Hajra Naz
Meta announced Wednesday that it will start charging developers for running AI chatbots on WhatsApp in countries where regulators require the company to allow them. This comes after WhatsApp’s ban on third-party chatbots took effect on January 15, 2026.
For now, the fees apply only in Italy, where the country’s competition authority requested WhatsApp to suspend its ban last December. Starting February 16, Meta will charge developers for non-template AI responses. The pricing is set at
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$0.0691 / €0.0572 / £0.0498 per message
If users send thousands of queries daily, these fees could add up quickly for developers.
Exemption for Italian Users
Earlier this month, Meta notified developers that Italian phone numbers would be exempt from the ban. This allows AI chatbots to continue serving those users. At the time, Meta didn’t mention any charges for developers.
WhatsApp already charges companies for using its API for template messages, including notifications for payments, shipping updates, marketing, and other utility purposes.
A Meta spokesperson said:
“Where we are legally required to provide AI chatbots through the WhatsApp Business API, we are introducing pricing for companies that choose to use our platform to provide those services.”
This could also set a precedent if regulators in other regions require WhatsApp to allow AI chatbots.
Why WhatsApp Banned Third-Party AI Chatbots
In October 2025, Meta announced it would block all third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp’s Business API. The company said:
“The emergence of AI chatbots on our Business API put a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support. The route to market for AI companies is app stores, websites, and partnerships, not the WhatsApp Business Platform.”
Read More: Pew Study Reveals How Teens Use Social Media and AI Chatbots
Global Regulatory Challenges
Since the ban, multiple regions, including the EU, Italy, and Brazil, have launched investigations into WhatsApp’s AI policies. In Brazil, the local watchdog initially blocked the ban, but a court overturned the order last week. Meta has told developers not to provide AI chatbots to Brazilian users following the ruling.
What Developers Must Do Now
Developers are now required to send a pre-defined message to WhatsApp users directing them to their own website or app if they want to continue using AI chatbots.
Major providers, including OpenAI, Perplexity, and Microsoft, warned last year that their WhatsApp bots would stop working after January 15, urging users to access their AI tools on other platforms instead.
