WhatsApp Business API charges for all dialogs. Even for incoming ones if you reply to them. We have tried to make the payment procedure as simple as possible. It includes three terms:
1. Subscription to the WhatsApp Business API;
2. There are 1,000 conversations available with the subscription. Only incoming messages from clients are free;
3. Paid messages. You need these to send message templates to your clients;
For prices please refer to the "Rates" page.
What is a dialog
A dialog is a messaging session between you and your clients. A dialog is initiated in two cases:
1. When you respond to an incoming request from a client;
2. When you send the client a message template.
A dialog is opened for 24 hours from the last time the client was active in the chat. As long as the dialog is open, you can exchange any messages.
After 24 hours, WhatsApp will close the dialog, and it will have to be re-initiated. When the session is over, only a template can be sent to the client.
How to pay for dialogs
The conversations that a company initiates fall into three categories: utility, authentication, and marketing. The category of conversations is determined by the category of the template that initiated the communication.
Utility. The processing of specific requests or transactions, sending customers updates on the current transaction, including post-purchase notifications and receipts for regular purchases.
Authentication. The ability to authenticate users with one-time codes, for example, during a multi-step login process (account confirmation, account recovery, account integrity issues).
Marketing. Sending promotions, offers, information, or calls to action to clients. Any conversation that does not fall under the description of the Utility or Authentication categories is considered Marketing category conversation.
Conversations that are initiated by a client fall into the "Service" category. They too are paid if you reply to the message.
The dialogs that the client starts come under the "Service" category. They are also paid if you reply to the message with a template. To make the dialog free, within 1000 dialogs, reply to the client with a normal message. Do not use templates if you want to use the 1000 free messages.
Don't pay 4 times per dialog!
Each category of templates initiates a separate 24-hour dialog opening. You will be charged for each opening. For example, if a client writes to you and you reply to them, you will be charged for opening a dialog of the "Service" category. If you send a client a template from the "Utility" category within 24 hours, they will be charged for that category as well. If you send a mailing within the next 24 hours, you will be charged again for the "Marketing" category.
How to know if a dialog is closed
ChatApp Dialog has indicators. If 24 hours have passed and you can only write template messages to the client, the indicator will be red. If the dialog is still open and you can write any messages to the client, the indicator will be green:
How to see how many dialogs are available to you
1. Go to your personal account.
2. Go to My Business.
3. Click on the line to which the WhatsApp Business API is linked.
4. To the right of the WhatsApp Business API icon, click on "setup".
5. In the pop-up window, the number of dialogs available will be shown in the "Dialogue summary" section.