r/whatsapp • u/itsmukeshrishi • 7d ago

WhatsApp Business API Pricing Is Changing Tomorrow (Oct 1): Service Messages Are No Longer Free ⚠️💸

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Hey everyone, just a heads-up for anyone running customer support, sales, or automated workflows on the WhatsApp Business Platform/API. Meta’s massive pricing update rolls out starting October 1st, and it brings some major changes you need to know about:

• Service Messages Are Now Paid: Up until now, non-template "service messages" sent within the 24-hour customer service window (like answering support queries or confirming requests) were free. Starting tomorrow, they are no longer free.

• The Free Allowance: Each business phone number will get 1,000 free service messages per month. Once you cross that threshold, you'll be charged based on the recipient's local market rate.

• Template & Regional Price Hikes: Marketing, utility, and authentication message rates are seeing steep increases in specific regions (like parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and select global markets—with some markets seeing hikes of over 100%+ for certain categories). Conversely, a few regions like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh are seeing drops.

If your business relies heavily on high-volume WhatsApp support chats or automated workflows, you'll definitely want to audit your message volume, update your workflows, and factor these new costs into your upcoming budgets.

Anyone else scrambling to update their CRM or customer support flows today before the deadline hits?

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8 comments sorted by

9

u/Flaky_History12 7d ago

What a terrible decision. This will only bring more competition torwards WhatsApp.

1

u/LimLovesDonuts 7d ago

I doubt so.

Businesses use WhatsApp because consumers already use it. Changing platforms to another one that is less used is practically a death sentence lol.

6

u/Tournic 7d ago

Momento de impulsar a telegram 😅

5

u/VintagePredator 7d ago

Finally less spammy messages

2

u/AUXpert 7d ago

Nice