A WhatsApp chatbot has up to four costs: a one time setup, a monthly platform or agency plan, AI usage, and Meta’s own fees for certain message types, which depend on the country and the message category. Replies to customers inside the 24 hour customer service window are generally not charged by Meta. At Balabot, plans start from $69 per month and you get a clear quote on a free call.
The four parts of the price
- Setup. Meta verification, number connection, writing the answers, training the AI and connecting your calendar or CRM.
- Monthly plan. The software or agency service that runs the bot, the inbox and ongoing improvements.
- AI usage. The language model that writes the replies. Often included in the plan up to a volume.
- Meta message fees. WhatsApp charges per message for business initiated templates such as marketing or utility messages, with rates by country and category.
What makes it cheaper or more expensive
- Number of conversations per month.
- How many outbound marketing messages you send.
- Integrations: calendar, CRM, payments, invoicing.
- Number of languages and how complex your services are.
- Whether you want an agency to manage and improve it every month.
How to keep costs low
- Start with the top questions and booking, then add features.
- Let customers start the chat (ads, QR codes, website buttons) so most replies fall inside the free service window.
- Send marketing templates only to people who opted in and are likely to buy.
- Review the conversations monthly and remove what is not used.
How Balabot does it for you
Balabot sets up and runs AI WhatsApp chatbots with plans starting from $69 per month. On a free call we look at your volume and needs and give you a clear quote, with no big upfront cost.
Common questions
Is WhatsApp Business free?
The WhatsApp Business app is free. Automating with the WhatsApp Business Platform involves Meta fees for some message types plus the cost of the software or service you use.
Are there hidden costs?
The usual surprise is marketing message fees from Meta. A good provider explains them upfront and helps you send only what pays off.
Is a chatbot cheaper than hiring someone?
For answering common questions and booking around the clock, a chatbot usually costs far less than staff time, and it never sleeps. Most businesses use both: the bot for the first reply, people for the rest.