Conversation-based pricing
Conversation-based pricing charges per customer exchange rather than per individual message, and it is one of at least four different units this market bills in.
Four units to tell apart
You can’t compare two quotes for chat software until you know what each one counts.
- Per message. Every message is billed. This is how Meta charges on the WhatsApp Business Platform.
- Per conversation. A window of activity is billed once, however many messages it holds.
- Per AI response. Each AI reply is billed. This is how AeroChat prices: a plan includes a set number of AI responses, and you top up if you use more, like a mobile data plan.
- Per resolution. Only conversations closed without a person are billed. Common among the larger helpdesk products.
Converting between them
You need two numbers from your own data: how many replies a typical conversation takes, and what share of conversations finish without a person.
On a per-response plan, cost per resolution is responses per conversation, times the rate per response, divided by your resolution rate. A business averaging four replies a conversation and closing 60% without a person pays for about 6.7 responses per resolution. One averaging two replies and closing 80% pays for 2.5. The price list is the same, and the cost per resolution is nearly three times higher for the first business. See resolution rate.
Sizing a plan
AeroChat plans differ mainly in AI responses a month and team seats.
| Plan | AI responses a month | Team seats | Typically fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 100 | 1 (one channel) | Trying it on one channel |
| Starter | 500 | 3 | A small shop or clinic with around 150 chats a month at three replies each |
| Growth | 2,000 | 10 | A busy store or multi-room clinic, around 600 chats a month. Adds payment links, WhatsApp broadcasts and insights. |
| Advanced | 5,000 | 25 | Several outlets or a larger team |
Count last month’s chats and your average replies per chat, multiply, and pick the plan above that number. If a busy month runs over, you buy a top-up for that month. Volumes beyond Advanced are discussed case by case.
Meta’s charges sit underneath
Whatever your software costs, Meta’s own per-message charges apply on WhatsApp.
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2025 | Per-message pricing replaced per-conversation pricing |
| 1 October 2026 | Service messages (free-text replies inside the 24-hour window) became chargeable, with 1,000 free per business phone number per month and no rollover |
| 1 October 2026 | Utility templates sent inside an open customer service window, free since July 2025, became chargeable |
| 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2027 | Eligible government and non-profit organisations keep free service messages beyond the free tier |
Source: Meta, WhatsApp Business Platform pricing documentation, checked October 2026. Rates vary by message category and the recipient’s country.
Three short messages where one clear one would do now cost three times as much. See WhatsApp message templates.
What to ask before you sign
- What exactly is a billable unit, in one sentence?
- What happens when I go over: a top-up I choose, or an automatic upgrade?
- If my usage drops, can I move to a smaller plan?
- Are Meta’s message fees included, marked up, or passed through at cost?
Related terms
Read next
- WhatsApp conversation pricing changes
- How chatbot vendors hide overage fees
- Meta’s Q3 numbers and the new price of a WhatsApp reply
See your own replies per conversation
Start your 7-day free trial. No credit card needed. Run a week of real chats through AeroChat and you will know how many responses your conversations take before you choose a plan.
On Shopify? Install AeroChat from the Shopify App Store.