WhatsApp Broadcast Best Practices for 2026
1 min read
Wati vs Interakt: the short answer
Wati and Interakt are two of the most widely used WhatsApp Business API providers, especially in India, and they compete for the same buyer: small and mid-sized businesses that want to sell and support customers on WhatsApp. The practical difference comes down to polish versus price. Wati is known for a clean, intuitive interface and a mature chatbot builder. Interakt (by Haptik/Jio) is known for a low starting platform fee and tight e-commerce integrations, making it popular with budget-conscious Indian D2C and Shopify sellers.
Neither is a wrong choice for a WhatsApp-first business. Below is how they compare across the factors that actually affect your monthly bill and your team’s day-to-day — followed by a third option to consider if AI and a built-in CRM matter to you.
Feature comparison at a glance
| Capability | Wati | Interakt |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Teams wanting the most polished UI & chatbot | Budget-conscious Indian SMBs & D2C sellers |
| Starting platform price* | ~$39/mo (Growth, 5 users) | ~₹2,499/mo (Growth) |
| Chatbot | Mature no-code builder (multi-step flows) | No-code chatbot builder |
| E-commerce | Shopify integration | Deep Shopify & WooCommerce, click-to-WhatsApp ads |
| Channels | WhatsApp-first (+ Instagram, FB, Web) | WhatsApp + Instagram |
| CRM | Third-party via Zapier / Sheets / API | Third-party via integrations / API |
| Conversation markup** | Markup on Meta rates (~20% in India) | Markup on some plans despite “no-markup” positioning |
*Platform subscription only. **Both charge on top of Meta’s per-conversation WhatsApp fees, and both apply markups that vary by plan and conversation type. Vendor pricing changes frequently and sources disagree on exact figures — confirm current rates on each provider’s site. Figures reflect our research as of mid-2026.
Pricing: the real cost
Interakt typically wins on starting platform fee, with entry plans around ₹2,499/month that appeal to early-stage Indian businesses. Wati’s Growth plan starts around $39/month and steps up through Pro (broadcast + API access) and Business (advanced automation) tiers.
But the sticker price is only half the story. Both platforms add a markup on top of Meta’s per-conversation charges, and those markups differ by plan and by conversation type (marketing, utility, authentication, service). At scale, the per-conversation markup often matters more than the monthly subscription. Model your expected message volume, not just the headline plan price, before committing.
Chatbots and automation
Wati is frequently praised for its chatbot builder — a mature, no-code, multi-step flow tool that’s approachable for non-technical teams. Interakt also offers a no-code chatbot builder aimed at automating a large share of routine queries. Both are keyword-and-rules based rather than conversational AI; if you expect an autonomous AI agent that understands free-form questions out of the box, neither is built primarily around that today.
E-commerce fit
This is where Interakt has carved its niche. Its deep Shopify and WooCommerce integrations plus click-to-WhatsApp ad support make it a natural fit for D2C brands running abandoned-cart recovery, order updates, and WhatsApp-driven sales. Wati supports Shopify too, but Interakt’s e-commerce focus is more pronounced.
CRM integration
Like most WhatsApp BSPs, neither Wati nor Interakt is a CRM. Both rely on third-party connectors (Zapier, native integrations, or a custom API build) to push conversations into your sales system. That works, but it adds a sync layer to maintain and can leave your messaging history and your pipeline in two separate tools.
A third option built for AI + CRM
Skode Flow pairs WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, email, and web chat with a GPT-powered AI agent and native two-way sync to Skode CRM — no third-party connector. It also has a free plan and India (INR) pricing.
Where Skode Flow fits
Both Wati and Interakt treat the CRM as someone else’s job and automation as a keyword bot. Skode Flow, built by a Bangalore-based team, takes the opposite stance: a multi-channel inbox with a context-aware AI agent, and a CRM that’s part of the same platform so every conversation becomes a scored lead automatically. For Indian businesses that want messaging and pipeline unified — with INR pricing and a free tier to start — see how the combined WhatsApp CRM works, the detailed Skode Flow vs Wati breakdown, and our companion post on Respond.io vs Wati.
Which should you choose?
Choose Wati if UI polish and a mature chatbot builder are your priority and you’re comfortable with its pricing tiers. Choose Interakt if you’re a budget-conscious Indian SMB or D2C brand that lives on Shopify/WooCommerce and wants the lowest starting platform fee. Consider Skode Flow if you want native AI and a built-in CRM instead of bolt-on integrations, plus a free plan to test the waters.
Last updated: July 2026. WhatsApp platform features and pricing change frequently and vary by region; confirm current details on each provider’s website before deciding.