What is conversation-based pricing on WhatsApp Business API?

You’re charged per 24‑hour conversation window, not per message. Windows open either when a customer messages you (Service) or when your business delivers an approved template (Marketing, Utility, Authentication). A special Free‑Entry Point (FEP) window lasts 72 hours and is billing‑free when a user comes via Click‑to‑WhatsApp Ad or Facebook Page CTA and you reply within 24 hours.

Quick navigation

• Core model at a glance
• Conversation categories & billing (matrix)
• When a window opens (rules)
• What you can send & what it costs (scenarios)
• How to verify in your UI
• API / logs (copy‑paste samples)
• Edge cases & limitations
• Expected outcomes
• Related FAQs
• Support & escalation

Core model at a glance

• One price per 24h window → unlimited messages inside that window.
• Windows are per category (Marketing, Utility, Authentication) and a Service session (customer‑initiated).
• Free‑Entry Point (FEP) is a 72h billing‑free window after CTWA/Page CTA if you reply within 24h. The 24h Service window still controls non‑template permissions.

Conversation categories & billing (matrix)

When a window opens (rules)

A paid conversation window (Marketing/Utility/Auth) opens when all are true:

1. You send a template categorised as Marketing/Utility/Auth.
2. The template is delivered to the customer.
3. There is no active window of the same category for that customer.

A Service conversation opens (or resets) when the customer messages you.

Diagram — Conversation windows

Caption: Each category has its own 24h window; same‑category sends ≤24h reuse the window.

What you can send & what it costs (scenarios)

How to verify in your UI

A) Meta WhatsApp Inbox (example UI)

1. Open Inbox → select the conversation.
2. Find Customer Service Window: Active/Closed (24h timer).
3. If you ran an ad/Page CTA, look for Free Entry Point — Active (72h countdown).
4. Check header category chips (Marketing/Utility/Auth) with their own timers.

B) Your provider’s dashboard (typical)

1. Open ticket details / attributes.
2. Locate service_window.status/expires_at, free_entry.active/expires_at, and per‑category *.expires_at.
3. Check Billing/Usage for separate line items per category or $0 for FEP.

API / logs (copy‑paste samples)

1) Template opens a Marketing conversation (paid)

{
  "event": "template_delivered",
  "template": {
    "name": "promo_launch",
    "category": "MARKETING"
  },
  "conversation": {
    "category": "MARKETING",
    "opened": true,
    "expires_at": "2025-12-01T14:00:00Z"
  },
  "pricing": {
    "billable": true
  }
}

2) Same category within 24h (reused, no new charge)

{
  "event": "template_delivered",
  "template": {
    "name": "order_update",
    "category": "UTILITY"
  },
  "conversation": {
    "category": "UTILITY",
    "window": "REUSED",
    "new_charge": false,
    "expires_at": "2025-12-01T12:00:00Z"
  }
}

3) Service open & FEP active (billing‑free)

{
  "event": "message",
  "service_window": {
    "open": true,
    "seconds_remaining": 18000
  },
  "free_entry": {
    "active": true,
    "expires_at": "2025-12-31T23:59:59Z"
  },
  "conversation": {
    "category": "SERVICE"
  },
  "pricing": {
    "billable": false
  }
}

4) >24h & <72h (Service closed, FEP active → template free)

{
  "event": "message_send_attempt",
  "type": "non_template",
  "service_window": {
    "open": false
  },
  "error": {
    "code": "NON_TEMPLATE_NOT_ALLOWED"
  },
  "free_entry": {
    "active": true
  }
}

5) Cloud API — send a template (copy/paste)

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "+15551234567",
  "type": "template",
  "template": {
    "name": "follow_up_request",
    "language": {
      "code": "en"
    },
    "components": [
      {
        "type": "body",
        "parameters": [
          {
            "type": "text",
            "text": "Hi Alex, just checking in."
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Edge cases & limitations

• Opt‑out/Blocked: Respect user preferences; sends may be blocked regardless of windows.
• Delivery failure: If inbound or template fails delivery, the relevant conversation/state does not open/update.
• Multiple categories: Windows can overlap; same‑category sends ≤24h reuse the window (no new charge).
• Provider variance: Some UIs hide category chips during FEP; others show them as inactive.
• Time zones: Timers rely on message timestamps, not agent local time.

Expected outcomes

• ≤24h: Non‑template allowed; templates billed per category (unless FEP active → free).
• >24h & <72h (FEP active): Non‑template blocked; templates send free.
• ≥72h: Templates open a paid category window; non‑template allowed only after a customer replies.

Related FAQs

• What opens a Service conversation?
• How long does a WhatsApp conversation last?
• How are Marketing, Utility, and Authentication conversations opened?
• How does a Free‑Entry conversation affect other open conversations?

Support & escalation

If behavior differs from this FAQ or sends/billing look incorrect, open a Support ticket from your admin portal (attach message IDs, timestamps, pricing logs, and screenshots), or contact your Customer Success Manager. Typical response time: 1 business day.

Updated on: 21/09/2025