WhatsApp Pricing Update 2025: Switch to Per-Message Billing and Free Messaging Windows

WhatsApp Pricing Update 2025: Switch to Per-Message Billing and Free Messaging Windows


Starting July 1, 2025, WhatsApp is shifting from conversation-based pricing to per-message billing. That means every business-initiated message you send will count. Not just the first one in a 24-hour window.


From per-conversation to per-message billing     

Previously, multiple messages sent within a 24-hour conversation window were billed as a single conversation. Now, each successfully delivered message will be charged individually based on:
  • The message category: marketing, utility, or authentication
  • The recipient’s location, determined by their phone number’s country code
For example, sending a marketing message plus two utility messages would incur three charges, unless the utility messages are sent within an open customer service window.

New: Utility messages are free inside customer service window   

Since November 1, 2024, free-form messages sent in response to user-initiated messages during the 24-hour customer service window have been free of charge. Starting July 1, 2025, this includes utility template messages as well.

What is the customer service window?

A 24-hour timer that begins whenever a user sends a message. It resets with every new user message. Within this window, businesses can send:
  • Free-form messages (non-template, real-time responses)
  • Utility template messages
This gives businesses flexibility to engage naturally and promptly without incurring message fees during active customer conversations.

New: 72-hour free window after ad or Facebook CTA click    

When a user starts a conversation by tapping a WhatsApp ad or clicking the Send Message button on a Facebook Page, a 72-hour free messaging window is triggered.

When the user initiates contact:
  • You can reply with any free-form or template for free for 24 hours.
  • This first reply also opens a 72-hour “free window” where you can continue to message the user for free.
After the first 24 hours:
  • You can only send templates during the remaining 48 hours of the 72-hour window, but still for free.

New: Volume-based discounts for utility and authentication messages    

WhatsApp offers tier-based pricing for utility and authentication messages, with discounts increasing as your monthly message volume grows. However, the exact discount rates and volume thresholds vary by region and are updated periodically by Meta.

To ensure you always access the most current and accurate information, we recommend referring directly to Meta’s official documentation: WhatsApp Business Platform Pricing – Volume Discounts 

As your business scales messaging volumes, you can unlock better pricing automatically to improve cost efficiency.

Additional important details   

  • Charges apply only to messages successfully delivered to users.
  • Pricing varies by market and message category
  • Free-form messages can only be sent within the customer service window. Outside this window, only approved template messages can be sent.
  • The definition of utility template messages is being refined for clarity and specificity. Starting July 1, 2025:
    • Utility templates must be non-promotional and either user-requested or essential (e.g., order updates, account alerts, or safety messages).
    • Existing templates may be recategorized as utility or marketing based on this new definition. Learn more

What you should do now   

  • Review how often you use each type of template
  • Optimize message timing to leverage free 24-hour and 72-hour windows.
  • Plan your budget to account for potential changes in cost structure.

    Access your files securely from anywhere







                        Zoho Developer Community





                                              Use cases

                                              Make the most of Zoho Desk with the use cases.

                                               
                                                

                                              eBooks

                                              Download free eBooks and access a range of topics to get deeper insight on successfully using Zoho Desk.

                                               
                                                

                                              Videos

                                              Watch comprehensive videos on features and other important topics that will help you master Zoho Desk.

                                               
                                                

                                              Webinar

                                              Sign up for our webinars and learn the Zoho Desk basics, from customization to automation and more

                                               
                                                
                                              • Desk Community Learning Series


                                              • Meetups


                                              • Ask the Experts


                                              • Kbase


                                              • Resources


                                              • Glossary


                                              • Desk Marketplace


                                              • MVP Corner


                                                        • Sticky Posts

                                                        • WhatsApp pricing changes: Pay per message starting July 1, 2025

                                                          Starting July 1, 2025, WhatsApp is shifting from conversation-based pricing to per-message billing. That means every business-initiated message you send will count. Not just the first one in a 24-hour window. Pricing updates on the WhatsApp Business Platform
                                                        • Zoho Desk Partners with Microsoft's M365 Copilot for seamless customer service experiences

                                                          Hello Zoho Desk users, We are happy to announce that Zoho Desk has partnered with Microsoft's M365 to empower customer service teams with enhanced capabilities and seamless experiences for agents. Microsoft announced their partnership during their keynote
                                                        • Live Webinar - Work smarter with Zoho Desk and Zoho Workplace integration

                                                          Hello customers! Zoho Desk and Zoho Workplace are coming together for a webinar on 14th May, 2024. Zoho Workplace is a suite of productivity apps for email, chat, docs, calls, and more at one single place. Zoho Desk is closely integrated with a few tools
                                                        • Apple iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates for Zoho Desk users

