Side by side
| Feature |  ChatRail | Evolution API |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Included: Sandbox: 1 number, 500 messages a month, no expiry | Partly, or you build it: Open source (Apache 2.0 with branding conditions); you host it |
| Entry price (1 number) | $15 / month(Core, 1 number) | $0 licence(plus the server you run it on) |
| Annual billing | 2 months free on annual billing | Not applicable |
| Five numbers | $79 / month(Team includes 5 numbers) | Your hosting(plus your time) |
| Message volume | Included: Unlimited on paid plans, with number-safety guardrails (a per-recipient limit that stops runaway loops) | Included: No limits of its own; send limits are up to you |
| Media and groups | Included: Images, video, voice notes and documents in and out; groups API | Included: Media and groups via the Baileys WhatsApp Web library; also supports Meta's Cloud API |
| Webhooks | Included: Signed webhooks with delivery state and conversation context; media download URLs | Included: Webhooks, plus RabbitMQ, Kafka, SQS and Socket.io |
| AI replies | Included: 10,000 AI replies a month included on Core + AI ($29), no API key needed; 50,000 on Team; or bring your own key | Partly, or you build it: OpenAI, Dify, Typebot and Flowise integrations; you bring the keys |
| MCP | Included: MCP tools on Core + AI and Team | Not included or not listed: Not listed |
| No-code | Included: n8n, Zapier and Activepieces guides, plus an importable n8n workflow | Included: n8n, Typebot, Chatwoot |
IncludedPartly, or you build itNot included or not listed
Trial: ChatRail's Sandbox is free with no expiry. Evolution API: Free to self-host.
Free software, not free to run
Self-hosting Evolution API means a Node.js 20+ server, PostgreSQL or MySQL, and (recommended) Redis. You keep it patched, backed up and monitored.
The expensive part is WhatsApp itself. Linked-device libraries break when WhatsApp changes its web protocol, and when that happens your messages stop until you upgrade. With ChatRail, that upgrade is our job.
Send limits are on you too. Nothing in a self-hosted stack stops a bug from messaging the same customer a hundred times in a minute. ChatRail stops it at 10 in five minutes.
Choose Evolution API if
- You have ops capacity and want full control of the stack.
- You need data to stay on your own infrastructure.
- You want Chatwoot, Typebot or a message queue wired in directly.
Choose ChatRail if
- You would rather not run a server, a database and Redis for WhatsApp.
- You want protocol breakage to be someone else's pager.
- You want number-safety guardrails and managed AI replies included.
Switching
Both are REST APIs over a linked WhatsApp device, so switching mostly means pairing the number again and updating send calls and webhook handling. The quickstart covers pairing and your first message. Webhooks covers signature checks and media downloads.
Questions
How does ChatRail's price compare with Evolution API?
ChatRail Core is $15 a month for one number. Evolution API: $0 licence (plus the server you run it on). For five numbers, ChatRail Team is $79 a month; Evolution API: Your hosting (plus your time).
Does Evolution API include AI replies?
OpenAI, Dify, Typebot and Flowise integrations; you bring the keys. ChatRail includes 10,000 AI replies a month on Core + AI ($29) and 50,000 on Team, with no API key needed.
Do both use the official WhatsApp Business API?
ChatRail connects as a linked device, with no Meta approval and no per-conversation fee. Evolution API can do either: linked device through Baileys, or Meta's official Cloud API if you set up a Meta business account. Linked-device sending must stay within WhatsApp's terms; ChatRail adds a per-recipient guardrail that stops runaway loops before they get the number reported.