How does the free trial work?
You get 14 days with every module open: answering on every channel, sales, bookings, marketing and more. No credit card. When the trial ends, everything you set up stays saved and the assistant waits until you pick a plan.
What happens when the trial ends?
Your settings, contacts and conversations stay. The assistant stops replying and automations pause until you choose a plan. Pick one and everything starts again right away.
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost per month?
On AssistantLabs, plans start at $19 a month after a 14-day free trial. Each plan includes a set number of automated conversations; past that, each extra one costs a small fee, or the plan stops at its limit. No setup fee, no per-seat fees.
What counts as an automated conversation?
Only conversations the assistant handles entirely on its own, within a 24-hour window. If you or your team reply within 48 hours, it doesn't count, no matter how many messages were exchanged.
Can I choose which modules I get?
Yes. Some plans come with a fixed set, others let you pick the modules you need, such as Sales, CRM or Booking. What each plan includes is listed above.
Are there per-user or per-channel fees?
No. Every channel, every integration and your whole team are included in every plan.
Is there a setup fee?
No. Zero setup fees on any plan.
Can I change or cancel my plan?
Yes. Plans are month to month, with no annual lock-in.
What payment methods do you accept?
All major credit cards. Payments are processed securely.
What does Meta charge per WhatsApp message?
Meta charges per message delivered, based on the category and the recipient's country. Representative ranges: Marketing ~$0.025–$0.14, Utility ~$0.004–$0.05, Authentication ~$0.004–$0.05. Since October 1, 2026, ordinary replies (service messages) are charged too, at the utility rate. Messages your customers send you are always free.
What is the 24-hour customer service window?
When a customer messages you first, a 24-hour customer service (CS) window opens. Inside it you can reply with any message — no template needed; since October 1, 2026, Meta charges those replies as service messages at the utility rate. Outside the window, you need an approved template message.
Are conversations from Click-to-WhatsApp ads free?
Yes. When a user starts a conversation via a Click-to-WhatsApp ad, a 72-hour Free Entry Point (FEP) window opens. Any message you send during that window — including templates — is free.
Are utility templates always charged?
Yes, since October 1, 2026 — inside or outside the customer service window, at the utility rate. The one exception is the 72-hour free entry point opened by a Click-to-WhatsApp ad, where every message is free.
Are there volume discounts for WhatsApp messages?
Yes. Meta offers tiered pricing for utility and authentication messages. Higher monthly volume unlocks lower per-message rates. Tiers reset monthly and are tracked per country and category.
When does Meta update WhatsApp prices?
Meta can change rates up to 4 times a year — on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 — with advance notice. The latest change took effect on October 1, 2026.
Does AssistantLabs charge extra on top of Meta's fees?
No. We pass Meta's WhatsApp messaging fees through at cost with no markup.
What is a WhatsApp template message?
A template message is a pre-approved message format used to start or re-open a conversation. Templates must be submitted to Meta for approval before use. They are how businesses reach out to customers first — or continue a conversation after the 24-hour window closes.
What is the difference between a marketing and a utility template?
Marketing templates are promotional — offers, announcements, campaigns. They cost more because Meta restricts how often businesses can send them. Utility templates are transactional — order confirmations, appointment reminders, shipping updates. They cost less and have fewer restrictions.
Why does Meta charge for template messages at all?
To prevent spam. Without a cost attached to outgoing messages, businesses could blast unlimited promotions to every phone number. The fee — combined with template pre-approval — is Meta's way of keeping WhatsApp a high-trust channel where people actually want to receive messages.