Who can use this?
- Billing information is available to all plans.
- Only Account Owners and Admins can view detailed pricing.
- Roles: Owners and Admins
WhatsApp charges per message: template messages are charged individually based on their category. Understanding the available template categories helps you control your messaging costs.
How WhatsApp Pricing Works
WhatsApp’s pricing model has two components:- Gallabox subscription fee — your monthly plan fee (Basic, Essential, or Advanced)
- Meta’s per-message charges — fees charged by Meta (WhatsApp’s parent company) for each billable message, billed by Gallabox
Template Categories & Pricing
WhatsApp templates use three categories. Each category has a different per-message price:The prices above are indicative ranges for India. Meta sets these rates and revises them periodically — always check Meta’s WhatsApp pricing page or your Gallabox billing dashboard for the current rates in your market.
Template Messages and Free-Form Replies
Free-form replies
Free-form replies are not template messages. Follow WhatsApp’s messaging rules when replying to a customer.Template messages (charged per category)
When you send a template message, use a pre-approved WhatsApp template. Template messages are charged based on their category. Example: You send a promotional offer → must use Marketing template → charged per message Learn more about WhatsApp templates →Reducing Message Costs
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Choose template categories wisely
- Use Utility templates for confirmations and updates (cheaper than Marketing)
- Use Authentication templates for OTPs (cheapest category)
- Reserve Marketing for genuinely promotional content
2
Use sequences and broadcasts efficiently
- Review the template category used by each sequence or broadcast message
- Use the appropriate category for the message’s purpose
Checking Your Current Rates
WhatsApp pricing varies by country and changes periodically. To check current rates:1
1. Go to Settings → Billing → WhatsApp Pricing
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2. Select your target country
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3. View the per-message rate for each category
Message Credit Wallet
Meta’s per-message charges are paid from your message credit wallet — a prepaid balance in your Gallabox account.Checking your balance
Your current balance appears on the Message Credits screen, along with your full transaction history. Gallabox alerts you when the balance runs low so messages don’t fail mid-campaign.Topping up
- Recharge any amount from ₹100 / 2,000 per top-up
- Pay with the card on your subscription billing or via Razorpay
- 18% GST applies to INR top-ups
- Free credits may be added to your wallet during your trial or onboarding
How credits are deducted
- Credits are deducted for each outbound template (business-initiated) message, once the send is confirmed
- The amount depends on the template category and the destination country
- Each message is charged only once
- No credits are deducted for sandbox messages or for channels billed directly by Meta or a tech partner
- Outgoing WhatsApp calls also deduct from the same wallet
FAQs
Why am I charged for a message I thought was free?
Why am I charged for a message I thought was free?
You were likely charged because:
- You sent a template — templates are charged per message by category
- The template category has a different rate — check whether it is Marketing, Utility, or Authentication
- Meta’s pricing changed — check the Billing page for current rates
Can I send messages without paying WhatsApp fees?
Can I send messages without paying WhatsApp fees?
There is no way to send a business-initiated template message on WhatsApp without the applicable per-message fee. Template messages are charged by their Marketing, Utility, or Authentication category.
Do images and media cost more than text messages?
Do images and media cost more than text messages?
No — media does not change the template category rate. Template messages are charged per message based on their category — check current rates in Settings → Billing → WhatsApp Pricing.