Almost every quote you receive for a WhatsApp chatbot covers the build and goes quiet on what it costs to run. That second number is the one that decides whether the project makes sense.
The three costs
A WhatsApp chatbot has a build cost, a per-conversation cost paid to Meta, and a model usage cost. Only the first is a one-off.
- Build: ₹45,000–₹2,00,000 depending on integrations and languages
- Meta conversation charges: billed per 24-hour conversation window, varying by category
- Model usage: typically ₹2,000–₹8,000 a month for an SMB volume
- Hosting and monitoring: ₹1,500–₹5,000 a month
Why the conversation window matters
Meta bills per 24-hour conversation window, not per message. A bot that resolves an enquiry in twelve messages costs the same as one that takes three. This changes how you should design the flow — optimise for resolution, not brevity.
What we'd tell you before quoting
Ask any supplier for a modelled monthly cost at your actual expected volume before you sign. If they cannot produce one, they have not built enough of these to know.