WhatsApp marketing in India: cost, templates, and conversion rates

WhatsApp Business marketing cost in India in 2026, per-conversation pricing, template approval, and conversion benchmarks vs SMS and email.

WhatsApp Business API conversations cost ₹0.40–₹1.20 in India depending on category (utility, authentication, marketing, service). Conversion rates are 3–6x higher than email or SMS for retail and BFSI use cases, making WhatsApp the highest-ROI channel for engaged audiences.

Pricing structure

WhatsApp prices per 24-hour "conversation". Marketing conversations: ₹0.85–₹1.20. Utility / order updates: ₹0.40–₹0.60. Authentication / OTP: ₹0.15–₹0.30. Free if user replies within 24h of your message.

Template approval

All template messages must be approved by Meta (24–48 hour SLA). Don't mention "click here" without context, common rejection reason. Add personalization for higher approval rates.

Conversion benchmarks

Cart-abandonment recovery: 15–35% via WhatsApp vs 3–8% via email. Order updates: 90%+ read rate. Promotional broadcasts: 5–15% click-through (vs 2% email).

DGTG WhatsApp playbook

We deliver WhatsApp campaigns as part of concurrency blasts (timed broadcasts to drive surge), abandonment recovery, and engagement re-activation. Always with Meta-approved templates.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does WhatsApp marketing cost in India?

Per-conversation pricing: ₹0.40–₹1.20 depending on category. A typical broadcast to 100K customers (marketing category) costs ₹85,000–₹1.2L plus a one-time WhatsApp Business API setup fee.

Can I broadcast to anyone on WhatsApp?

No, recipients must have opted in. Cold outreach is blocked. DGTG works only with first-party opted-in lists or co-broadcasts with publisher partners.

Is WhatsApp better than SMS?

For engaged audiences and rich media, yes. For mass outreach to non-customers and tier-3 markets, SMS still wins on coverage and cost. Most brands use both.