Free tool
How much a WhatsApp CRM costs: official API vs extension
Compare the monthly and annual cost of an extension (Zapext), a per-user CRM (Kommo), and the official API plus a platform. Enter users, messages, and period.
Estimated cost
Zapext (extension)
US$ 16per month (average)
US$ 192 total over 12 months
Plus plan, annual. No per-message fee: it runs on your number's WhatsApp Web.
Per-user CRM with API (Kommo)
US$ 67per month (average)
US$ 802 total over 12 months
US$ 20 per user/month, 6-month minimum (billed: 12 months) + Meta message fees.
Official API + platform (SleekFlow)
US$ 72per month (average)
US$ 862 total over 12 months
Essential plan billed annually, extra users and number hosting: US$ 65/month + Meta message fees.
Enter the cost per marketing message: without it, the API and Kommo totals are underestimated.
Estimate based on public list prices. Real costs depend on plan, volume, discounts, and rates that change. Confirm with each vendor before deciding.
Zapext and SleekFlow charge in BRL; amounts shown in US$ are approximate at R$ 5.2/US$ (2026-09-28).
Assumptions and sources
- Zapext: 1 user = Starter; 2 to 4 users = Plus (up to 4 users per number). Beyond that, we count one Plus license per 4 users. We pick the cheaper billing cycle (monthly or annual) for the period.
- Kommo: Basic plan. It uses the official API, so template messages follow Meta's pricing table.
- SleekFlow: Essential plan (3 users included). API platforms charge a subscription and pass Meta's fees through separately.
- Service messages (replies inside the customer service window) are not included; Meta has separate rules for them.
- Taxes and card exchange fees not included.
- Kommo: plans and pricing (accessed 2026-10-24)
- SleekFlow: pricing (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Meta: WhatsApp Business Platform pricing (accessed 2026-10-24)
There are three common ways to get a CRM on WhatsApp: an extension that runs on your number's WhatsApp Web, a per-user CRM connected to the official API, or the official API with a customer service platform. Each charges differently: a flat subscription, a per-person license with a minimum term, or a subscription plus Meta's per-message fees. The calculator uses public list prices, with source and date, to show the difference in your scenario.
What the calculator considers
It compares three ways to get a CRM on WhatsApp, always using public list prices:
- Extension (Zapext) — runs on your number's WhatsApp Web. Flat subscription per plan: Starter for 1 user, Plus for up to 4 users per number. No Meta per-message fees, because nothing goes through the API.
- Per-user CRM (Kommo) — connected to the official API. Licenses start at US$ 20 per user/month with a 6-month minimum subscription (terms of 6, 9, 12, 24 months). Template messages follow Meta's pricing table.
- Official API + platform (SleekFlow) — the Essential plan lists R$ 259/month on annual billing, with 3 users included, R$ 79 per extra user, and R$ 79/month for number hosting. Meta fees are charged separately.
You enter how many people handle chats, how many marketing and utility messages you plan to send per month through the API, and how many months to compare. The result shows the monthly average and the total for the period.
How Meta charges for the official WhatsApp API
Since July 1, 2025, Meta charges per delivered template message instead of per conversation. The rate depends on the category (marketing, utility, or authentication) and on the recipient's country. For Brazil, Meta's documentation cites US$ 0.0068 per utility and authentication message, which is the calculator's default. Marketing rates live in the official rate card files, so the calculator asks you to type yours.
Always check Meta's official pricing table before deciding: rates change and there are volume tiers.
Where the hidden costs usually are
- Minimum term — paying 6 months upfront changes the math if you only want to try.
- Per-user licenses — every new agent adds a full license.
- Number hosting — some platforms charge a fixed fee per number connected to the API.
- Marketing volume — campaigns to your whole base multiply the per-message fee.
- Exchange rate — prices in another currency move with the exchange rate.
When the official API makes more sense
The API is the way to go when the operation must run without an open browser, with many agents across channels, a server-side chatbot, or high-volume integrations. For freelancers and small teams handling one number on a computer, an extension usually does the job at a predictable cost. See how the CRM inside WhatsApp Web works and compare Zapext plans.
Want more than just this tool?
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FAQ
How much does the official WhatsApp API cost?
Meta charges per delivered template message, with rates by category (marketing, utility, authentication) and by country. For Brazil, Meta's documentation cites US$ 0.0068 per utility and authentication message (accessed 2026-10-24); marketing rates are in the official table. Add the platform subscription: SleekFlow Essential lists R$ 259/month on annual billing plus R$ 79/month for number hosting.
Does a WhatsApp CRM have a monthly fee?
Most do. Kommo starts at US$ 20 per user/month with a 6-month minimum subscription. Zapext has Starter (1 user) at about US$ 9.60/month or US$ 57/year and Plus (up to 4 users per number) at about US$ 25/month or US$ 192/year, charged in BRL.
Is an extension worth it instead of the official API?
If you handle chats from one number on a computer, it usually is: the cost is fixed and there are no Meta per-message fees, because the extension uses the WhatsApp Web you already have. The official API makes more sense when the operation must run without an open browser, with many agents across channels or high-volume integrations — and then you pay per message.
Are the calculator's prices up to date?
Every external value has its source and access date listed below the result. Vendor prices change: check each vendor's page before you buy.