Side by side
| Feature |  ChatRail | Maytapi |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Included: Sandbox: 1 number, 500 messages a month, no expiry | Included: Sandbox: 5 conversations a month, 150 messages a day, limited API calls |
| Entry price (1 number) | $15 / month(Core, 1 number) | $24 / month(per phone, Developer, billed annually) |
| Annual billing | 2 months free on annual billing | Listed price is the annual rate |
| Five numbers | $79 / month(Team includes 5 numbers) | $120 / month(5 × $24, annual); discounts from 10 numbers |
| Message volume | Included: Unlimited on paid plans, with number-safety guardrails (a per-recipient limit that stops runaway loops) | Included: Unlimited sending and receiving, including media |
| Media and groups | Included: Images, video, voice notes and documents in and out; groups API | Included: Groups, Channels, Products, media |
| Webhooks | Included: Signed webhooks with delivery state and conversation context; media download URLs | Included: Webhooks included |
| 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 | Not included or not listed: No built-in AI replies listed |
| 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: Google Sheets and Make |
IncludedPartly, or you build itNot included or not listed
Trial: ChatRail's Sandbox is free with no expiry. Maytapi: 3-day trial, no card.
Choose Maytapi if
- You need Products (catalog) or Channels endpoints.
- You rely on their Google Sheets integration.
Choose ChatRail if
- Price: $15 vs $24 per number, and $79 vs $120 for 5 numbers.
- A usable free tier: 500 messages a month vs 5 conversations.
- AI replies included, plus MCP tools for agents.
- Guides for n8n, Zapier and Activepieces, including a group-media-to-cloud-storage workflow.
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 Maytapi?
ChatRail Core is $15 a month for one number. Maytapi: $24 / month (per phone, Developer, billed annually). For five numbers, ChatRail Team is $79 a month; Maytapi: $120 / month (5 × $24, annual); discounts from 10 numbers.
Does Maytapi include AI replies?
No built-in AI replies listed. 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?
No. ChatRail and Maytapi both connect a WhatsApp account as a linked device, so there is no Meta approval and no per-conversation fee. 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.