WhatsApp Business Messaging: Your Simple Guide to Costs
If you're a creator or business owner using WhatsApp to engage your audience, here's the updated, no-fluff guide to what it actually costs you.
TL;DR
You pay per 24-hour conversation, not per message
Utility (₹0.15) = updates for existing customers
Marketing (₹0.99) = promotions and selling new stuf
Understanding Message Categories
Utility Conversations — ₹0.15 / 24h conversation
Used for transactional updates about products/services already purchased.
Examples:
"Your course enrollment is confirmed."
"Live class starts tomorrow at 7 PM."
"Assignment deadline is today."
Marketing Conversations — ₹0.99 / 24h conversation
Used to promote your offerings or drive sales.
Examples:
"New Python bootcamp starting Monday. Enroll now & save 30%."
"Flash sale: Buy 1 get 1 free on all masterclasses!"
"Limited seats left in our AI webinar."
The 24-Hour Rule (Only for Customer-Initiated Conversations)
If a user messages you first, you can reply for free within 24 hours
If you message first (via approved template), it starts a paid conversation (Marketing or Utility)
| Scenario | Paid? | Type |
|---|---|---|
| You send promotional message | Yes | Marketing |
| You confirm a course purchase | Yes | Utility |
| Student messages you, you reply in 24h | No | Free |
| Student messages you, you reply after 24h | Yes | Paid template (Utility/Marketing) |
Real-World Example:
Monday 9 AM: Sent course confirmation to 50 students: 50 x ₹0.15 = ₹7.50
2 PM: Sent promo to 100 users: 100 x ₹0.99 = ₹99.00
6 PM: Responded to inbound queries = ₹0.00 (free)
Total cost for the day = ₹106.50
How Billing Works on Graphy
Preload your Graphy Wallet with funds
Every WhatsApp campaign deducts cost from wallet
You can set spending limits and auto-recharge
Before You Launch a Campaign
Am I sending Marketing or Utility?
Is the template approved?
Is this message necessary or can I wait for a user to message first?
Do I have enough wallet balance?
Common Questions
Why was I charged even though the user messaged me first?
You replied after 24 hours or initiated a new conversation with a template.
Can I send multiple messages within a conversation?
Yes! As many as you want within the 24-hour window.
Is WhatsApp more expensive than SMS?
Per message, maybe. But read rates and engagement are much higher.
In Summary:
Use WhatsApp wisely: pay only when it makes sense, optimize for free interactions, and bundle communications to maximize ROI.
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