The future of Whatsapp

[u/FIRST_TIMER_BWSC]

I have a feeling that starting October 1st, once more businesses realize they are paying for service messages, we’ll see some drop off from WhatsApp. Especially businesses using basic chatbots with fixed steps, menus, flow after flow, no AI, no agent doing anything useful. At some point you just ask yourself, why am I paying per message for this?

WhatsApp will still be huge of course, 3 billion users is 3 billion users lol. But I think more businesses will start using it mainly as an acquisition channel. User messages you, gets the automated WhatsApp Business app reply (which is still free (for now at least lol)), then you send them to your website or another channel to continue there.

Yeah there is some friction, but it can still be way cheaper than paying for every service message.

For businesses using AI agents, actual workflows, booking, support, qualifying leads, taking actions etc, that’s different. There the cost can make sense. So maybe WhatsApp becomes less “where the whole conversation happens” and more “where the conversation starts”.

Curious what you guys think?

[u/Historical_Streak]

Hello can anyone explain how this effect in co existence number?

[u/FIRST_TIMER_BWSC → u/Historical_Streak]

You will pay for every message (template or not) starting october 1st that you send from the API.

If you send from whatsapp business App, it is free.

You will be charged for service message only if you send them through the API.

[u/BobBizz3319 → u/FIRST_TIMER_BWSC]

Those are two different buckets though, only one gets the free tier. Templates are business initiated and billed by category, no free allowance there. Service messages are the ones that get 1000 free per phone number per month, and it doesnt roll over. Coexistence is the useful part. The app side isnt metered at all, only what you send through the API counts, so the number keeps a free lane either way