Why is WhatsApp asking me to pay for a broadcast?
Because business broadcasts are a paid feature once you've used up the free messages that come with them. WhatsApp's help pages say that after your free messages, you need to add a payment method and available funds to send more.
ShoaibUpdated 3 min read
What exactly am I paying for?
Per message delivered — not per broadcast. WhatsApp states you only pay for each message delivered to a contact within five days of being sent.
The money side works like a hold at a hotel:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| You select contacts | Funds are reserved for the total number selected |
| Messages deliver | You're charged for those |
| Some fail to deliver | Those funds are credited back to you |
Is there a free option?
WhatsApp says you can subscribe to Meta Verified to get free messages along with other benefits. It also notes that business broadcasts are currently available in limited countries, so not everyone will see the feature at all.
Why did this used to be free?
Ordinary broadcast lists in the WhatsApp Business app — sending to people who have your number saved — are a different feature from paid business broadcasts. Marketing messages were renamed business broadcasts in some countries, and that's the paid product.
Should I pay for it, or advertise instead?
They do different jobs. A broadcast reaches people who already gave you their number. An ad reaches people who haven't heard of you yet.
If your list is small, the cheaper fix is usually getting more people onto it — see how to run WhatsApp ads and whether WhatsApp marketing works.
Is this the same as the WhatsApp API?
No — the API is a separate platform with its own pricing, for businesses sending at volume or connecting systems. See WhatsApp Business app or API.
Want WhatsApp set up to actually sell? See our WhatsApp API service.