Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, will begin charging businesses for certain customer-service messages sent through the WhatsApp Business Platform from October 1, 2026.
Under the new policy, businesses will be charged on a per-message basis for service messages and utility messages sent in response to customers within an active 24-hour service window.
Meta said service messages, which have been free since November 2024, and utility messages, which have been free within the 24-hour window since July 2025, will now attract charges.
Service messages are non-template replies sent after a customer starts a conversation, while utility messages include payment confirmations, account updates, order confirmations and delivery notifications.
The change means businesses that rely heavily on WhatsApp for customer support and automated communication may face additional operating costs.
The new charges will apply to companies using the WhatsApp Business Platform, including banks, fintechs, telecom companies, e-commerce businesses and other organisations handling customer communications at scale.
Current pricing references suggest utility messages to Nigerian numbers could cost around $0.0101 per message, equivalent to roughly ₦13.50, although businesses are expected to confirm the applicable October rate once Meta releases its final rate card.
Meta has also warned businesses and solution providers to add a valid payment method before the new charges take effect.
“Meta will stop delivering service messages as of when they become charged on October 1, 2026.”
The company said the move is part of its broader shift towards per-message pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform.
Source: Meta/WhatsApp Business Platform.
