WhatsApp Business API pricing 2026: what's free and where markup hides

2 days ago

The WhatsApp Business API is never strictly free; Meta charges per message, but platforms can be free.
Costs have three layers: Meta's per-message charge (varies by country/category), Solution Provider (BSP) charge (some free), and Platform/UI charge (ranges from free to $300+).
Since July 2025, Meta uses per-message billing for templates, with free service messages and first 1,000 customer-initiated conversations monthly.
Meta's Cloud API offers free BSP access, enabling 'free' API use via platforms built on it.
Common 'free' claims: free trials, capped messages, free platforms with direct Meta billing, or hidden markups.
Truly free/near-free options include Meta Cloud API direct, self-hosted open-source tools, and platforms like Wexio with free tiers.
Cost breakdown shows total depends on setup; self-hosting or free platforms minimize expenses for low volumes.
Free options matter for testing, low volume, or with engineering time; paid platforms save time at higher scales.
Steps to start: create Meta Business Account, get business number, choose platform, verify business, build flows.
Key differences: WhatsApp Business API vs. Business app; use separate number; verification times vary; Cloud API recommended.

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