Billing & Credits
Waflow uses a credit-based system for WhatsApp messaging. This guide explains how credits work, how to purchase them, and how to manage your billing effectively.
Understanding the Credit System
Credits are the currency used in Waflow for sending WhatsApp messages. Each message type consumes a specific number of credits based on the conversation category and recipient location.
How Credits Work
When you send a message through Waflow:
- Credits are deducted from your balance
- The amount depends on message type and destination
- Failed messages do not consume credits
- Credits are restored if delivery fails
Message Categories
WhatsApp classifies conversations into four categories, each with different credit costs:
| Category | Description | Credit Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | Promotional messages, offers, announcements | Highest |
| Utility | Transactional updates, order confirmations | Medium |
| Authentication | OTPs, verification codes | Low |
| Service | Customer-initiated conversations | Lowest |
Note: WhatsApp determines the conversation category based on your message template. Choosing the right category can significantly reduce costs.
Conversation-Based Pricing
WhatsApp uses conversation-based pricing:
- A conversation is a 24-hour window
- All messages within that window count as one conversation
- You pay per conversation, not per message
- Different entry points have different costs
Conversation Entry Points:
| Entry Point | Description | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Business-initiated | You send first message | 24 hours |
| User-initiated | Customer messages first | 24 hours |
| Free entry points | Ads, QR codes | 72 hours free |
Pricing Structure
Credit Costs by Region
Costs vary by recipient location:
| Region | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1.0 credits | 0.5 credits | 0.3 credits | 0.3 credits |
| United States | 2.5 credits | 1.0 credits | 0.8 credits | 0.5 credits |
| United Kingdom | 2.0 credits | 0.9 credits | 0.7 credits | 0.5 credits |
| Brazil | 1.5 credits | 0.6 credits | 0.4 credits | 0.4 credits |
| Other regions | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Tip: Check the full pricing table in your dashboard under Settings > Billing > Pricing for accurate costs by country.
Credit Packages
Purchase credits in packages:
| Package | Credits | Price | Per Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1,000 | $25 | $0.025 |
| Growth | 5,000 | $100 | $0.020 |
| Business | 25,000 | $400 | $0.016 |
| Enterprise | 100,000 | $1,200 | $0.012 |
Volume Discounts:
- 5,000+ credits: 20% discount
- 25,000+ credits: 36% discount
- 100,000+ credits: 52% discount
Usage Tracking
Monitor your credit consumption in real-time.
Dashboard Overview
The billing dashboard shows:
- Current credit balance
- Credits used this period
- Remaining credits
- Usage trend chart
Usage Breakdown
View detailed usage:
- Navigate to Settings > Billing > Usage
- Filter by:
- Date range
- Campaign
- Message category
- Region
- View consumption patterns
Usage by Campaign
Track credits per campaign:
| Campaign | Messages | Credits Used | Avg per Message |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Sale | 5,000 | 5,000 | 1.0 |
| Order Confirmations | 12,000 | 6,000 | 0.5 |
| Welcome Series | 3,000 | 3,000 | 1.0 |
Alerts and Notifications
Set up usage alerts:
- Go to Settings > Billing > Alerts
- Configure thresholds:
- Low balance warning (e.g., 1,000 credits remaining)
- Daily limit exceeded
- Unusual spending patterns
- Choose notification method (email, in-app, SMS)
Purchasing Credits
One-Time Purchase
Buy credits when needed:
- Navigate to Settings > Billing > Purchase Credits
- Select a credit package
- Enter quantity
- Review total
- Click Purchase
- Complete payment
- Credits added immediately
Auto-Refill
Never run out of credits:
- Go to Settings > Billing > Auto-Refill
- Enable auto-refill
- Configure:
- Trigger threshold (e.g., below 500 credits)
- Refill amount (credits to purchase)
- Maximum monthly refills
- Add payment method
- Save settings
Tip: Auto-refill prevents campaign interruptions. Set the threshold high enough to cover your typical daily usage.
Payment Methods
Accepted payment options:
| Method | Availability | Auto-Refill |
|---|---|---|
| Credit/Debit Card | All regions | Yes |
| PayPal | Most regions | Yes |
| Bank Transfer | Enterprise only | No |
| UPI | India | No |
| Net Banking | India | No |
Managing Payment Methods
Add or update payment methods:
- Navigate to Settings > Billing > Payment Methods
- Add new method or edit existing
- Set default payment method
- Remove unused methods
Subscription Plans
In addition to credits, Waflow offers subscription plans with platform features.
