South Africa ยท WhatsApp Fees
How WhatsApp messaging pricing works
Clear breakdown of message categories, free windows, and volume discount rules so your team can forecast spend with confidence.
Per-message rates (USD)
Current South Africa rate snapshot
Rate comparison
Visual cost difference by message type
Message categories
What gets charged and what does not
| Type | Use case | Billing | Volume tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Promotions, offers, re-engagement | Always charged | No discount |
| Utility | Order and service updates | Free in 24h | Up to 25% off |
| Authentication | OTP and login verification | Always charged | Up to 25% off |
| Auth-International | OTP from non-SA WABA to +27 users | Always charged | No tiering |
| Service | Free-form support replies inside 24h | Always free | N/A |
Volume tiers
Utility + authentication monthly discounts
Tiers reset monthly and are graduated by volume.
| Tier | Messages/month | Discount | Utility | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 - 100,000 | List rate | $0.0076 | $0.0076 |
| Tier 2 | 100,001 - 500,000 | -5% | $0.0072 | $0.0072 |
| Tier 3 | 500,001 - 2,000,000 | -10% | $0.0068 | $0.0068 |
| Tier 4 | 2,000,001 - 5,000,000 | -15% | $0.0065 | $0.0065 |
| Tier 5 | 5,000,001 - 10,000,000 | -20% | $0.0061 | $0.0061 |
| Tier 6 | 10,000,001+ | -25% | $0.0057 | $0.0057 |
Marketing has no volume discount. Counts aggregate across all WABAs in your business portfolio.
Free windows
When messaging can be free
24-hour customer service window
When a customer messages you, a 24-hour timer starts. Service replies and utility templates inside this active window can be free.
72-hour free entry point window
When a user enters via Click-to-WhatsApp ads, messages can be free for 72 hours while the service window remains active.