A WhatsApp chatbot has up to four costs: a one time setup, a monthly platform or agency plan, AI usage, and Meta’s per message fees. Meta charges per delivered message for marketing, authentication and some utility messages, with rates by country and category, while service replies inside the 24 hour customer service window are free. At Balabot, plans start from $69 per month.
The four parts of the price
- Setup. Meta verification, number connection, writing the answers, training the AI and connecting your calendar or CRM.
- Monthly plan. The software or agency service that runs the bot, the inbox and ongoing improvements.
- AI usage. The language model that writes the replies. Often included in the plan up to a volume.
- Meta message fees. Charged per delivered message, by country and category: marketing and authentication messages are charged, service messages are free, and utility messages sent in response to a customer are not charged.
Meta’s message fees at a glance
| Message type | Example | Charged by Meta? |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Replying to a customer who wrote to you, within 24 hours | No |
| Utility | Booking confirmation or order update | Yes, unless sent in response to the customer |
| Marketing | Offers, promotions, newsletters | Yes |
| Authentication | One time login codes | Yes |
Messages within 72 hours after a customer reaches you through a click to WhatsApp ad or a Facebook Page button are not charged. Rates change, so check Meta’s current pricing page.
What makes it cheaper or more expensive
- Number of conversations per month.
- How many outbound marketing messages you send.
- Integrations: calendar, CRM, payments, invoicing.
- Number of languages and how complex your services are.
- Whether you want an agency to manage and improve it every month.
How to keep costs low
- Start with the top questions and booking, then add features.
- Let customers start the chat (ads, QR codes, website buttons) so most replies fall inside the free service window.
- Send marketing templates only to people who opted in and are likely to buy.
- Review the conversations monthly and remove what is not used.
How Balabot does it for you
Balabot is an AI agency that sets up AI for businesses of every size worldwide, from local businesses to large companies and enterprise teams, with the scope built around your goals and budget. Balabot sets up and runs AI WhatsApp chatbots with plans starting from $69 per month. On a free call we look at your volume and needs and give you a clear quote, with no big upfront cost.
Common questions
Is WhatsApp Business free?
The WhatsApp Business app is free. Automating with the WhatsApp Business Platform involves Meta fees for some message types plus the cost of the software or service you use.
Are there hidden costs?
The usual surprise is marketing message fees from Meta. A good provider explains them upfront and helps you send only what pays off.
Is a chatbot cheaper than hiring someone?
For answering common questions and booking around the clock, a chatbot usually costs far less than staff time, and it never sleeps. Most businesses use both: the bot for the first reply, people for the rest.