Plan Comparison
| Feature | Free | Starter | Growth | Business | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Credits | 100 | 1,000 | 5,000 | 25,000 | Custom |
| Team Members | 1 | 3 | 10 | 25 | Unlimited |
| Workspaces | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Automations | 2 | 10 | 50 | 200 | Unlimited |
| Templates | 5 | 25 | 100 | 500 | Unlimited |
| API Access | No | Limited | Full | Full | Full |
| Support | Community | Priority | Dedicated | Premium |
Upgrading Your Plan
Upgrade to unlock more features:
- Go to Settings > Billing > Plan
- Click Upgrade
- Select new plan
- Review changes
- Confirm upgrade
- Changes take effect immediately
Downgrading
Reduce your plan:
- Navigate to Settings > Billing > Plan
- Click Change Plan
- Select lower plan
- Review limitations
- Confirm downgrade
- Changes take effect at next billing cycle
Warning: Downgrading may disable features you currently use. Review the limitations carefully before confirming.
Invoices and Receipts
Accessing Invoices
View and download invoices:
- Go to Settings > Billing > Invoices
- View list of all invoices
- Filter by date or status
- Click to view details
- Download as PDF
Invoice Details
Each invoice includes:
- Invoice number and date
- Billing period
- Itemized charges
- Credits purchased
- Subscription fees
- Taxes applied
- Total amount
- Payment status
Billing Information
Update your billing details:
- Navigate to Settings > Billing > Billing Info
- Update:
- Company name
- Billing address
- Tax ID / GST number
- Contact email
- Save changes
- New invoices will use updated info
Tax Information
Waflow handles taxes based on your location:
| Region | Tax | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| India | GST | 18% |
| EU | VAT | Country-specific |
| US | Sales Tax | State-specific |
| Others | Varies | Location-based |
Spending Controls
Protect your budget with spending controls.
Budget Limits
Set maximum spending:
- Go to Settings > Billing > Limits
- Configure:
- Daily limit
- Weekly limit
- Monthly limit
- Choose action when limit reached:
- Pause sending
- Notify only
- Require approval
Campaign Budgets
Set per-campaign limits:
- When creating a campaign
- Enable Budget Limit
- Set maximum credits for campaign
- Campaign pauses when limit reached
Approval Workflows
Require approval for large sends:
- Navigate to Settings > Billing > Approvals
- Enable approval workflow
- Set threshold (e.g., campaigns over 5,000 credits)
- Designate approvers
- Configure notification settings
Cost Optimization
Reduce your messaging costs.
Best Practices
Choose the Right Category:
- Use utility templates for transactional messages
- Authentication category has lowest costs
- Avoid marketing category when not needed
Leverage Free Conversations:
- Click-to-WhatsApp ads provide free entry
- WhatsApp QR codes offer 72-hour free window
- User-initiated conversations are cheaper
Optimize Timing:
- Send within existing conversation windows
- Batch messages within 24-hour periods
- Use service category for support replies
Cost Reduction Strategies
| Strategy | Potential Savings |
|---|---|
| Proper template categorization | 30-50% |
| Using free entry points | Up to 100% |
| Batching messages | 20-40% |
| Cleaning contact lists | 10-20% |
| Time zone optimization | 5-15% |
Cost Calculator
Estimate campaign costs:
- Go to Campaigns > New Campaign
- Select audience
- Choose template
- View estimated cost breakdown:
- Credits per message by region
- Total credits required
- Compare to budget
Enterprise Billing
Features for enterprise customers.
Consolidated Billing
Manage billing across workspaces:
- Navigate to Organization > Billing
- View all workspace usage
- Allocate credits to workspaces
- Generate consolidated invoices
Custom Pricing
Enterprise customers may qualify for:
- Volume-based discounts
- Custom credit packages
- Committed use discounts
- Annual payment discounts
Contact sales for custom pricing.
Credit Allocation
Distribute credits to teams:
- Go to Organization > Credit Allocation
- View workspace allocations
- Adjust distributions
- Set automatic allocations
Billing Reports
Generate detailed reports:
- Navigate to Organization > Reports
- Select report type:
- Usage by workspace
- Usage by department
- Cost center analysis
- Trend reports
- Choose date range
- Export to CSV or PDF
Getting Help
Billing Support
For billing questions:
- Email: [email protected]
- In-app: Help > Billing Support
- Phone: Available for Business and Enterprise plans
Dispute Resolution
If you believe you were charged incorrectly:
- Go to Settings > Billing > Support
- Click Open Dispute
- Provide details and evidence
- Our team will investigate within 48 hours
Refund Policy
Credits are generally non-refundable, with exceptions:
- Technical errors causing incorrect charges
- Service outages preventing message delivery
- Billing errors on our part
Next Steps
- Integrations - Connect external services
- Analytics - Track campaign ROI
- Campaigns - Start sending messages