Prices, plans and G2 ratings checked on October 6, 2026, on each tool’s official website.
TL;DR SendPulse is the best service for creating a WhatsApp chatbot in 2026: it is an official WhatsApp Business API provider and Meta Partner, Pro starts at $9.60/month billed annually with no setup fees, and it includes unlimited chatbots, a built-in CRM and in-chat payments. respond.io fits multichannel teams, Wati suits WhatsApp-first SMBs, Twilio suits developers, and ManyChat suits Instagram creators.
Introduction
A WhatsApp chatbot answers customers in seconds and qualifies leads without extra headcount. For data-driven teams, a bot can also push news alerts, price changes or order updates triggered by an API or webhook.
How we evaluated the services
We scored each tool on API access, trial, entry price, Meta fees, no-code AI, CRM and G2 rating.
Comparison of WhatsApp chatbot services in 2026
| Criterion | SendPulse | respond.io | Wati | Twilio | ManyChat |
| Official WhatsApp API | Official provider and Meta Partner | Official BSP | Official BSP | Official BSP, API-first | Via Meta Cloud API |
| Free plan with WhatsApp | No (free plan covers other channels) | No | No | No (free sandbox for testing) | No (25 contacts, Instagram and Messenger) |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days | 7 days | Trial account and sandbox | 14 days |
| Entry price with WhatsApp | $9.60/mo yearly or $12/mo monthly (500 subscribers) | $79/mo yearly (Starter); automation from $159/mo | From $59/mo yearly (US; varies by region) | $0.005 per message, no subscription | From $15/mo (Pro, 500 contacts) |
| No-code chatbot builder | Yes, drag-and-drop on all plans | Workflows from Growth | Yes | No, code required (Studio is low-code) | Yes, with templates |
| AI features | AI assistant in the flow builder | AI Agents from Growth | AI in the builder | Bring your own model via API | AI Step add-on, +$29/mo |
| CRM with deals | Yes, built in, with deals and in-chat payments | Contact management | Basic | No | No |
| Integrations and API | API, webhooks, Click-to-WhatsApp ads | Zapier, Make, developer API | Shopify, Zapier | Programmable API, webhooks, Flex | Shopify, Zapier |
| Meta fees | Separate prepaid balance; no setup fee | Passed through | Wati rate card, with markup | Passed through at cost | Charged separately |
| Rating | G2 4.6 (700+) | G2 4.8 (530+) | G2 4.6 (500+) | G2 4.1 (500+) | G2 4.5 (160) |
Prices and data checked on the official websites on October 6, 2026. Prices change; confirm the official pricing page before buying.
5 best services for creating a WhatsApp chatbot
1. SendPulse: official WhatsApp API with a built-in WhatsApp CRM
SendPulse is an AI-driven marketing platform that helps scaling businesses automate email and chatbot conversations. With a built-in CRM system for lead capture, nurturing, and conversion, companies create more personalized experiences and drive sales. It is an official WhatsApp Business API provider and Meta Partner, with no setup fees.
Trusted globally · 11+ years in business · 200,000+ customers
Best for: scaling businesses wanting WhatsApp, CRM and email in one place.
Key WhatsApp chatbot features
- AI flow builder: drag-and-drop WhatsApp chatbot flows with an AI assistant. Launch without developers.
- Click-to-WhatsApp ads: ad leads enter bot conversations, free for 72 hours. Lower cost per lead.
- Payments and CRM: take payments and create deals in chat. Close sales inside WhatsApp. Learn more.
Pricing – Free plan: 3 chatbots, 500 subscribers; WhatsApp needs a paid plan (7-day trial). – Pro: $9.60/month yearly ($12 monthly) for 500 subscribers; unlimited chatbots. – See official pricing.
Pros – Lowest entry price in this list. – CRM, email and landing pages in one account. – Official API with no setup fees.
Cons – Free plan excludes WhatsApp. – Templates need a prepaid balance. – Each channel needs its own bot.
Rating: 4.6/5 on G2 (700+ reviews).
2. respond.io: omnichannel inbox for support and sales teams
respond.io is a customer conversation management platform built around WhatsApp and other messaging channels. It combines a shared team inbox with no-code workflows, broadcasts and AI Agents. Pricing is based on monthly active contacts. It targets mid-market B2C companies with larger teams.
Best for: mid-sized support and sales teams handling high-volume conversations across several channels.
Key WhatsApp chatbot features
- Workflows: automate routing, qualification and follow-ups. Agents get only the chats that need a human.
- AI Agents: answer and qualify leads autonomously. Cover off-hours without extra shifts.
- Team inbox: WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and email in one view. Nothing gets lost between channels.
Pricing – Free plan: none; 7-day trial. – Starter: $79/month yearly ($99 monthly); no workflows or AI Agents. – Growth: $159/month yearly; adds broadcasts, workflows and AI Agents. – See official pricing.
