WhatsApp to Charge Businesses About ₦14 Per Customer Service Message From October 1

WhatsApp to Charge Businesses About ₦14 Per Customer Service Message From October 1

Businesses that use WhatsApp to send automated messages to customers will soon have another cost to consider.

Meta is set to introduce charges for certain messages sent through the WhatsApp Business Platform from October 1, 2026. The change will mainly affect businesses using WhatsApp’s API for large-scale customer communication.

Banks, fintech companies, telecom operators, e-commerce platforms and other large businesses that rely on WhatsApp for customer updates and support could be affected by the new pricing.

Under the new system, Meta will charge businesses for certain service and utility messages, including messages sent during the 24-hour period after a customer starts a conversation. The reported rate for Nigeria is around $0.0101 per message, which is roughly ₦14 based on current exchange rates.

For a company sending thousands or even millions of messages, the cost could quickly add up.

However, the change does not mean WhatsApp is becoming a paid messaging service for everyone. Regular WhatsApp users will continue using the platform as usual, while small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business app will not be affected by this particular change.

Meta has also asked businesses and service providers using the platform to have a valid payment method in place before the new charges take effect.

The move is likely to put more pressure on businesses that depend heavily on WhatsApp for customer service, transaction alerts and other routine communications.

With the October 1 deadline approaching, affected businesses will now have to decide whether to absorb the additional cost or adjust the way they communicate with customers.

Do you think charging businesses per message will push companies to reduce their use of WhatsApp for customer communication?