The Messaging API Wati
Should Have Become
Start free. All channels included. Paid plans from $20/mo. 1,000 users x 100 WhatsApp messages = $5 with Zavu vs ~$50+ with Wati.*
*WhatsApp within 24h window. SMS from $0.004 plus carrier fees, email at $0.40 per 1,000.
Why We Built Zavu
For more than a decade, Wati was the default choice for developers who needed to send messages, verify users, or build communication flows. It was powerful, flexible, and the only truly global CPaaS that startups could rely on.
But then something changed. Pricing exploded. The product surface became massive and complex. Developers who once loved Wati started saying the same thing:
"Wati is great.. But it's too expensive, too fragmented, and too much for what we actually need."
Startups, SaaS companies, and AI teams were paying high fees on WhatsApp, SMS, and email. Platform fees. Conversation fees. Hidden costs. Unpredictable monthly bills.
We asked a simple question: Why isn't there a modern messaging API designed for developers in 2025? So we built one.
Why Teams Switch to Zavu
Real reasons engineering teams migrate after years of using Wati.
WhatsApp 24h = No Extra Fees
WhatsApp messages within 24h window are free from Meta. With Zavu, messages are included in your plan. Wati charges conversation fees on every interaction.
Included in Plan, Not Per-Message
Messages included in your plan. Free Plan starts at 2,000 msgs/mo. Paid plans from $20/mo with up to 1M messages.
One API for All Channels
No more juggling Wati's multiple APIs. One SDK, one webhook format, all channels unified.
Built for Modern Stacks
SDKs for Python and JavaScript, MCP servers for AI agents, and a clean REST API. First-class support for Vercel, Convex, and serverless architectures.
AI Agent Native
Purpose-built for AI applications with intelligent routing, template management, and real-time webhooks for agent frameworks.
Global Channel Coverage
WhatsApp, SMS, and Email. The channels that matter most. Optimized for LatAm, EMEA, India, and WhatsApp-first markets.
Feature Comparison
An objective look at how Zavu compares to Wati.
| Feature | Wati | Zavu |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per message + conversation fees | From $0/mo |
| Channel Pricing | Platform fees + carrier | Transparent rates |
| API Integration | Multiple APIs | Single unified API |
| AI Agent Support | Limited | Built-in with MCP servers |
| Modern Stack Support | Enterprise-focused | Vercel, Convex, Bun, serverless |
| Time to First Message | Hours to days | 15 minutes |
Pricing Comparison: The Real Numbers
Zavu charges nothing per message on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Messenger. Wati bills a conversation fee plus per-message charges. SMS and email are billed per message on both.
Zavu: No Per-Message Fee on WhatsApp
You pay for the plan, not for each reply
Wati bills a conversation fee plus per-message charges. Zavu adds nothing per message on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Messenger. The free plan covers 2,000 messages a month across those channels. Pro is $20/mo and has no message cap.
100,000 WhatsApp msgs in the 24h window
1,000,000 WhatsApp msgs in the 24h window
* WhatsApp inside the 24-hour service window, where Meta charges nothing and Zavu adds no per-message fee. Templates sent outside it are billed by Meta directly, not through Zavu. SMS from $0.004 per message plus carrier fees; email at $0.40 per 1,000.
24-Hour Window = No Extra Cost
Meta doesn't charge, we don't charge
When a user messages you first, you have 24 hours to reply freely. Meta charges nothing for these service conversations, and Zavu adds no fee of its own. With Wati, you pay a conversation fee on every interaction.
Example: an AI agent answering 100,000 messages a month inside the window:
| Use Case | Zavu | Wati |
|---|---|---|
100,000 WhatsApp msgs (24h window) An agent replying inside the service window | $20 Pro plan, no per-message fee | Conversation fees Per conversation, plus per-message charges |
1,000,000 WhatsApp msgs (24h window) The same agent at ten times the volume | $20 Pro has no message cap | Conversation fees Scales with volume |
100,000 SMS to US numbers SMS is billed per message on both | $0.004/msg and up Carrier fees billed on top | List price + carrier fees Carrier fees quoted separately |
* WhatsApp inside the 24-hour service window, where Meta charges nothing and Zavu adds no per-message fee. Templates sent outside it are billed by Meta directly, not through Zavu. SMS from $0.004 per message plus carrier fees; email at $0.40 per 1,000.
Honest Comparison: When to Choose What
We believe in transparency. Here's when each platform makes sense.
Choose Zavu if you..
- Build AI agents, chatbots, or conversational apps
- Have most traffic within 24h conversation windows
- Want simple, predictable pricing
- Need to ship fast without enterprise overhead
- Focus on WhatsApp-first markets (LatAm, EMEA, India)
- Want transparent channel pricing
- Prefer modern developer experience
Consider Wati if you..
- Need voice calling and video capabilities
- Require Wati Verify for authentication
- Already have deep Wati integrations
- Need the full CPaaS ecosystem
- Work with enterprises that mandate Wati
- Need phone number provisioning at scale
What It Costs at Volume
Zavu's platform fee does not move with volume. SMS carrier rates are billed per message on top, on both sides of this table.
SMS per month
10,000
(to US numbers)
Grows with volume, before carrier fees
The plan fee, flat at any volume. Zavu adds no per-message platform fee; carrier rates are billed on top.
SMS per month
100,000
(to US numbers)
Grows with volume, before carrier fees
The plan fee, flat at any volume. Zavu adds no per-message platform fee; carrier rates are billed on top.
SMS per month
1,000,000
(to US numbers)
Grows with volume, before carrier fees
The plan fee, flat at any volume. Zavu adds no per-message platform fee; carrier rates are billed on top.
* WhatsApp inside the 24-hour window: Zavu charges the plan fee and nothing per message; Wati bills a conversation fee plus per-message charges. SMS starts at $0.004 per message, and carrier fees apply on both sides. WhatsApp templates sent outside the window are billed by Meta directly.
What You Get with Zavu
Included
No Hidden Costs
Our Promise to Developers
We won't overwhelm you with dashboards.
We won't create unnecessary products.
We won't hide margins in your traffic.
We won't punish you for growing.
Zavu exists for one reason: to make messaging infrastructure simple, affordable, and unified. For developers building the next generation of software.
Ready to Simplify Your Messaging?
Join developers who switched from Wati to Zavu. Start sending messages in 15 minutes.