How Wati works today
From the Wati pricing page (accessed September 27, 2026):
- Official WhatsApp API. Onboarding requires admin access to your Meta Business Manager, and Meta's messaging fees apply by country and message type.
- Plans by team size and usage. Growth, Pro and Business, each with a set number of users, active contacts, broadcasts, automation triggers and AI credits.
- Regional pricing. The price shown depends on the visitor's region, so we don't quote a number here.
- Trial. 7-day free trial, no setup fees.
Wati and D-API side by side
| Criteria | Wati | D-API |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | No-code platform (inbox, broadcasts, chatbots) | WhatsApp API for developers and automation tools |
| Connection type | Official WhatsApp API | Official WhatsApp API (Meta Cloud API) and unofficial (QR code or pairing code) |
| What drives the price | Plan tier, users, active contacts and usage limits, plus Meta fees | Number of connections; no per-message fees on the unofficial WhatsApp API |
| Built-in team inbox | Yes | No; connect your own helpdesk |
| Trial | 7 days | 3 days, no credit card |
| WhatsApp voice calls (VoIP) | Check with the vendor | Included at no extra cost (bonus) |
When to choose Wati
- Your support or marketing team needs a ready-made inbox and broadcast tool, with no engineering work.
- You want chatbots and automations inside the same product as the inbox.
- You only need the official WhatsApp API.
When to choose D-API
- WhatsApp is a feature of your product. Your software sends, receives and reacts to messages through the API. See WhatsApp API for SaaS.
- You don't want to pay per seat or per contact. D-API bills per connection, and the tier price drops as you add connections. See pricing.
- You need the unofficial WhatsApp API too. Connect a number already in use by QR code, reach groups, and keep the official channel for templates, all with the same send routes. Compare in official vs unofficial API.
- You already have an inbox. Connect D-API to it; see the Chatwoot integration.
Moving from Wati to D-API
- List what Wati does for you today: inbox, broadcasts, chatbots, integrations. Decide what moves into your product, what goes to an existing helpdesk and what goes to an automation tool.
- Pick the connection type per number. Official numbers become sessions of type
cloud_api; numbers that don't need templates can connect asunofficial. - Recreate your templates in your Meta account and send them through
POST /api/v1/messages/send/template. Moving an official number between providers follows Meta's rules, so confirm the process with both sides first. - Receive events by webhook, with retries and exponential backoff. See WhatsApp webhooks.
D-API is a WhatsApp API with the official and unofficial models in one integration. See also the 360dialog alternative and the WhatsApp AI chatbot guide. The 3-day free trial needs no credit card.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wati a WhatsApp API?
Wati is a customer engagement platform built on the official WhatsApp API: a shared inbox, broadcasts, chatbots and automations. D-API is an API first: it has no inbox of its own and is meant to be built into your product or connected to the tools you already use.
How much does Wati cost?
Wati sells Growth, Pro and Business plans, and its pricing page adjusts prices by region, so check the current price for your country on their site. Meta’s messaging fees are charged on top and vary by country and message type.
How does D-API pricing compare?
D-API charges per connection, not per user or per contact. On the unofficial WhatsApp API that is the whole bill: $15.00 per connection from 1 to 9, $9.90 at 10 and $8.75 from 11 to 50, with no per-message fees. On the official WhatsApp API, Meta’s fees still apply because Meta sets them.
Can I use D-API with a team inbox?
Yes, by connecting it to a helpdesk or inbox you already use. Chatwoot, for example, can run on top of D-API. If you want a ready-made inbox with no integration work, a platform like Wati fits better.
Do I need a verified Meta Business Manager on D-API?
Only for the official WhatsApp API, where Meta’s rules apply to every provider. The unofficial WhatsApp API connects a number by QR code or pairing code, without a Meta business account.