Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, is set to introduce charges for businesses sending certain messages through the WhatsApp Business Platform from October 1, 2026.
The new WhatsApp messaging charges will affect companies using the platform, formerly known as the WhatsApp Business API, for large-scale customer communication.
According to the report, sectors such as banks, fintech companies, telecommunications firms, logistics providers and major e-commerce platforms are among those expected to be affected by the policy.
What the new WhatsApp charges mean for businesses
The Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the new pricing model will apply to service and utility messages sent by businesses, including transactional updates, payment confirmations, order-status notifications and delivery alerts.
Meta said businesses must have a valid payment method linked to their accounts by September 30, 2026, to avoid possible disruption to message delivery when the new charges take effect.
For businesses operating in Nigeria, a chargeable service or utility message is expected to cost approximately $0.0101, equivalent to about ₦14, while marketing messages will cost around $0.062, or approximately ₦84, per message.
However, ordinary WhatsApp users and small businesses using the free WhatsApp Business mobile application will not be affected by the changes.
Businesses prepare for new messaging costs
The development is expected to increase the cost of digital customer communication for companies that rely heavily on WhatsApp to send notifications and engage customers.
Businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform have therefore been advised to review their accounts and payment arrangements before the September 30 deadline.
The policy marks another change to the way Meta charges businesses for commercial communication on WhatsApp, with companies expected to factor the new per-message fees into their customer-service and marketing operations.
