Pricing Guide

WhatsApp API Pricing in Kenya

Understanding WhatsApp Business API conversation-based pricing for Kenya businesses.

How WhatsApp API Pricing Works

WhatsApp API pricing has two components. You pay a platform fee to App-ening plus per-conversation charges to Meta (WhatsApp). Here’s how it breaks down:

🏠

Part 1: Platform Fee

Monthly subscription to App-ening for inbox, campaigns, automation, CRM, and all platform features. Starts at $0 (Free plan).

💬

Part 2: WhatsApp Charges

Per-conversation charges set by Meta. Rates vary by conversation category and your country. Billed from your wallet balance.

Total Cost = Platform Fee + (Conversations × Per-Conversation Rate)

1,000 free service conversations per month when customers message you first

Conversation Categories & Rates

Meta charges different rates depending on who initiates the conversation and its purpose:

Category Who Initiates Use Case Cost Level
MarketingYou (business)Promotions, offers, campaignsHighest
UtilityYou (business)Order updates, reminders, notificationsMedium
AuthenticationYou (business)OTP, verification codesLow
ServiceCustomerSupport, inquiries1,000 free/mo

Example Cost Calculations

Small Business

100 conversations/month

  • Platform: Free plan ($0)
  • 50 service convos: Free
  • 30 utility convos: ~$1-3
  • 20 marketing convos: ~$2-5

Est. total: $3-8/month

Growing Business

2,000 conversations/month

  • Platform: Pro plan ($99)
  • 800 service convos: Free (up to 1K)
  • 700 utility convos: ~$20-50
  • 500 marketing convos: ~$30-75

Est. total: $149-224/month

Enterprise

10,000+ conversations/month

  • Platform: Business ($470)
  • 1,000 service convos: Free
  • 5,000 utility convos: ~$150-300
  • 4,000 marketing convos: ~$250-500

Est. total: $870-1,270/month

Tips to Reduce Costs

Maximise service conversations

1,000 free customer-initiated convos/month. Use QR codes and chat links to encourage customers to message you first.

Use utility over marketing

Utility templates cost less. Use them for order updates, reminders, and confirmations.

Segment your audience

Don’t blast everyone. Target engaged contacts for marketing campaigns to maximise ROI.

Reply within 24 hours

Keep conversations within the 24-hour window to avoid opening new paid conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a conversation window?
A conversation is a 24-hour messaging session. Once opened (by you or the customer), all messages within that 24-hour window count as one conversation.
Are service conversations really free?
Yes. The first 1,000 service conversations per month (where the customer messages you first) are free. This resets monthly.
Does App-ening charge extra on top of Meta rates?
No markup on Meta conversation charges. You pay the exact Meta rate. App-ening charges only the platform subscription fee.
How do I add funds to my wallet?
Go to Billing → Wallet → Top Up. Pay via M-Pesa, card, bank transfer. Auto-recharge is available on all paid plans.
Where can I see exact per-conversation rates for Kenya?
Meta publishes official rates at business.whatsapp.com/products/platform-pricing. Rates vary by country and are updated periodically.

Start with Our Free Plan

No credit card required. Upgrade when you’re ready.

Get Started FreeView All Plans