Looking at Wati’s Pay as you Go plan and wondering if it fits? Here is the short answer. It is a low-commitment entry plan for India only, made for basic marketing blasts. You pay a one-time sign-up fee, then you are charged per WhatsApp conversation. It is fine for quick trials, but the limits kick in fast. If you want real growth features, you will hit a wall and need to upgrade. Heltar gives you a smoother start, stronger support, and a plan that scales without forcing workarounds.
What Wati’s Pay as you Go actually includes
One user login
Marketing messages only
Only One chatbot
Only One keyword
Very Basic Bulk Messaging Analytics
Up to 1,000 service messages each month, after which you must upgrade
Sign-up fee: 999 INR
Ongoing cost: You pay per conversation. Wati states the cost for a marketing conversation is about 2 INR, which is more than 100% markup above standard Meta Charges. This is what makes this extremely expensive and unsustainable for any business.
Who can buy: Only customers in India.
What you DO NOT get on this plan?
No API access
No integrations or webhooks
No utility messages
No authentication messages
No access to the Integrations menu or User Management
No broadcast scheduling, this is only on higher Wati plans
If any of the above matters to you, this plan will absolutely not work for you.
Be aware of what you are signing up for!
Account deletion: You cannot delete it yourself. If unused, it auto-expires after 90 days.
Welcome credits: The 999 INR credits expire if unused within 90 days.
Disconnecting your number: Allowed, but no refunds.
Downgrading from higher Wati plans: You must have at least 999 INR in credits to move down to Pay as you Go.
Upgrading later: You can switch to a higher plan inside Billing.
Hitting the 1,000 service message cap: A banner will ask you to upgrade before you can send more.
Is Wati Pay as you Go right for you?
Choose it if you want to test WhatsApp marketing with one user, very light volumes, and no need for API or integrations. It is not built for teams, automation at scale, advanced routing, or time-based broadcast scheduling.
If you plan to build flows, connect your stack, or run serious campaigns, you will need to opt for a provider like Heltar, which provides you a bigger and better suite of features, that too at a better price.
Wati Pay as you Go v/s Heltar, at a glance
| Need | Wati Pay as you Go | Heltar |
|---|---|---|
| Country availability | India only | Global support, India included (Experienced with UAE/US teams) |
| Users | 1 user | Built for teams, simple scaling |
| API and integrations | Not available | Full API and integrations from the start |
| Broadcast scheduling | Not available on this plan | Available with clear controls |
| Message types | Marketing ONLY | All types - Marketing, Service, Utility and Authentication |
| Automation depth | 1 chatbot, 1 keyword | Multiple chatbots and keywords as per needs |
| When you hit volume caps | Must upgrade | Plans designed to scale without sudden blockers |
| Support | Limited on entry plan | Real human support, 24x7 for critical needs |
Heltar focuses on clear pricing, fast onboarding, and real support. If you want to grow beyond a basic test, you should not have to rebuild your setup or wait for a plan upgrade to unlock core features.
How billing works on Wati Pay as you Go?
Pay a one-time sign-up fee of 999 INR.
You receive 999 INR in conversation credits.
You are charged per conversation as you send messages, about 2 INR for each marketing conversation.
Credits are not refundable.
Plain answers to FAQs
Can I use it outside India?
No, it is only for India.
Can I delete my account?
Not manually. It auto-expires after 90 days of no use.
What happens after 1,000 service messages in a month?
You must upgrade to send more.
Are credits refundable?
No.
The bottom line
Wati’s Pay as you Go is fine for a very short pilot with one user and simple marketing. The deal breakers are clear, no API, no integrations, no broadcast scheduling, limited message types, and a hard cap on other template types that push you to upgrade.
If you want to start lean, keep costs clear, and still have room to grow, Heltar is the better choice. You get the features that matter from day one, with hands-on human support when you need it.
See how Heltar would work for your use case. Schedule a quick demo and get a plan that does not box you in.
