Meta moves to monetise WhatsApp Business messages

Meta is set to begin charging businesses for certain WhatsApp messages from October 1, 2026. According to Vanguard, the new pricing targets organisations using the WhatsApp Business Platform, sparing regular users and small businesses on the standard app. Utility messages will cost about $0.0101 each, while marketing messages will attract roughly $0.062 per message.

Vanguard reports that Nigerian banks, fintechs, retailers, and airlines relying heavily on WhatsApp for customer communication could face significant added costs, with high-volume senders potentially incurring thousands of dollars monthly under the revised billing structure.