> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.hoopai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# WhatsApp pricing — conversation categories, regional rates, and cost optimization
> Understand WhatsApp Business API pricing — conversation categories, regional rate tables, free tier, billing, and tips to minimize costs.
## How WhatsApp Business API pricing works
WhatsApp Business API uses a **per-conversation** pricing model, not per-message. A single conversation is a **24-hour message window** during which you can exchange unlimited messages with a contact for one flat fee.
The cost depends on two factors:
1. **Conversation category** — who initiated and what type of message
2. **Region** — the country code of the end user's phone number
Pricing is set by **Meta** and applies to all businesses using the WhatsApp Business API, including through HoopAI. Rates are updated periodically by Meta — check the [Meta pricing page](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing) for the latest figures.
## Conversation categories
Every WhatsApp conversation falls into one of four categories:
| Category | Initiated by | Description | Example |
| ------------------ | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Marketing** | Business | Promotional messages, offers, product announcements, upsells | "Hi Sarah! 20% off this weekend — shop now" |
| **Utility** | Business | Transactional updates — order confirmations, shipping, appointment reminders | "Your appointment is confirmed for March 10 at 2 PM" |
| **Authentication** | Business | One-time passwords, verification codes, login confirmations | "Your verification code is 482901" |
| **Service** | Customer | Customer-initiated conversations — support, questions, inquiries | Customer sends "What are your hours?" |
### Key differences
* **Marketing, utility, and authentication** conversations are **business-initiated** and require an approved [message template](/conversations/whatsapp-templates-advanced)
* **Service** conversations are **customer-initiated** — the customer messages you first, opening a 24-hour window for free-form replies
* Service conversations are currently **free** (1,000 per month included)
## Free tier
Every WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) receives:
* **1,000 free service conversations per month** — no charge for the first 1,000 customer-initiated conversations
* Free conversations reset on the **1st of each month**
* Only service (customer-initiated) conversations count toward the free tier — marketing, utility, and authentication conversations are always charged
If most of your WhatsApp volume is customer-initiated support, you may stay within the free tier entirely. Encourage contacts to message you first by sharing your WhatsApp link or QR code.
## How conversations are counted
Understanding the 24-hour conversation window is key to managing costs:
1. **Business-initiated**: When you send a template message to a contact, a new conversation of that category opens. The 24-hour window starts from message delivery.
2. **Customer-initiated**: When a customer messages you and there's no open conversation, a service conversation opens. The window starts from the customer's message.
3. **Within the window**: All messages exchanged in the 24-hour period are covered by a single conversation charge — no matter how many messages are sent.
4. **Multiple categories**: If you send a marketing template during an open service conversation, a **new** marketing conversation is opened and charged separately.
Sending a business-initiated template during an open service conversation will trigger an **additional charge** for the new conversation category. Use free-form messages within open service windows whenever possible.
### When a new conversation starts vs extends
| Scenario | Result |
| --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Customer messages you, no open conversation | New **service** conversation opens |
| You reply within the 24-hour window | Same conversation, no additional charge |
| Customer sends another message within 24 hours | Window extends? **No** — the window is fixed from the first message |
| You send a marketing template, no open marketing conversation | New **marketing** conversation opens |
| You send a utility template during an open utility conversation | Same conversation, no additional charge |
| 24-hour window expires, customer messages again | New **service** conversation opens |
## Regional pricing tables
Prices below are approximate per-conversation rates in **USD** based on Meta's published rate cards. Actual rates may vary slightly.
