WhatsApp marketing in India: the complete guide
Quick answer: WhatsApp marketing in India means sending offers, reminders and updates to customers who opted in, through the official WhatsApp Business API. A business needs a Meta Business account, a phone number for the API and Meta-approved templates. Meta charges per delivered message (about ₹0.86 for marketing and ₹0.12 for utility, plus GST); replies inside the 24-hour customer window are free.
By Feb Tech IT Solutions Pvt Ltd · Updated 2026-10-13
Key terms
- WhatsApp Business API (Cloud API): Meta’s official interface for businesses to message customers at scale, used through tools like Chitthi.
- Message template: a pre-approved message (text, image or PDF, buttons) needed to start a conversation or message someone after 24 hours.
- Template categories: marketing (offers, promotions), utility (order or payment updates, reminders) and authentication (OTP codes).
- 24-hour customer service window: after a customer messages you, you can reply freely for 24 hours; these replies are free.
- Messaging limit: how many new customers your number can message in 24 hours. It starts low and rises as you send good-quality messages.
- Quality rating: green, yellow or red, based on how customers react (blocks, reports). Low quality can lower your limit.
- Opt-in: the customer’s permission to receive your WhatsApp messages. Meta requires it.
What WhatsApp messages cost in India
| Message type | Typical use | Meta charge (India, approx.) |
|---|
| Marketing template | Offers, festival greetings, new products | ≈ ₹0.86 per delivered message + GST |
| Utility template | Order updates, payment reminders, appointments | ≈ ₹0.12 per delivered message + GST |
| Authentication template | Login and verification codes (OTP) | ≈ ₹0.12 per delivered message + GST |
| Replies within 24 hours | Answering a customer who wrote to you | Free |
| Failed messages | Number not on WhatsApp, held by Meta | Free |
Meta sets and changes these rates; check Meta’s current rate card. Chitthi shows the estimated cost before every campaign and adds no markup.
How to start WhatsApp marketing (step by step)
- 1. Create or use your Meta (Facebook) Business account.
- 2. Pick a phone number that is not active on the normal WhatsApp app and connect it to the WhatsApp Business API, for example through Chitthi.
- 3. Set your business display name, logo and description.
- 4. Write your first templates and get them approved by Meta (usually minutes).
- 5. Import your opted-in customers from Excel and tag them into groups.
- 6. Send a small first campaign, check delivery and replies, then grow.
- 7. Switch on a chatbot so replies are answered instantly, 24×7.
Rules that keep your number safe
- Message only people who agreed to hear from you; give an easy STOP option.
- Don’t send the same promotion again and again; Meta may hold back marketing messages to people who get too many (error 131049).
- Remove numbers that are not on WhatsApp (error 131026) from your list.
- Watch your quality rating; pause and fix if many messages fail or customers block you.
- Use utility templates for real updates, not for promotions.
Ideas that work for Indian businesses
- Clinics: appointment reminders and follow-up checks
- Coaching institutes: batch start dates, fee reminders, results
- Shops and restaurants: festival offers, new arrivals, order updates
- Real estate and loans: new listings, document checklists, callback requests
Questions, answered
WhatsApp par bulk message kaise bheje bina number ban hue?
Official WhatsApp Business API use karein, jaise Chitthi. Sirf unhi customers ko bhejein jinhone permission di ho, Meta-approved template use karein, aur STOP bolne walon ko list se hata dein.
WhatsApp marketing ka kharcha kitna hai?
India mein Meta har delivered marketing message ka lagbhag ₹0.86 + GST leta hai, utility message ka lagbhag ₹0.12 + GST. 24 ghante ke andar customer ko diye gaye reply free hain. Chitthi ka plan ₹1,999 mahina hai.
Is WhatsApp marketing legal in India?
Yes, when you use the official WhatsApp Business API, message people who opted in, and let them opt out. Unofficial bulk-sending tools break WhatsApp’s terms.
Which is the best WhatsApp marketing tool for small businesses in India?
Look for the official API, rupee pricing without per-message markup, a team inbox, a chatbot and Hindi support. Chitthi offers all of these from ₹1,999 a month, with setup help from Feb Tech.
Get started · Pricing · WhatsApp Business API · Bulk WhatsApp messages · WhatsApp chatbot · WhatsApp marketing guide · About · Contact
Feb Tech IT Solutions Pvt Ltd, Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 247667, India · +91-74094-58821 · rajat@febtech.in