WhatsApp coexistence pricing depends on where each message is sent from: the phone or the platform connected to the API. Messages sent from the WhatsApp Business app stay free; messages sent through the API are charged per message, by category.
WhatsApp coexistence links the same number to both channels, and Meta treats each side differently. This guide explains how Meta bills the API, the free windows, and three worked examples using Meta’s rate card for Brazil in October 2026, with links to the official pricing page for every other market.
Key Takeaways
- Under coexistence, messages sent from the app stay free; messages sent through the Cloud API follow Meta’s rate card, per delivered message and by category.
- From October 1, 2026, Meta charges for service messages and for utility messages inside the 24-hour window, with 1,000 free service messages per phone number each month.
- The total cost adds Meta’s charges and the partner’s subscription. The free ad window and the monthly free tier lower the first part.
WhatsApp Coexistence Pricing: The Three Parts of the Bill
WhatsApp coexistence pricing has three parts: what goes out from the app, what goes out through the API, and the partner’s service. Only the second part shows up on Meta’s invoice; the third depends on the contract with the platform that set up the connection.
What Meta Charges
According to Meta’s official coexistence documentation as of October 2026, after the connection, messages sent through the Cloud API follow API pricing. Meta charges each delivered message, with a rate set by the category and the country code of the receiving number.
In practice, Meta’s bill includes marketing, utility, and authentication templates and, since October 2026, free-form service replies sent from the platform above the monthly free tier. This applies to human agents and to third-party AI agents alike.
What Stays Off Meta’s Bill
Everything the business sends from the WhatsApp Business app itself stays off Meta’s invoice, even when it is mirrored on the platform. Messages customers send to the business are not charged either, nor are messages that are never delivered.
That split is what makes the coexistence bill different from that of a number used only on the WhatsApp Cloud API. On a dedicated number, every message goes through the API; under coexistence, part of the conversations can stay in the app, with no fee.
The Partner’s Subscription
The connection is set up by a Meta partner, and that partner’s platform has its own price. The amount varies across vendors and may include a subscription, users, numbers, AI features, or a pass-through of Meta’s fees.
So comparing only Meta’s rate card is not enough. The guide WhatsApp coexistence vs Cloud API shows how the connection type changes the cost, and the section on questions to ask your partner, further down, helps you get everything in writing.
Is WhatsApp Coexistence Free?
WhatsApp coexistence is not entirely free: using the app stays free, but every message sent through the API follows Meta’s pricing. On top of that, the partner’s platform may charge a subscription set by contract.
Connecting Has No Fee on Meta’s Rate Card
Meta’s pricing page, as of October 2026, charges per delivered message and does not list a specific fee for turning on coexistence. Meta’s cost comes from using the API, not from the connection itself.
That does not mean activation is always free. The partner may charge for onboarding, setup, or a monthly subscription. Those amounts are set by each vendor and should appear in the commercial proposal before you sign.
What Stays Free in the App
Meta’s official PDF guide on API solutions for app users details the scenarios. One-on-one chats sent from the WhatsApp Business app remain free, and so does using the app for groups, calls, and Status after the connection.
The app also keeps native tools, such as labels and quick replies, that do not go through the API. The guide to WhatsApp coexistence groups and broadcast lists lists what changes on the device, such as broadcast lists becoming read-only.
Are App Messages Charged Under Coexistence?
No: app messages under coexistence are not charged by Meta. The official documentation says they remain free and do not create, extend, or affect Cloud API windows or billing, even when they appear mirrored on the partner’s platform.
Why the App Stays Off the Bill
The rule on the official coexistence page is direct: the 24-hour window restriction applies to messages sent through the Cloud API. Messages sent from the app are not subject to that window and do not interfere with API pricing.
In practice, a reply typed on the phone does not use the monthly free tier or trigger a service fee. The same reply sent from the platform, by a human agent or an AI agent, counts toward the API bill.
Starting a Conversation From the App or the API
The official PDF shows another difference: from the app, the business can start a conversation with free-form text; from the platform, it must start with an approved WhatsApp message template. Templates cannot be sent from the app interface, only through the API.
This matters for businesses that do outbound contact. A personal follow-up to one customer goes out from the app at no cost, while bulk messaging with templates goes out through the API and is charged per delivered message, by category.
Limits and Quality Stay Out Too
According to the same PDF, one-on-one messages sent from the app do not count toward Cloud API messaging limits or integrity. Only what goes out through the API is subject to normal API enforcement.
This does not lower the bill, but it protects the operation: manual chats on the phone do not consume API sending limits. The WhatsApp quality rating guidelines still apply to everything sent from the platform.
What Meta Charges on the API Under Coexistence
On the API, Meta charges per delivered message, and each message has a single category. The pricing page lists five: marketing, utility, authentication, service, and Meta Business Agent. The category sets the rate; the recipient’s country sets the rate card.
Templates by Category
Templates are the only messages a business can send outside the customer service window. Meta’s template categorization splits them into three groups, and each group has its own price on the rate card:
- Marketing: promotions, product news, invitations, and customer reactivation.
