Meta is opening WhatsApp to third-party AI chatbots across Europe and will charge providers a per-message fee ranging from €0.0490 to €0.1323, according to the company’s announcement. The pricing applies to what Meta calls “non-template messages,” meaning conversational responses from AI assistants rather than standardized notifications, and the exact cost varies by country.
The change marks a significant shift for WhatsApp, which has historically operated as a largely closed messaging ecosystem. Under the new model, rival AI services—including those built by companies like OpenAI or Google—can connect their chatbots directly to WhatsApp conversations and reach the platform’s more than 2 billion users, provided they pay Meta’s usage fees.
The pricing structure centers on interactive AI conversations. Each reply generated by a chatbot in response to a user’s message triggers a charge. That means companies deploying AI assistants for tasks such as customer support or information queries could incur ongoing costs depending on message volume.
Meta’s decision to allow outside AI services into WhatsApp follows growing pressure from European regulators. Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), large technology companies designated as “gatekeepers” are required to make parts of their platforms interoperable with competing services. Opening WhatsApp to rival chatbots helps Meta comply with those rules, while the per-message fees create a new way to monetize access to the messaging platform.
For AI providers, the opportunity comes with tradeoffs. WhatsApp offers one of the largest messaging audiences in the world, particularly across Europe and many international markets. But the per-message fees add another layer of cost for companies deploying conversational AI through the app, especially for high-volume use cases like customer support.
The move also arrives as Meta continues expanding its own AI offerings. The company has been rolling out Meta AI across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. By allowing competitors onto the platform while charging for access, Meta effectively positions WhatsApp as both a distribution channel for third-party AI tools and a home for its own built-in assistant.
More broadly, the change reflects how messaging platforms are becoming key entry points for AI services. Instead of requiring users to download separate apps or visit external websites, AI tools can now operate directly inside existing messaging conversations—potentially reshaping how people interact with chatbots for everyday tasks.
This analysis is based on reporting from techbuzz.
Image courtesy of Unsplash.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
