage markups, onboarding charges or number-porting fees.
• Unified WhatsApp management: Handle templates, billing, messaging and calls all from one workspace.
• Better ad performance with CAPI: Connect your Click to WhatsApp ads to Meta Conversion API (CAPI) for improved targeting and higher ROI.
• Omnichannel, multilingual AI Agents: Serve customers faster and more accurately across WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and more with AI Agents in any language.

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