Meta's October 2026 WhatsApp price change, explained

What it means in rupees

For most Indian businesses the change is small. 1,000 free replies a month covers a lot of support. If your team sends 3,000 replies in a month on one number, Meta charges for 2,000 of them: 2,000 × ₹0.115 = ₹230.

Utility templates are where to look. If you send order updates or payment reminders while a customer's chat is still open, each one is now charged at ₹0.115. 1,000 of them cost about ₹115.

What to do now

1. Check how many replies each number sends a month. Under 1,000, nothing changes for you.
2. Reply with free-form messages, not templates, while the 24-hour window is open — a service reply is free within the 1,000 allowance; a utility template is not.
3. Use Click-to-WhatsApp ads for lead generation: if you reply within 24 hours, Meta charges nothing for up to 7 days.
4. Spread high support volume carefully. The free 1,000 is per WhatsApp business number and does not roll over to the next month.

What did not change

Meta still bills per delivered message by category and the customer's country (since 1 July 2025). Messages customers send you are free. Lead Pattern still passes every Meta fee through at cost with zero markup — your plan price is separate.