Last updated: February 2026
What Is Wati?
Wati (WhatsApp Team Inbox) is a WhatsApp Business API platform that helps small and mid-sized businesses automate their WhatsApp communication. It provides a shared inbox for team collaboration, no-code chatbot builders, broadcast messaging, and integrations with popular business tools. If your customers prefer WhatsApp over email (common in markets across Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Europe), Wati gives you the infrastructure to manage those conversations at scale without building anything custom.
Key Features
- Shared Team Inbox: Multiple agents can handle WhatsApp conversations from a single dashboard. Assign conversations, track response times, add internal notes, and manage team workload across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and web chat.
- No-Code Chatbot Builder: Visual drag-and-drop builder for creating automated WhatsApp flows. Design welcome sequences, FAQ bots, appointment booking flows, and qualification workflows without writing any code.
- Broadcast Campaigns: Send targeted WhatsApp messages to segmented contact lists. Personalize messages with variables (name, order ID, custom fields) and schedule sends for optimal timing. Track delivery, read, click, and reply rates.
- Official WhatsApp API Access: Wati is an official Meta Business Partner, so you get verified API access with blue tick onboarding support, ensuring your business number is recognized and trusted.
- Template Message Management: Create, submit, and manage WhatsApp message templates directly from the Wati dashboard. Templates require Meta approval before use, and Wati simplifies that process.
- Commerce Integrations: Connect to Shopify, WooCommerce, and other e-commerce platforms to send order confirmations, shipping updates, and abandoned cart recovery messages via WhatsApp.
- Analytics Dashboard: Track conversation volumes, response times, agent performance, broadcast results, and chatbot engagement metrics in real time.
- 100+ App Integrations: Native connections to Google Sheets, Zoho, HubSpot, Salesforce, and many others. Zapier and webhook support for custom workflows.
Pricing
Wati offers three plans. The Growth plan starts at $49 per month (billed annually) or $69 per month on monthly billing. It includes 5 users, 1,000 chatbot sessions per month, and basic broadcast features. The Pro plan runs $99 per month (annual) or $149 per month (monthly) and adds advanced chatbot capabilities, more user seats, and deeper analytics. The Business plan costs $279 per month (annual) or $349 per month (monthly) and unlocks everything, including advanced automation, priority support, and custom integrations. Important note: all plans charge additional per-message fees based on WhatsApp's conversation-based pricing, which varies by recipient country and message type. Extra user seats, chatbot sessions beyond your allocation, and certain integrations (like Shopify) may also add to your bill.
What We Like
- Official Meta Business Partner status means reliable API access and blue tick verification support
- The no-code chatbot builder is genuinely easy to use and handles most common automation scenarios
- Shared inbox works well for teams managing high volumes of WhatsApp conversations
- Broadcast segmentation and personalization features are solid for marketing campaigns
- Fast onboarding process, typically up and running within a day or two
- Multi-channel support (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, web chat) from one dashboard
What Could Be Better
- The real cost is higher than advertised because per-message fees, extra seats, and chatbot session overages add up
- Customer support quality is inconsistent based on user reviews, with some reporting slow response times
- Advanced workflow automations are locked behind the higher-tier plans
- The pricing structure is complex, making it hard to predict your actual monthly spend
- Billing practices have drawn some complaints from users regarding unexpected charges
Who Should Use Wati?
Wati is built for small to mid-sized businesses where WhatsApp is a primary customer communication channel. E-commerce brands using WhatsApp for order updates, abandoned cart recovery, and customer support will get the most value. Service businesses (healthcare clinics, real estate agencies, restaurants) that handle appointment bookings and inquiries via WhatsApp will also benefit. If you operate in markets where WhatsApp dominates (India, Brazil, Indonesia, Middle East), Wati is practically a necessity for scaling your customer communication.
Who Should Skip Wati?
If your customer base primarily uses email or SMS rather than WhatsApp, Wati will not add much value. Large enterprises with complex automation requirements and high message volumes should evaluate alternatives like Twilio, MessageBird, or Infobip that offer more flexibility at scale. Businesses on a tight budget should carefully model their per-message costs before committing, as the base subscription is just the starting point.
Does Wati provide a WhatsApp number, or do I need my own?
Wati can help you register your existing business phone number with the WhatsApp Business API, or you can get a new number through them. You will need a phone number that is not already linked to a personal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app account. Porting your existing number is possible but requires disconnecting it from your current WhatsApp account first.
How much do WhatsApp messages actually cost through Wati?
WhatsApp uses conversation-based pricing that varies by country and message type. As of mid-2025, WhatsApp shifted to per-message pricing. Costs depend on the recipient's country code and whether the message is marketing, utility, authentication, or service-related. Wati adds a small markup on top of Meta's base pricing. For accurate cost estimates, use Wati's pricing calculator with your specific country and message volume.
Can Wati handle automated replies outside business hours?
Yes. The chatbot builder lets you set up automated responses for off-hours inquiries, including greeting messages, FAQ answers, and lead capture forms. You can configure different flows based on time of day, so customers get immediate acknowledgment even when your team is offline.
Does Wati support WhatsApp catalogs and product messages?
Yes. Wati supports WhatsApp catalog integration, allowing you to showcase products directly within WhatsApp conversations. Combined with Shopify or WooCommerce integrations, you can create interactive shopping experiences where customers browse products, ask questions, and complete purchases without leaving the chat.
Our Verdict
Wati is one of the most accessible WhatsApp Business API platforms for SMBs. The shared inbox, chatbot builder, and broadcast features cover the essentials well, and the official Meta partnership provides peace of mind. The main concern is pricing transparency. The base subscription looks affordable, but per-message fees, extra seats, and chatbot session limits can push your actual bill well beyond what you initially expected. Before committing, calculate your expected message volume, user count, and integration needs to get a realistic cost estimate. If WhatsApp is a critical channel for your business and you want to move beyond manually replying to every message, Wati is a solid starting point. Just go in with your eyes open about the true total cost.
Try Wati free