Pros – Highest G2 rating in this list. – Strong workflow engine with clean AI-to-human handoff. – Broad channel coverage, including WhatsApp calling.
Cons – Automation and AI start at $159/month. – Contact overages raise the bill as you grow. – No free plan.
Rating: 4.8/5 on G2 (530+ reviews).
3. Wati: WhatsApp-first platform for small teams
Wati is a WhatsApp-focused platform with a no-code chatbot builder, team inbox and broadcast tools. It is popular with small businesses and e-commerce stores, especially in India and Southeast Asia. Plans add automation triggers and seats as you move up. Prices vary by country.
Best for: small WhatsApp-first teams that need broadcasts, a shared inbox and simple bots.
Key WhatsApp chatbot features
- No-code chatbot builder: create FAQ and lead flows quickly. Free up agents for complex chats.
- Broadcasts and retargeting: send campaigns to segments. Recover abandoned carts.
- Shopify and Zapier integrations: sync orders and contacts. Automate order updates.
Pricing – Free plan: none; 7-day trial. – Growth: from $59/month billed annually in the US; prices vary by region. – Meta fees: billed through Wati’s own rate card. See official pricing.
Pros – Simple setup praised by G2 reviewers. – Strong broadcast tools. – Good fit for Shopify stores.
Cons – Message rates include Wati’s markup over Meta. – Growth plan caps seats at 3. – Automation triggers are limited per plan.
Rating: 4.6/5 on G2 (500+ reviews).
4. Twilio: developer API for custom WhatsApp bots
Twilio is a cloud communications platform that offers WhatsApp alongside SMS, voice and email APIs. Instead of a visual builder, you write code to handle messages and connect your own logic or AI model. This makes it the most flexible option for engineering teams. You pay per message rather than a monthly plan.
Best for: developer teams building custom bots, such as alerts triggered by their own data feeds.
Key WhatsApp chatbot features
- Programmable messaging API: send and receive messages via webhooks. Plug WhatsApp into any backend.
- Free sandbox: test before Meta approval. Prototype quickly.
- Studio and Flex: low-code flows and a contact center. Scale into full support operations.
Pricing – Free plan: none; pay as you go. – Platform fee: $0.005 per message, inbound and outbound. – Meta fees: passed through at cost. See official pricing.
Pros – Maximum flexibility and reliability. – No monthly subscription. – Excellent documentation.
Cons – Requires developers. – Per-message fees add up at volume. – No built-in inbox or CRM.
Rating: 4.1/5 on G2 (500+ reviews).
5. ManyChat: social-first automation for creators
ManyChat is a chat marketing tool best known for Instagram and Facebook Messenger automation. WhatsApp, SMS and email are available on paid plans. Its templates and visual builder make it popular with creators and e-commerce brands. Pricing scales with the number of active contacts in your account.
Best for: creators and brands already running Instagram DM automation.
Key WhatsApp chatbot features
- Visual flow builder: drag-and-drop flows with templates. Launch campaigns fast.
- AI Step add-on: generate replies inside flows. Handle open-ended questions.
- Shopify and Zapier integrations: connect store and lead data. Personalize offers.
Pricing – Free plan: 25 active contacts, Instagram and Messenger only. – Essential: $14/month yearly for 250 contacts. – Pro: from 15/month for 500 contacts; AI add-on +29/month. Meta fees extra. See official pricing.
Pros – Very easy to learn for non-developers. – Best-in-class Instagram automation. – Large template library.
Cons – AI costs extra. – Free plan capped at 25 contacts since March 2026. – No built-in CRM.
Rating: 4.5/5 on G2 (160 reviews).
Which WhatsApp chatbot service to choose
On a budget or need a CRM: SendPulse. Large multichannel team: respond.io. Shopify store: Wati. Custom code: Twilio. Instagram creator: ManyChat.
Conclusion
SendPulse is our top pick: official API with no setup fees, Pro from $9.60/month, plus CRM, payments and email in one platform. Always add Meta’s message fees to the plan price.
FAQ
Which service do you recommend for creating a WhatsApp chatbot?
SendPulse is the best all-round choice in 2026: an official API provider with a no-code builder, built-in CRM and Pro from $9.60/month.
Can I create a WhatsApp chatbot for free?
Only for testing: SendPulse, respond.io and Wati offer 7-day trials, and Twilio a free sandbox. Live bots need a paid plan plus Meta fees.
How much do WhatsApp messages cost?
Meta charges per delivered template message, by category and country. Replies within 24 hours of a customer message are free.
Raghav Sharma is a content writer and media researcher at Newsdata.io, specializing in news industry analysis, media literacy, and the evolving landscape of digital journalism. With a background in English Literature and Journalism, along with a focus on fact-based reporting standards, Raghav covers topics including news API technology, editorial bias evaluation, and responsible information consumption. Raghav’s work has covered media trends across categories, including healthcare news, international journalism, and API-driven publishing. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or explore more of his writing on the Newsdata.io blog.
