Meta to charge businesses per message on WhatsApp business platform from October 1

Meta will begin charging businesses for service and utility messages sent through the WhatsApp Business Platform on a per-message basis from October 1, 2026, affecting banks, fintechs, e-commerce companies, telecoms operators and large retailers that use the platform for customer communication at scale.

As disclosed in Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform pricing update, the charges cover service messages exchanged during the 24-hour customer service window — previously free since November 2024 — and utility messages such as payment confirmations, order updates and delivery notifications, which had been uncharged since July 2025,according to The Punch.

Meta stated: “Effective October 1, 2026, Meta will charge on a per-message basis for all service messages, consistent with how Meta charges for template messages.”

Ordinary WhatsApp users and small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business phone app will not be affected. Meta has warned businesses and Solution Providers to add payment methods ahead of the October 1 deadline.