WhatsApp Business API — frequently asked questions

The software can be free — ChatMitra's Starter plan has no monthly fee. But Meta charges per 24-hour conversation, and ChatMitra adds a flat ₹0.20 per conversation on Starter and Pro. So there's always a small per-conversation cost once customers engage. See pricing explained.

Two parts. Meta charges per conversation by category — roughly ₹0.86 marketing, ₹0.11 utility, ₹0.11 authentication (service replies inside the 24-hour window are free). ChatMitra adds ₹0.20 per conversation on Starter (free plan) and Pro (₹999/month); Enterprise (₹2,499/month) waives the ₹0.20. Estimate yours with the pricing calculator.

Marketing messages promote things (offers, launches) and cost the most. Utility messages are transactional updates the customer expects (order confirmations, reminders) and are cheap. Authentication messages deliver one-time passcodes. The category Meta assigns decides the price — see message categories.

No. The API has no app or chat screen of its own. You use it through a platform like ChatMitra, which gives you the inbox, broadcasts and automation. See what the API is.

Usually yes — but a number active on the regular WhatsApp or Business app must be migrated to the API first (you keep the number; you can't use it on the app and the API at once). See phone numbers.

You usually start by initiating conversations with 1,000 unique customers a day. Meta raises this automatically (10,000 → 100,000 → unlimited) as your quality rating stays healthy. Replies inside an open conversation don't count. See messaging limits.

Yes. ChatMitra's Starter plan is free forever (pay only per conversation), and Pro comes with a 15-day free trial so you can test automation like Auto Reply and the AI Chatbot — no credit card to start. See free trial & getting started.

Most businesses go live in about 30 minutes, with no coding. ChatMitra's guided embedded signup walks you through connecting your number to Meta. A developer is only needed later for custom API integrations. See onboarding.

Yes. You must have clear permission to message someone — messaging people who didn't opt in leads to blocks and a damaged quality rating. See opt-in best practices.

A WhatsApp Business Account — the official account on Meta's side that holds your phone numbers, templates, display name and quality rating. ChatMitra sets it up for you during signup. See what is a WABA.

Often just minutes, sometimes up to 48 hours. Clear content, the right category and sample values for variables get approved fastest. See templates explained.

Usually a low quality rating (too many blocks/reports), a policy issue, or simply an empty wallet balance. Fix the cause rather than starting a new number. See account locked or restricted.

Yes. With the API and ChatMitra, your team shares one number through a shared inbox, each with their own login and role-based permissions. See team & user management.

Meta doesn't strictly require GST, but for Indian businesses a GST certificate is a convenient, commonly-accepted document for business verification. Whatever document you use, the business name and address must match your website and Meta profile. See business verification.

You top up a prepaid wallet, and each conversation draws from it. If the balance hits zero, outgoing messages pause until you top up — so turn on low-balance alerts. See payments and billing.