                                                          Hello Zoho Desk users! Apple recently announced the release of iOS 17 and iPad OS 17. These latest OS updates will help you stay productive and efficient, through interactive and seamless user experiences. Zoho Desk has incorporated the updates to help
                                                        • Zoho Desk Cheat Sheet For The Year-End

                                                          Check out these Zoho Desk best practices to end this year on a high and have a great one ahead! #1 Set Business (Holiday) Hours - If you have limited working hours, please make sure you restrict your business hours or set them as holidays for the coming days. Let your customers know when you will, and won't, be available. #2 Update the Annual Holiday List - Check the holidays for the new year and update the holiday schedule. Usually, holidays from the current year will be carried over for the next


                                                        Manage your brands on social media



                                                              Zoho TeamInbox Resources



                                                                  Zoho CRM Plus Resources

                                                                    Zoho Books Resources


                                                                      Zoho Subscriptions Resources

                                                                        Zoho Projects Resources


                                                                          Zoho Sprints Resources


                                                                            Qntrl Resources


                                                                              Zoho Creator Resources



                                                                                  Zoho CRM Resources

                                                                                  • CRM Community Learning Series

                                                                                    CRM Community Learning Series


                                                                                  • Kaizen

                                                                                    Kaizen

                                                                                  • Functions

                                                                                    Functions

                                                                                  • Meetups

                                                                                    Meetups

                                                                                  • Kbase

                                                                                    Kbase

                                                                                  • Resources

                                                                                    Resources

                                                                                  • Digest

                                                                                    Digest

                                                                                  • CRM Marketplace

                                                                                    CRM Marketplace

                                                                                  • MVP Corner

                                                                                    MVP Corner







                                                                                      Design. Discuss. Deliver.

                                                                                      Create visually engaging stories with Zoho Show.

                                                                                      Get Started Now


                                                                                        Zoho Show Resources


                                                                                          Zoho Writer Writer

                                                                                          Get Started. Write Away!

                                                                                          Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.

                                                                                            Zoho CRM コンテンツ






                                                                                              Nederlandse Hulpbronnen


                                                                                                  ご検討中の方




                                                                                                        • Recent Topics

                                                                                                        • Pick List Issues

                                                                                                          I have created a pick list that looks at a table in a sheet, it selects the column I want fine. Various issues have come along. The option to sort the pick list is simplistic, only allows an ascending alphabetical sort. Bad luck if you want it descending.
                                                                                                        • Automate Backups

                                                                                                          This is a feature request. Consider adding an auto backup feature. Where when you turn it on, it will auto backup on the 15-day schedule. For additional consideration, allow for the export of module data via API calls. Thank you for your consideration.
                                                                                                        • Client Script Quality of Life Improvements #1

                                                                                                          Since I'm doing quite a bit of client scripting, I wanted to advise the Zoho Dev teams about some items I have found in client script that could be improved upon. A lot of these are minor, but I feel are important none-the-less. Show Error on Subform
                                                                                                        • View Linked Subscription on Invoice list

                                                                                                          When looking at the list of invoices in billing is it possible to see the subscription that an invoice is for. This would allow you to see if it's a subscription a customer is behind on, or they simply haven't paid a one time invoice.
                                                                                                        • Recording Credit Card Fees when Recording Payment for Bills

                                                                                                          It seems I am unable to record credit card fees when paying a bill. I pay close to 100% of my bills with a company credit card via online portals. I'm happy for the CC fess to be recorded as Bank Charges but it will not allow that field to be used if
                                                                                                        • Workerly/Zoho One Pricing

                                                                                                          Hi What is the pricing model that is suppose to be as a Zoho One user? If i use the services of a freelancers or temp workers (Sometimes for a few hours a week/month), I need to purchase a zoho one license for each of them as well as workerly licenc
                                                                                                        • Client Script | Update - Introducing Subform Events and Actions

                                                                                                          Are you making the most of your subforms in Zoho CRM? Do you wish you could automate subform interactions and enhance user experience effortlessly? What if you had Client APIs and events specifically designed for subforms? We are thrilled to introduce
                                                                                                        • DKIM

                                                                                                          I have my DKIM in Titan, which is another email service provider. I get this notification on my portal. What shall I do? ( Improve the deliverability of emails sent from Zoho Social by adding DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records to your DNS settings.
                                                                                                        • Automatically Hide Unauthorized Sections from Agent Interface in Zoho Desk

                                                                                                          Hello Zoho Desk Team, We hope you're doing well. We’d like to submit a feature request regarding the user experience for agents in Zoho Desk who do not have permission to access certain sections of the system. 🎯 Current Behavior At present, when an agent
                                                                                                        • Update Lead Status in Zoho CRM When a Meeting is Booked via Microsoft Bookings

