MeAPI vs Twilio
Twilio is a developer platform: its WhatsApp API is pay-as-you-go, and the inbox, chatbot and campaigns are what you build on top of it. MeAPI is an Indian WhatsApp Business API panel priced per year in rupees (from ₹3,999 a year), with Meta’s message charges billed by Meta at cost. Here is how the two compare, using only what each company publishes.
At a glance
| MeAPI | Twilio (as published) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | — | $0.005 Twilio fee per message, inbound or outbound, plus Meta’s fees passed through |
| Failed messages | — | $0.001 per message that ends in “Failed” |
| Separate Inbox for Each Number / chatbot | — | Not part of the WhatsApp API price — built by you or with other Twilio products |
| Billing currency | Indian rupees, GST shown separately | US dollars |
| Plan prices | ₹5,999 / year (5 Devices Annual Plan, 5 numbers), ₹7,499 / year (10 Devices Annual Plan, 10 numbers), ₹3,999 / year (1 Device Plan, 1 number), + 18% GST | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Users / agents | 1–5 agents depending on the plan | Not stated on the pricing page |
| WhatsApp message charges | Billed by Meta directly to your WhatsApp Business account; MeAPI adds no mark-up | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Chatbot builder | Included | Not stated on the pricing page |
| AI chatbot | Included; uses your own AI key (OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, Groq and more) | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Free trial | 3 days, no card | Not stated on the pricing page |
Twilio figures are from Twilio’s pricing page as published on 27 October 2026. Prices change; check their page for today’s figures. Meta’s own rates: WhatsApp pricing.
When Twilio may suit you better
- Engineering teams building a custom product on one API for WhatsApp, SMS and voice
- Global businesses that want usage-based billing with no subscription
When MeAPI may suit you better
- Your team answers chats in a Separate Inbox for Each Number, every agent with their own login and role
- You want Meta’s message charges at cost, billed by Meta, with no per-message mark-up
- You prefer one yearly price in rupees with GST shown, from ₹3,999 a year
- You want the chatbot builder, WhatsApp Flows, sales pipeline and AI (with your own key) without add-ons
- You want to keep the WhatsApp Business app on your phone (coexistence)
Questions to ask before you choose
- The per-message fee applies to inbound messages too, so busy support chats add up
- The cost of building and running your own inbox, bots and campaign tools
Questions
Is MeAPI cheaper than Twilio?
MeAPI plans start at ₹3,999 a year + GST (1–5 agents depending on the plan), and Meta bills message charges directly with no MeAPI mark-up. Twilio’s total depends on its plan, billing period and any message mark-up — compare the table above for your own volumes.
Can I move from Twilio to MeAPI?
Yes. Export your contacts as CSV, ask Twilio how to release your WhatsApp number, connect it in MeAPI through Meta’s Embedded Signup and resubmit your templates (the template library helps). See the switching steps on our Twilio alternatives page.
Twilio alternatives and how to switch → · Meta cost calculator → · All MeAPI features →
Twilio is a trademark of its owner. MeAPI is not affiliated with Twilio. Corrections: support@meapi.in.
Try MeAPI next to Twilio
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