Using AI Agents on WhatsApp to Cost More; Charges Change from August 1; Business Users Affected

A major change is coming for businesses using WhatsApp Business. Meta is altering its pricing model for AI Agents starting August 1, 2026. Instead of a per-message fee, businesses will be charged based on token usage. Additionally, charges for certain service messages will resume on October 1.

After introducing the new AI Agent for WhatsApp Business, Meta has revised its pricing structure. From August 1, 2026, the company will charge business users based on tokens rather than per message. Furthermore, starting October 1, 2026, Meta will resume charging for specific service messages after a two-year hiatus.

What is the new token-based pricing system?

Meta states that businesses will be billed based on the number of tokens consumed by the AI ​​Agent. The company has set the price at $2 (approximately ₹189) per 1 million tokens. Simply put, the longer and more complex the conversation, the more tokens will be consumed, resulting in higher charges. According to Meta, large businesses using AI Agents will pay based on token usage, while some small businesses will access this feature through the WhatsApp Business Premium plan. The company claims this price covers the costs of both AI processing and message delivery.

What can the WhatsApp AI Agent do?

With the help of the Meta Business Agent, companies can create their own AI chatbots on WhatsApp. These bots can answer customer queries, suggest products, book appointments, gather information from new customers, and transfer conversations to a human agent when necessary. Meta tested this feature for nearly two years in countries including India and Mexico, and it is now being rolled out globally. The company is also preparing to bring this AI Agent to Instagram.

Which messages will incur charges again starting October 1?

Meta has also announced that, starting October 1, 2026, charges will once again apply to certain non-template service messages sent via WhatsApp Business—fees that had been waived for nearly two years. In India, the current rate for such messages is approximately 11.5 paise per message, though large businesses may receive volume-based discounts. Meta has stated that it may revise these rates from time to time. India is WhatsApp's largest market, boasting around 850 million users; consequently, Meta is gearing up to boost revenue from its business platform through AI agents and this new pricing structure.