Phone call or WhatsApp: how to compare the cost of each contact after Meta's October 2026 pricing change
Since October 2026 Meta also charges for WhatsApp service messages. How to compare that cost with a voice agent call, step by step.
What changed in October 2026
Meta already charged for WhatsApp templates such as reminders. Since October 1, 2026 it also charges for service messages, the replies inside the 24-hour window. Meta bills the business's own portfolio directly at its current rate per country; that charge isn't part of Wenzy's price.
What each channel bills
| Contact | Who bills | How it's billed |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp template (reminder, campaign) | Meta | Per message, at Meta's current rate for the country |
| WhatsApp service message (reply within 24 hours) | Meta | Per message since October 1, 2026, at its current rate |
| Wenzy AI reply | Wenzy | Counts as an AI message of the plan |
| Voice agent call | Wenzy | Prepaid balance per started minute, from US$0.18/min; unanswered calls are free |
How to compare step by step
- 1Count the messages in a typical conversationReminder, customer reply, rescheduling and confirmation: each business message is a Meta charge.
- 2Look up Meta's rate for your countryCheck WhatsApp Business Platform's official pricing table for your market.
- 3Estimate the same conversation as a callAverage call minutes times the country's outbound rate.
- 4Add what doesn't changeAI replies count as plan messages either way, and the voice number has a monthly fee.
When each channel tends to fit
- WhatsApp: short confirmations, details customers want in writing and customers who reply to messages.
- Call: conversations with several back-and-forths, customers who don't read messages and topics that are easier to talk through.
- Both: a reminder call with a WhatsApp fallback when nobody answers.
Reference voice rates
| Country | Inbound | Outbound |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | US$0.18/min | US$0.45/min |
| Bolivia | US$0.20/min | US$0.85/min |
| Brazil | US$0.18/min | US$0.18/min |
| Chile | US$0.18/min | US$0.35/min |
| Colombia | US$0.25/min | US$0.18/min |
| Costa Rica | US$0.18/min | US$0.45/min |
| Dominican Republic | US$0.18/min | US$0.40/min |
| Ecuador | US$0.18/min | US$0.75/min |
| El Salvador | US$0.18/min | US$0.35/min |
| Guatemala | US$0.18/min | US$0.50/min |
| Honduras | US$0.18/min | US$0.45/min |
| Mexico | US$0.18/min | US$0.18/min |
| Panama | US$0.18/min | US$0.70/min |
| Paraguay | US$0.18/min | US$0.45/min |
| Peru | US$0.18/min | US$0.18/min |
| Puerto Rico | US$0.18/min | US$0.18/min |
| United States | US$0.18/min | US$0.18/min |
| Uruguay | US$0.40/min | Not available |
| Venezuela | US$0.18/min | Not available |
| Your own line (SIP trunk), any country | US$0.18/min | US$0.18/min |
Frequently asked questions
Does Wenzy bill Meta's WhatsApp messages?
No. Meta bills the business's portfolio directly for templates and, since October 1, 2026, for service messages.
Does an unanswered call cost anything?
No. Wenzy only bills minutes on answered calls, per started minute.
Do AI replies count toward the plan?
Yes. Every AI reply counts as a plan message, and so does every WhatsApp campaign send.
Where do I see what each call cost?
In the inbox: every call shows its cost, and the statement downloads as Excel or PDF.
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