There are hundreds of companies in India selling WhatsApp Business API access. Their websites look similar, their feature lists look similar, and their prices are hard to compare. These nine questions will tell you more in a 20-minute call than any brochure.
1. Is it the official WhatsApp Business API?
This comes first because everything else depends on it. Ask whether the provider is a Meta Business Solution Provider or works through one. Then ask to see the account inside your own Meta Business Suite after setup.
Software that sends bulk messages from ordinary WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app numbers is not the API. It is cheaper for a few weeks, until the number gets banned.
2. Whose name is the account in?
Your WhatsApp Business account should sit inside your Meta Business portfolio, verified under your company name. If it is created inside the provider's portfolio, moving away later becomes slow and painful. A good provider will be happy to set it up under your ownership.
3. What exactly will I pay per message?
Ask for the per-message rate for each category (marketing, utility, authentication and service) in writing, in rupees, and whether GST is extra. Then compare it with Meta's own rate for India. A margin is normal. A rate that changes every month without notice is not.
We explain the full cost structure, with worked examples, in WhatsApp Business API pricing in India.
4. Who handles verification and templates?
Meta business verification, display name approval and template approval are where most first-time setups get stuck. Ask who does this work, how long it usually takes, and what happens if a template gets rejected. "We will send you a guide" is a different answer from "we will do it with you".
5. How many people can use the inbox?
Once customers start replying, your team needs a shared inbox. Ask how many agents are included, whether chats can be assigned to a person, and whether you can see who replied and how fast. Paying per extra agent can change the real price a lot.
6. Can I build a chatbot without a developer?
Look for a drag-and-drop flow builder for common jobs: answering FAQs, collecting lead details, booking appointments and routing chats to the right person. Ask for a live demo of a flow being built, not a screenshot.
7. Does it connect to the tools I already use?
List your tools before the call: your website forms, Shopify or WooCommerce store, Google Sheets, Razorpay, your CRM. Ask which ones connect out of the box and which need custom work. A lead that comes in on WhatsApp should not have to be typed into a spreadsheet by hand.
8. How do I reach support, and how fast?
Ask for the support channel and the usual response time. When a campaign is stuck or a template is rejected on a Friday evening, a ticket queue with a 48-hour reply is not support. A provider who supports you on WhatsApp is at least using their own product.
9. Is there a lock-in contract?
Ask about the minimum term, the notice period and how you export your contacts and chat history if you leave. Monthly plans with no lock-in are common now. If a provider insists on a 12-month prepaid contract before you have sent a single campaign, ask why.
Red flags to walk away from
- "Unlimited free messages." Meta charges every provider per message, so someone pays.
- No Meta business verification needed, ever.
- Your messages go out from a number you do not own.
- No written price for messages, or prices only in dollars with no INR plan.
- No invoice with GST, or payment only to a personal account.
A simple way to compare
Put two or three providers in a table with the same rows: plan fee, per-message rates, agents included, setup help, integrations, support channel and contract term. The cheapest plan is often not the cheapest bill once messages and extra agents are added.
If you want a second opinion on a quote you have received, send it to us on WhatsApp. We will tell you honestly whether it is fair, even if you do not choose us.
Frequently asked questions
What is a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP)?
A BSP is a company approved by Meta to give businesses access to the WhatsApp Business Platform. Your provider should either be a BSP or work through one, so your account runs on the official API.
Can I switch WhatsApp API providers later?
Yes. Your number and WhatsApp Business account can be migrated to another provider. Check before signing that the account is created in your own Meta Business portfolio, which makes the move much easier.
Is it safe to use cheap bulk WhatsApp software?
Tools that send bulk messages from normal WhatsApp numbers break WhatsApp's terms. Numbers used this way are regularly banned, and you lose every chat on them. Use the official API for any business messaging at volume.
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