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WhatsApp Business API pricing, explained.
There are two layers of cost: what Meta charges per message, and what your provider charges for the platform. Understanding both makes quotes easy to compare.
The two layers of cost
1. Meta's message fees. Meta charges per message sent, depending on the category of the message and the country of the person receiving it. Categories include marketing, utility (such as order updates), authentication (such as one-time passwords) and service replies to customers who message you first.
2. Your provider's platform fee. This covers the shared inbox, API access, AI agents, campaign tools, support and onboarding. It is usually a monthly plan.
How Meta fees work
Meta publishes a rate card that varies by destination country and message category, and updates it from time to time. Marketing messages cost the most, utility and authentication cost less, and replies inside the 24-hour customer service window follow Meta's current service-message rules. Always check Meta's latest rate card for the countries you message.
Some providers add a markup on top of Meta's rates. Unecast passes Meta's fees through at cost, with zero markup.
What Unecast charges
- Starter: $29 a month
- Growth: $49 a month
- Scale: $99 a month
- Enterprise: priced to fit
- Yearly billing: two months free
- Guided onboarding: optional, quoted to your project
- AI replies: from about $0.002 each, pay as you go
Prices are in US dollars, excluding applicable taxes. See the pricing page for what each plan includes.
How to compare quotes
- Ask whether Meta's fees are passed through at cost or marked up.
- Check whether the shared inbox and AI agents are included or extra.
- Ask about onboarding, number verification and template approval support.
- Check per-seat limits as your team grows.
- Confirm the billing currency and tax treatment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the WhatsApp Business API cost per month?
It has two parts: a provider platform plan and Meta per-message fees. With Unecast, plans start at $29 a month and Meta fees are charged at cost on top.
Does Meta charge for every WhatsApp message?
Meta charges per message for most categories, based on the message type and the recipient country. Check Meta's current rate card for exact figures.
Is there a setup fee?
Unecast offers optional guided onboarding, scoped to your project and quoted after a short discovery call.
Why do quotes from providers differ so much?
Differences usually come from markups on Meta fees, what the platform plan includes, and how many seats or conversations are allowed.
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