- Utility: order confirmations, delivery updates, and payment reminders.
- Authentication: one-time verification and login codes.
Marketing is the most expensive category on Brazil’s rate card, as the next section shows. That is why categorizing each template correctly and sending only to people who gave consent avoids unnecessary cost and customer complaints.
The October 1, 2026 Rule for Service and Utility
From October 1, 2026, Meta charges for service messages and for utility messages inside the 24-hour window, with 1,000 free service messages per phone number each month. Before that, both were free inside the window.
A service message is a free-form reply, without a template, sent by a person or a third-party AI. It has no volume tiers, and the free tier does not roll over: whatever is left in one month does not carry into the next.
The Meta Business Agent, Meta’s own AI, has been billed per token since August 1, 2026, at a global rate of US$2.00 per million tokens. According to Meta, that equals roughly 4 to 5 US cents per message.
Keep your number and add the official API
ConverZAP, a Meta-verified Tech Provider, connects your WhatsApp Business app number through coexistence. The phone keeps working, and the AI agent and team inbox run on the official API.
Try it free with your own numberSee how it worksCoexistence Pricing on the Official API: Meta’s Rate Card in Brazil
Coexistence pricing on the official API is the same as Cloud API pricing: there is no separate rate card. As an example, in Brazil, Meta’s official BRL rate card, effective October 1, 2026, lists the following rates per delivered message. Other countries have their own rates on the same page.
| Category | Examples | Rate per delivered message in Brazil (BRL) | Volume tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Promotions, campaigns, reactivation | R$ 0.3217 | No |
| Utility | Orders, deliveries, reminders | R$ 0.035 | Yes, above 250,000 per month |
| Authentication | Login codes | R$ 0.035 | Yes, above 500,000 per month |
| Service | Free-form replies in the window, by a person or a third-party AI | R$ 0.035, after 1,000 free per number per month | No |
Volume Tiers for Utility and Authentication
In Meta’s official tier sheet for Brazil, utility costs R$ 0.035 up to 250,000 messages a month and drops to R$ 0.0333 in the next tier. For authentication, the first tier goes up to 500,000 messages. Only billed messages count toward tiers.
The count adds up every account the business has in the same Meta business portfolio, by category and by country. The interactive WhatsApp Business pricing page shows rates for other markets, and the WhatsApp API pricing guide explains the pricing changes in detail.
Billing in Brazilian Reais
According to the pricing page, since July 1, 2026, businesses billed in Brazil can create WhatsApp Business accounts in BRL, invoiced by Facebook Brasil. All of their accounts must migrate by June 30, 2027, as the Meta Business Help Center explains.
Businesses billed in US dollars follow the USD rate card, and currency conversion changes the final amount. Before projecting coexistence costs, confirm with your partner which currency the account uses and who pays Meta.
Free Windows: 24 Hours and Click-to-WhatsApp Ads
Under coexistence, API windows apply only to what goes out through the API. The 24-hour customer service window defines when the business can reply without a template; the free ad window defines when Meta does not charge for messages.
The 24-Hour Window Opens Only After the Connection
The customer service window opens and resets with each customer message. Under coexistence, according to Meta’s documentation, it exists only when the customer writes after the number is already on the API.
If a customer wrote shortly before the connection, the platform can only reply with a template. Replies sent from the app do not open or extend the window. The WhatsApp message templates guide explains what fits each moment.
The Free Window for Click-to-WhatsApp Ads
When a customer arrives through a click-to-WhatsApp ad in the app on Android or iOS and the business replies within the customer service window, that reply is free and opens the free entry point window.
According to Meta’s pricing page updated for October 1, 2026, that window can stay open for up to 7 days; earlier versions said 72 hours. While it is open, Meta does not charge for marketing, utility, authentication, or service messages.
Meta Business Agent messages are still billed inside it. The window belongs to the business and customer pair, not to a specific account. Under coexistence, the first contact from an ad may trigger a technical notice, covered in the guide to WhatsApp coexistence errors.
Worked Examples With the Official Rate Card
The examples below use only Meta’s official rate card for Brazil, in BRL, effective October 1, 2026. They are list prices, before taxes and without the platform subscription, for an account billed in reais and customers with Brazilian numbers.
| Scenario | API messages per month | Meta’s bill | What goes out from the app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic with reminders | 1,500 utility reminders | 1,500 × R$ 0.035 = R$ 52.50 | Chats with patients, no charge |
| Store with an AI agent | 4,000 service replies and 800 utility confirmations | 3,000 × R$ 0.035 + 800 × R$ 0.035 = R$ 133.00 | The owner’s occasional replies, no charge |
| Reactivation campaign | 2,000 marketing templates | 2,000 × R$ 0.3217 = R$ 643.40 | Personal follow-ups, no charge |
Example 1: Owner on the App, Reminders on the API
A clinic connects its number through coexistence. The front desk keeps chatting with patients from the phone, with no Meta charge, and the platform sends 1,500 appointment reminders a month with a utility template, outside the window.
Meta’s bill comes to R$ 52.50 for the month. If patients reply and the platform confirms with free-form text through the API, those replies become service messages and, up to 1,000 a month, fall within the number’s free tier.
