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Groups API Pricing

Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Per-message pricing on Groups API

Groups API uses Cloud API’s per-message pricing model to determine if a given message is billable. However, you are charged each time a billable message is delivered to someone in the group. For example, if you send a (billable) marketing template message to a group with 5 WhatsApp users and it is delivered to all 5 users, you would be charged for 5 delivered messages at the going marketing message rate for each recipient’s country calling code. If the message was delivered to only 4 of the 5 users, you would only be charged for the 4 delivered messages.

How customer service windows work with Groups API

Customer service windows work differently when using Groups API. When any WhatsApp user in the group messages you, a customer service window is opened between you and the entire group (or is refreshed, if one already exists). This allows you to send utility and marketing template messages, or free form messages, for free. This is different from 1:1 messaging, where when a WhatsApp user messages you, a customer service window is opened between you and that customer (or is refreshed, if one already exists). Everything else about customer service windows remains the same.

Pricing information in Message Status webhook

Pricing information for messages sent using Groups API is included in messages status webhooks.

How read and delivered message status webhooks are processed

In order for a message status to be considered read, it must have been at least delivered. In some scenarios, such as when a user is present in the chat thread when a message arrives, the message is marked delivered and read nearly simultaneously. In this and other similar scenarios, the delivered webhook is not sent back. This is because it is implied that the message was delivered since it has been read.

How pricing data is displayed in the Message Status webhook

Not all Message Status webhooks include pricing information. With the introduction of Per-message Pricing, pricing data can be present in sent, delivered or read status webhook. If a message is charged, you can expect that at least one webhook (delivered or read) will contain the pricing information.

Sent message status webhook

Delivered / Read message status webhook

Parameters

Identifying billable messages

Billable messages have pricing.type set to regular. The pricing.category value indicates the rate (group_marketing or group_utility).

Identifying free messages

Free messages have pricing.type set to free_group_customer_service. The pricing.category value tells you why it was free: group_utility — the message was sent within an open group customer service window. group_service — all non-templates messages are free.

Messaging analytics for Groups API

The analytics field provides the number and type of messages sent and delivered by the phone numbers associated with a specific WABA — for conversation metrics, see Conversation Analytics. You can use the following endpoint to retrieve analytics for messages sent using Groups API:

Filter parameters for messaging analytics

For a full list of messaging analytics filter parameters, view the Messaging Analytics reference.

Changes to filter parameters for Groups API

Response value

Successful responses to the analytics API when querying Groups API message data will return an object similar to the following: Note: The country code filter is not supported for group sent messages.

Pricing analytics for Groups API

The pricing_analytics field allows you to get pricing breakdowns for any messages delivered within a specified date range.

Filter parameters for pricing analytics

For a full list of messaging analytics filter parameters, view the Messaging Analytics reference.

Changes to filter parameters for Groups API

Rate cards

Group utility messages are not eligible for volume tiers. Messaging rates for Groups API are the same as per-messaging pricing rates for 1 to 1 messaging. View per-message pricing rate cards Did you find this page helpful? Thumbs up icon Thumbs down icon ON THIS PAGE Per-message pricing on Groups API How customer service windows work with Groups API Pricing information in Message Status webhook How read and delivered message status webhooks are processed How pricing data is displayed in the Message Status webhook Sent message status webhook Delivered / Read message status webhook Parameters Identifying billable messages Identifying free messages Messaging analytics for Groups API Filter parameters for messaging analytics Changes to filter parameters for Groups API Response value Pricing analytics for Groups API Filter parameters for pricing analytics Changes to filter parameters for Groups API Rate cards