There are two kinds of WhatsApp API. The official one, run by Meta, charges per message and needs templates to start a conversation. Linked-device APIs pair a normal number the way WhatsApp Web does, for a flat monthly price, but are not official. Pick the official route for marketing or compliance, and a linked device for alerts on a number you already use.
Two kinds of WhatsApp API
The official route is Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. You register a business number, start conversations with approved templates, and pay for each delivered message by country and category. You can use it directly or through a provider such as Twilio or 360dialog.
A linked-device API pairs an ordinary WhatsApp account as a linked device and sends through that session. Your number keeps working on the phone, there are no templates or per-message fees, and the price is flat per number. It is not an official integration, so sessions can drop and WhatsApp can restrict a number that looks abusive. The full comparison of the two routes has the rules and sources.
Official options
All three use Meta's Cloud API underneath, so Meta's per-message fees and template rules apply to each. What changes is the provider's own charge and how much of the setup it does for you.
| Provider | What the provider charges | Meta's message fees | Free allowance | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Cloud API | No platform fee. Meta runs it. | Per delivered message, priced by the recipient's country and the message category. | The first 1,000 service messages a month for each number. | Teams that can do Meta's onboarding themselves and want no middleman. |
| Twilio | $0.005 per message, sent or received. No monthly fee listed. | Passed through on top of Twilio's fee. | Meta's free service allowance; no WhatsApp credit stated. | Teams already on Twilio for SMS or voice, or who want its tooling and support. |
| 360dialog | From €49 a number a month (Regular); €99 Premium; €500 Scale. | Added on top. 360dialog says it adds no markup. | No free trial stated. | Teams that want a flat monthly fee per number on the official platform. |
Sources: Meta Cloud API pricing · Twilio pricing · 360dialog pricing. Meta's rates by country are in our breakdown for Pakistan, India and Nigeria.
Which one fits
Start from what you need to send and to whom. The price follows from that.
| If | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You send marketing to opted-in lists, or need templates and Meta's backing | Meta Cloud API, directly or through Twilio or 360dialog | It is the official platform. Nothing else is built for large opted-in marketing. |
| You already use Twilio for SMS or voice | Twilio | One account and one bill. You pay $0.005 a message on top of Meta's fees. |
| You want the official platform at a flat fee per number | 360dialog | From €49 a number a month, plus Meta's message fees. |
| You want the cheapest hosted pipe to your existing number | WasenderAPI | $6 a month for one number. You build guardrails, retries and AI yourself. |
| You want to run it on your own servers | Evolution API | Open source and free to license. You run Node, Postgres and Redis. |
| You need WhatsApp Channels or a number-warming module | Whapi.Cloud | Mature and feature-rich, from $35 a number a month. |
| You want a free developer tier and SDKs in many languages | Green-API | From $12 a number a month. The free tier is limited to 3 chats. |
| Your existing number matters, and you want it protected, with AI replies and context in every webhook | ChatRail | From $15 a month. Stops the 11th message to one person within 5 minutes; 10,000 AI replies a month on Core + AI. |
Where ChatRail fits
ChatRail
Best for: Developers and agencies who want WhatsApp on a number they already have, with AI replies built in and protection against sending loops.
How it connects: As a linked device, by QR code or pairing code, the same way WhatsApp Web does. No Meta approval.
Pricing:
- Free Sandbox: 1 number, 500 messages a month, no expiry.
- Core: $15 a month for 1 number, unlimited messages.
- Core + AI: $29, with 10,000 AI replies a month and no model key needed.
- Team: $79 for 5 numbers.
- Extra numbers $8 a month. Card billing is monthly; 12 months prepaid in crypto costs the same as 10.
What's different:
- Stops the 11th message to the same person within 5 minutes, so a bug can't flood a customer and get the number reported.
- Signed webhooks that carry delivery status and the conversation's context.
- An n8n community node, MCP tools for AI agents, and guides for Zapier and Activepieces.
Trade-off: It isn't Meta's official platform, so WhatsApp can still restrict a number that behaves like spam. No WhatsApp Channels support. The Sandbox doesn't include media or groups.
Website: chatrail.dev/pricing
