Meta's per-message pricing for Singapore
Since July 2025, Meta charges per template message delivered. Free-form replies within a customer-initiated service window remain free and unlimited.
Singapore rates (current as of April 2026)
| Message type | When it's charged | USD per message | SGD (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Promotional template | $0.0732 | ~S$0.07 |
| Utility | Transactional template (outside service window) | $0.0113 | ~S$0.02 |
| Authentication | Verification code | $0.0113 | ~S$0.02 |
| Service | Customer messages first, you reply within 24h | Free | |
What this looks like at scale
| Monthly volume | Message mix | Estimated monthly cost (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 templates | 200 marketing, 200 utility, 100 service | ~S$18 |
| 2,000 templates | 800 marketing, 800 utility, 400 service | ~S$72 |
| 10,000 templates | 4,000 marketing, 4,000 utility, 2,000 service | ~S$360 |
BSP platform fees compared
| Provider | Starting price | Users | Per-message markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respond.io Starter | ~$79/mo | 5 | Zero markup |
| Respond.io Growth | ~$159/mo | 10 | Zero markup |
| SleekFlow Pro AI | ~$154/mo + $15/WA number | 3 | Meta pass-through |
| SleekFlow Premium AI | ~$367/mo + $15/WA number | 5 | Meta pass-through |
| Voltade (Envoy) | ~$99/mo | Varies | Bundled |
| Moobicast | Custom | Varies | Not disclosed |
| Twilio | No monthly fee | N/A (API) | $0.005 per message |
| Cloud API (direct) | Free | N/A (API) | None |
Total cost of ownership: the full picture
Path 1: BSP self-service
| Cost item | Typical range (SGD) |
|---|---|
| BSP platform (monthly) | $105 to $400/mo |
| Meta message charges (monthly) | $18 to $360+ |
| Chatbot/automation setup | You build it (your time) |
| Year 1 total (est.) | $1,600 to $11,000+ |
Path 2: Cloud API with in-house developer
| Cost item | Typical range (SGD) |
|---|---|
| Custom app development | $7,000 to $27,000+ (one-time) |
| Hosting and infrastructure | $50 to $200/mo |
| Ongoing maintenance | $500 to $2,000/mo |
| Year 1 total (est.) | $14,000 to $60,000+ |
Path 3: Implementation agency (like DoubleAM)
We don't publish fixed pricing because every business needs a different scope. Some clients need a simple appointment-booking chatbot. Others need a multi-step lead qualification flow integrated with three systems. Chat with us on WhatsApp and we'll give you a straight number for your setup.
How to reduce your WhatsApp API costs
- Drive inbound service conversations. Service messages are free. Encourage inbound messages through website chat widgets, QR codes on receipts, and “Message us on WhatsApp” CTAs.
- Segment your broadcasts. Don't blast your entire list with every campaign. Marketing messages are the most expensive category at ~S$0.07 each.
- Send utility messages within service windows. Utility templates sent within an active 24-hour service window are free.
- Use utility templates instead of marketing templates where appropriate. Order confirmations and appointment reminders are utility (~S$0.02) not marketing (~S$0.07).