                                                                                                          Hi everyone, I’m trying to streamline our lead management process and would like to automatically update the Lead Status in Zoho CRM whenever a meeting is booked through Microsoft Bookings. Has anyone successfully implemented this kind of integration
                                                                                                        • Show All Notes For A Single Record

                                                                                                          I would like to be able to view a list of all Notes for a particular record. We can add several (unlimited) Notes for the Leads, Contacts, Accounts and Potentials records. The subject line and some of the note content for up to 10 notes is visible on the first page. You can select the arrow to view additional notes in the list. I would like a button next to the New Note button that says View All. This would bring up a printable list of all notes listed in descending order by Modified Time (newest
                                                                                                        • Zoholics Europe 2025: Build Smarter with the Zoho Creator Low-code Workshop!

                                                                                                          Why should you attend? This year, Zoholics Europe 2025, Zoho’s official user conference, is your opportunity to connect directly with the teams behind the tools you use every day. Don’t miss one of the most requested sessions: dedicated, hands-on workshop
                                                                                                        • Assigning multiple roles to a user in Creator

                                                                                                          Hi I find we can assign only one role and permission to an user in creator. There is a requirement to assign multiple roles and corresponding permission to one user. Is there any solution or workaround for this? Refer the screenshot below
                                                                                                        • 【Zoho CRM】ウィザード機能のアップデート:セクション要素の追加

                                                                                                          ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。コミュニティチームの中野です。 今回は「Zoho CRM アップデート情報」の中から、ウィザード機能のアップデートをご紹介します。 ウィザード機能に新たに「セクション要素」が追加されました。 各ウィザード画面内で項目、テキスト、サブフォーム、ウィジェット要素などをより柔軟に整理できるようになりました。 セクション要素とは? ウィザードの中で、関連する項目や要素をひとつの「サブエリア」 としてまとめられる新しい構成要素です。 セクション要素活用メリット 入力内容やプロセスによっては、より細かな構造や階層化が求められる場合があります。
                                                                                                        • Edit PDFs from within your web app using Zoho Office Integrator

                                                                                                          Hi users, We are excited to introduce PDF editing capabilities in Zoho Office Integrator. You can now open, edit, and collaborate on PDFs from within your web app—in addition to documents, spreadsheets, and presentations—and save them in your configured
                                                                                                        • Zoho CRM Workflow and Function Backup Options

                                                                                                          Hi everyone! I have been able to make several backups of my CRM data and noticed that the Workflows and Functions are not included in these backups. To my knowledge, there is no backup feature for workflows and functions, which is problematic in of itself.
                                                                                                        • Default in fields on Form B based on the user selection in Form A

                                                                                                          Hi Everyone, I have added an action button to a form report to bring up a new form based on user selection, see it indicated in red below: Then when the ne form loads, I want to default in some of the fields based on the record the user was selected on.
                                                                                                        • How to turn off ability to share Knowledge-base article with social networks

                                                                                                          Is there a way to deactivate the link at the bottom of a Knowledge-base article so that it can not be shared via Facebook or Twitter?
                                                                                                        • Zoho Recruit > Job Opening Module> Editing, Deleting, Adding (Fields)

                                                                                                          Hello All In the Job Opening Modules How do i go about deleting the Positing Title or changing to Job Title or can i hide it from all? I want to add a Look Up User Field, however when i select the look up field i do not see that Can i have the industry
                                                                                                        • Can you create a lead without assigning an owner?

                                                                                                          Here is the question I have:   Is there a way I can create a bunch of leads without assigning it an owner?   What I want is for my salespeople to pick and choose their own leads without me assigning them..   right now all leads are owned by me because
                                                                                                        • On click of the Blueprint transition (Qualified or Not Qualified), the 'Convert' option should be enabled in the Lead module.

                                                                                                          On click of the Blueprint transition (Qualified or Not Qualified), the 'Convert' option should be enabled in the Lead module. console.clear(); let convertButton = ZDK.Page.getButton('convert'); let leadStatus = ZDK.Page.getField('Lead_Stage').getValue();
                                                                                                        • Interactions Tab in Zoho CRM: A 360° Omnichannel View of Every Customer Touchpoint

                                                                                                          Hello Everyone, Hope you are well! We are here today with yet another announcement in our series for the revamped Zoho CRM. Today, we introduce Interactions Tab a new way to view all customer interactions from one place inside your CRM account. Customers
                                                                                                        • Client Script for Task Module

                                                                                                          When do we expect the client script for the tasks module?
                                                                                                        • Unapproved Leaves are hard to distinguish in Attendance View

                                                                                                          This is a an unapproved leave request It appears in the Attendance view without any visual indicator if its approved or not For a whole day request this might be manageable but for hourly requests it gets very hard to know which are approved, which are
                                                                                                        • Send emails directly via Cases module

                                                                                                          Greetings all, The ability to send emails from the Cases module, which users have been eagerly anticipating, is now available, just like in the other modules. In Zoho CRM, Cases is a module specifically designed for managing support tickets. If your organization
                                                                                                        • How can I see the actual copy sent to the specific contact?