### North America
| Country | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
| ------------- | --------- | -------- | -------------- | ------- |
| United States | \$0.0250 | \$0.0150 | \$0.0135 | Free\* |
| Canada | \$0.0250 | \$0.0150 | \$0.0135 | Free\* |
| Mexico | \$0.0610 | \$0.0280 | \$0.0167 | Free\* |
### Europe
| Country | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
| -------------- | --------- | -------- | -------------- | ------- |
| United Kingdom | \$0.0580 | \$0.0330 | \$0.0265 | Free\* |
| Germany | \$0.0680 | \$0.0380 | \$0.0305 | Free\* |
| France | \$0.0690 | \$0.0380 | \$0.0305 | Free\* |
| Spain | \$0.0615 | \$0.0340 | \$0.0275 | Free\* |
| Italy | \$0.0575 | \$0.0320 | \$0.0260 | Free\* |
| Netherlands | \$0.0760 | \$0.0420 | \$0.0340 | Free\* |
### Latin America
| Country | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
| --------- | --------- | -------- | -------------- | ------- |
| Brazil | \$0.0625 | \$0.0350 | \$0.0315 | Free\* |
| Argentina | \$0.0615 | \$0.0340 | \$0.0275 | Free\* |
| Colombia | \$0.0250 | \$0.0140 | \$0.0113 | Free\* |
### Asia Pacific
| Country | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
| ----------- | --------- | -------- | -------------- | ------- |
| India | \$0.0107 | \$0.0042 | \$0.0038 | Free\* |
| Indonesia | \$0.0430 | \$0.0200 | \$0.0300 | Free\* |
| Philippines | \$0.0370 | \$0.0170 | \$0.0135 | Free\* |
| Malaysia | \$0.0860 | \$0.0200 | \$0.0135 | Free\* |
| Singapore | \$0.0590 | \$0.0270 | \$0.0215 | Free\* |
### Middle East and Africa
| Country | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
| ------------ | --------- | -------- | -------------- | ------- |
| UAE | \$0.0340 | \$0.0190 | \$0.0155 | Free\* |
| Saudi Arabia | \$0.0405 | \$0.0220 | \$0.0180 | Free\* |
| South Africa | \$0.0390 | \$0.0175 | \$0.0140 | Free\* |
| Nigeria | \$0.0535 | \$0.0295 | \$0.0240 | Free\* |
| Egypt | \$0.0660 | \$0.0370 | \$0.0300 | Free\* |
\*Service conversations are free for the first 1,000 per month per WABA. After that, service conversation rates vary by region (typically $0.003 - $0.015). Check Meta's pricing page for current service conversation overflow rates.
### All other countries
Countries not listed above fall into Meta's regional groupings. Typical ranges:
| Category | Typical range |
| -------------- | ----------------- |
| Marketing | $0.0100 - $0.0900 |
| Utility | $0.0040 - $0.0420 |
| Authentication | $0.0035 - $0.0340 |
## How HoopAI bills WhatsApp usage
WhatsApp API conversation fees are a **pass-through cost** from Meta:
1. **Meta charges** the per-conversation fees described above to your WhatsApp Business Account
2. **HoopAI** may include WhatsApp access as part of your plan or charge a platform fee — check your HoopAI pricing plan for details
3. **No double billing** — you're not charged by both Meta and HoopAI for the same conversation
Some HoopAI plans use a prepaid wallet. You add funds, and conversation costs are deducted in real time. You'll receive alerts when your balance is low.
Other plans include WhatsApp conversations in your monthly invoice. Usage is calculated at the end of the billing cycle.
## Where to monitor WhatsApp spending
Track your WhatsApp costs in two places:
1. **HoopAI dashboard** — navigate to **Settings > WhatsApp** to view conversation counts, category breakdowns, and spending trends
2. **Meta Business Suite** — your WhatsApp Manager shows detailed billing, transaction history, and per-conversation charges
## Cost optimization tips
Service conversations are free (up to 1,000/month). Encourage customers to message you first by:
* Adding a WhatsApp button to your website
* Sharing your `wa.me` link in emails and social media
* Using QR codes on printed materials
* Adding WhatsApp as a contact option in your Google Business Profile
When a customer messages you (opening a service conversation), reply with free-form messages instead of templates. Sending a marketing template during an open service window opens a **new** paid conversation.
If you need to send appointment reminders to multiple contacts, consider timing them so they fall within existing open conversations when possible.
Use **utility** templates (cheaper) instead of **marketing** templates when the message is transactional. Template category is determined by Meta during approval based on content, so write templates that clearly match the intended category.
Templates with poor quality ratings get rate-limited, forcing you to send fewer messages and potentially re-send failed ones (double cost). Keep quality high by following the [template best practices](/conversations/whatsapp-templates-advanced).
Messages sent when contacts are unlikely to reply won't generate a service conversation (free window). Time your outbound templates for when contacts are most likely to engage and reply.
Authentication conversations are typically cheaper than utility conversations in most regions. Use the dedicated authentication template category for verification codes.
## Frequently asked questions
Per **conversation**. A conversation is a 24-hour window. You can send unlimited messages within that window for a single fee.
The 24-hour window is based on when the conversation opened, not calendar days. If a conversation starts at 8 PM, it's open until 8 PM the next day.
You are not charged for messages that fail to deliver. Conversations are only charged when at least one message is successfully delivered.
No. Inbound messages from customers are free. You only pay for the conversation window that opens as a result.
Meta's per-conversation rates are the same for everyone using the WhatsApp Business API. HoopAI's platform fee (if any) depends on your plan.
In **Settings > WhatsApp**, the analytics tab shows conversation volume and cost broken down by marketing, utility, authentication, and service categories.