How is the WhatsApp Business API charged in India?

Per delivered template message, by category: marketing, utility and authentication messages are charged, and replies to a customer who wrote to you in the last 24 hours are free. On top of that you pay your platform's monthly plan.

Which messages are free?

Replies inside the 24-hour customer service window, and utility templates sent inside that window. Marketing and authentication templates are charged even inside the window.

How can I reduce my WhatsApp API bill?

Most of the bill is marketing messages, so send broadcasts to a segment of interested contacts instead of your whole list, reply quickly while the free 24-hour window is open, and use utility templates only for genuine transaction updates.

Is this calculator's total exact?

It is an estimate. It uses Nexora's current per-message rates (₹0.97 marketing, ₹0.16 utility) and plan prices. Your real bill depends on how many messages are actually delivered.

WhatsApp API cost calculator

Updated: 21 October 2026

Short answer

Your monthly WhatsApp Business API bill is your plan fee plus the template messages you send: each marketing, utility or OTP message is charged, and replies to customers who wrote in the last 24 hours are free. Enter your monthly volumes below to see what it would cost on Nexora.

Nexora plan

Marketing messages / month

Offers, broadcasts, cart reminders

Utility messages / month

Order and booking updates to customers who haven't written in 24h

OTP messages / month

Replies to customer chats / month

Free inside the 24-hour window

Add 18% GST

Estimated monthly cost on Nexora
Item	Cost
Nexora Starter	₹2,499
Marketing messages2,000 × ₹0.97	₹1,940
Utility messages (outside the 24h window)1,000 × ₹0.16	₹160
Authentication (OTP) messages0 × ₹0.16	₹0
Replies to customer chats (service)1,500 × free	₹0
Estimated total / month	₹4,599

An estimate at Nexora’s current prices. Your bill depends on how many messages are actually delivered. Every plan also includes ₹50 free in the Messaging wallet, not counted here.

What the numbers mean

Marketing: anything promotional, such as offers, launches, cart reminders and re-engagement. The most expensive category.
Utility: updates about something the customer did, such as an order, booking or payment. Free if the customer wrote to you in the last 24 hours.
Authentication: one-time passwords for logins and verification.
Service: your replies when the customer messaged first. Free.

Not sure which category a message will be? Paste it into the template category checker. For the full breakdown with a worked example, read WhatsApp Business API pricing in India.

Frequently asked questions

How is the WhatsApp Business API charged in India?: Per delivered template message, by category: marketing, utility and authentication messages are charged, and replies to a customer who wrote to you in the last 24 hours are free. On top of that you pay your platform's monthly plan.
Which messages are free?: Replies inside the 24-hour customer service window, and utility templates sent inside that window. Marketing and authentication templates are charged even inside the window.
How can I reduce my WhatsApp API bill?: Most of the bill is marketing messages, so send broadcasts to a segment of interested contacts instead of your whole list, reply quickly while the free 24-hour window is open, and use utility templates only for genuine transaction updates.
Is this calculator's total exact?: It is an estimate. It uses Nexora's current per-message rates (₹0.97 marketing, ₹0.16 utility) and plan prices. Your real bill depends on how many messages are actually delivered.

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