                                                                                                          I have setup a journey in Marketing Automation and created addition of contact in a specific list as the trigger, emails are sending to the contacts, but I can't see the actual copy sent to any specific contact in the list. Please guide me, where can
                                                                                                        • Bug - Incorrect example in the documentation

                                                                                                          I found an issue in the Zoho API documentation. The example "Sample Request" on this page is incorrect — it shows the example for "Get Email Attachment Info" instead of "Get Email Attachment Content". Wrong example: curl "https://mail.zoho.com/api/accounts/12345678/folders/9000000002014/messages/1710915488416100001/attachmentinfo"
                                                                                                        • Power of Automation :: Dynamically generate Tasklists based on values selected in Task Custom Fields

                                                                                                          Hello Everyone, A custom function is a software code that can be used to automate a process and this allows you to automate a notification, call a webhook, or perform logic immediately after a workflow rule is triggered. This feature helps to automate
                                                                                                        • WhatsApp Enhancements to Boost Customer Engagement

                                                                                                          We're excited to introduce a series of powerful enhancements to the WhatsApp integration in Zoho FSM, making customer interactions faster, smarter, and more actionable—right from your Zoho FSM interface. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new: Try It Out
                                                                                                        • Store reviews module just got smarter in Zoho Apptics

                                                                                                          Hello, Apptics community! Every app deserves better visibility in the marketplace, and reviews play a crucial role in improving your app's App Store Optimization (ASO), rankings, and credibility across stores. That's why we've rolled out a set of enhancements
                                                                                                        • Empowered Custom Views: Cross-Module Criteria Now Supported in Zoho CRM

                                                                                                          Hello everyone, We’re excited to introduce cross-module criteria support in custom views! Custom views provide personalized perspectives on your data and that you can save for future use. You can share these views with all users or specific individuals
                                                                                                        • Find and Merge Duplicates to trigger webhook

                                                                                                          My sales team uses the Find and Merge Duplicates feature often to cleanup records in the CRM. We use webhooks to signal to our internal tools database when new Contacts are created, updated, or deleted, in order to keep our DB in sync with Zoho CRM. However,
                                                                                                        • Balance Sheet - Zoho Analytics

                                                                                                          Hi Team, I’m looking to implement a feature that captures the conversion rate based on the filters applied. By default, it should fetch the most recent conversion rate, and when a filter (such as a timeline filter) is applied, it should return the conversion
                                                                                                        • Try CRM for everyone button in the way of workflow

                                                                                                          Please consider using the bottom bar for offers. Using the top bar for offers like "Try CRM for everyone" really gets in the way of my day to day workflow.
                                                                                                        • Rich Text For Notes in Zoho CRM

                                                                                                          Hello everyone, As you know, notes are essential for recording information and ensuring smooth communication across your records. With our latest update, you can now use Rich Text formatting to organize and structure your notes more efficiently. By using
                                                                                                        • Include EVERYTHING in Language Files

                                                                                                          Hey, we are building out a system, that needs to be translated. The language files lack a few things though. 1. Blueprint names 2. Canvas View elements like tab names 3. ... Please include everything into these files, otherwise it's not really a multi
                                                                                                        • is it possible to add more than one Whatsapp Phone Number to be integrated to Zoho CRM?

                                                                                                          so I have successfully added one Whatsapp number like this from this User Interface it seems I can't add a new Whatsapp Number. I need to add a new Whatsapp Number so I can control the lead assignment if a chat sent to Whatsapp Phone Number 1 then assign
                                                                                                        • A way to create kits (groups of items) that do not require bundling and are added to an order as the individual items

                                                                                                          We are evaluating moving off of Sage BusinessWorks (which handles accounting, order entry, inventory control, accounts receivable, etc) to Zoho Books/Inventory. One of the things we heavily use is a feature called Kits, which allows creating a group of
                                                                                                        • Using Zoho Inventory for managing Item compatibilities

                                                                                                          Use case: Using Zoho Inventory for managing (as an example) aftermarket car parts, where a single part can suit many makes, models and years. How do most businesses assign and manage compatibility for each part? Do ZI users typically do this using multi-select
                                                                                                        • Allocating Salesman To Customer

                                                                                                          Hello, please add a feature to allocate a salesman to a particular business customer/account. Regards
                                                                                                        • Next Page