Example 2: An AI Agent Replying Through the API
A store uses an AI agent that sends 4,000 service replies a month through the API, plus 800 order confirmations inside the window. The first 1,000 replies fall within the free tier, leaving 3,000 billed.
Meta’s total reaches R$ 133.00 for the month: R$ 105.00 for service and R$ 28.00 for utility. The human and AI customer service model sets how much the AI handles and how much the owner answers from the app, at no charge.
Example 3: A Marketing Campaign and the Ad Window
A reactivation campaign with 2,000 marketing templates to contacts who gave consent costs R$ 643.40 in messages. It is the heaviest category, and the volume sent sets the size of the bill.
If the same customers arrived through a click-to-WhatsApp ad, the conversation messages would be free inside the ad window, but the ad has its own cost. For Brazilian numbers, the cost calculator (Brazil, in Portuguese) simulates other volumes.
Partner and Platform Costs
The partner’s cost is the part of coexistence pricing that does not show up on Meta’s rate card. Each platform sets its own billing model, and the same message bill can end up very different in total, depending on the contract.
What the Subscription May Include
Billing models vary from vendor to vendor. When comparing proposals, check whether the quoted price includes or leaves out items like these:
- A platform subscription, monthly or yearly.
- Number of users, agents, or WhatsApp numbers.
- AI features, such as agents that reply and take action.
- Pass-through of Meta’s fees, with or without a markup on the official rate.
With AI, the bill may have two parts: the AI provider’s usage and Meta’s message delivery. The non-template message pricing page notes that businesses using third-party AI usually pay both, each to a different vendor.
Cost Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Before signing, ask for written answers to four questions. They prevent surprises on the first invoice and help you compare vendors on the same basis:
- Is Meta’s fee charged to the business’s card, or invoiced by the platform?
- Is there a markup or fee on top of Meta’s official rates?
- Can the business see the billing report per message and per category?
- Is a credit line from a previous partner tied to the account?
The last question has a technical reason: according to Meta, an old credit line can cause errors when switching partners. The guide WhatsApp coexistence vs Cloud API covers the technical questions to ask as well.
How to Lower Coexistence Costs and Start on the Official API
Lowering coexistence costs comes down to deciding, conversation by conversation, what goes out from the app and what goes out through the API. Automation pays off when it saves the team time or drives sales; the rest can stay on the phone, with no fee.
Good Practices to Pay Less
A few simple practices reduce Meta’s bill without hurting customer service or the experience of the people chatting with the business:
- Keep personal, one-off replies in the app, which is not billed.
- Resolve questions inside the window, with fewer messages per conversation.
- Use click-to-WhatsApp ads to open the free window.
- Send marketing only to people who gave opt-in, with segmentation.
- Review the official billing report every month.
The report in the last item is Meta’s pricing analytics, which breaks down billed messages by category. Terms like this one are in the WhatsApp API glossary. With it, the business sees how much of the monthly free tier it has used and which templates weigh the most.
How ConverZAP Turns On Coexistence
Coexistence is a Meta feature, set up by a Solution Partner or a Tech Provider through Embedded Signup. ConverZAP, a Meta-verified Tech Provider, connects your WhatsApp Business app number through coexistence inside its own app in a few steps, and the 7-day free trial already includes connecting your own number. For automation, the starting point is the official API, which keeps the risk of a ban lower than unofficial APIs.
ConverZAP runs on the official WhatsApp API, with AI agents that take action in business systems, a team inbox for multiple agents, and campaigns with approved templates. Messages you send from the phone show up in the ConverZAP inbox as “Sent from phone”, and the AI agent pauses so it doesn’t reply over you. Those phone replies stay free. The coexistence setup guide shows activation, you can try it free with your own number, and the pricing page lists what each plan includes.
FAQ About WhatsApp Coexistence Pricing
No. According to Meta’s pricing page, charges apply only to messages the business delivers to the customer. What the customer writes, from the phone or through an ad, carries no fee, whether the conversation is in the app or on the platform.
No. Meta charges only for delivered messages. If the customer’s number does not receive the message, due to an error or a block, there is no charge. The status of each message appears on the partner’s platform.
No, it is per WhatsApp phone number. All human agents and third-party AI agents replying through the API on the same number share the same 1,000 service messages each month. Replies sent from the app do not use that tier.
For billed messages, yes. Without a payment method on the account, Meta delivers service messages within the free tier but not beyond it. In some models, the partner pays Meta and passes the cost on to the business.
Yes. The rate depends on the country code of the number receiving the message, not on the business’s country. A message to a customer with a number from another country follows that market’s rate card, which may be higher or lower.
According to Meta, eligible governments and nonprofits will not pay for service messages beyond the monthly free tier from October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. Meta itself defines eligibility.
The connection itself has no fee on Meta’s rate card. After it, messages sent from the app remain free, and messages sent through the API, via ConverZAP, follow Meta’s rate card per delivered message. ConverZAP’s 7-day free trial already includes connecting your number, and the plans show the platform subscription.
