WhatsApp Integration for Shopify Stores in India
Which Shopify messages to send on WhatsApp, how Meta charges for them, the opt-in rules you must follow, and when an app is enough for your store.
Start with the order messages customers already expect, such as COD confirmations and shipping updates. Add marketing messages once you have proper opt-in and can see what each message costs.
What to send first
| Message | Why it helps | Likely Meta category |
|---|---|---|
| COD order confirmation | Catches orders likely to be returned before you ship | Utility |
| Shipping and delivery updates | Prepares the customer for the delivery attempt | Utility |
| Replies to customer questions | Keeps support in one channel | Service |
| Abandoned cart reminders | Brings back people who nearly bought | Marketing |
| Offers and launches | Reaches past customers directly | Marketing |
Meta decides the category from your approved template, so treat the last column as a guide.
How Meta charges
Since 1 July 2025, Meta has charged per delivered message. The rate depends on the category and the recipient’s country code, and Meta publishes India’s rates in its rate card. Check it before you budget, because rates change.
- Messages from customers to you are not charged.
- Each business number gets 1,000 free service messages a month. Meta’s page says service messages beyond that are charged from 1 October 2026.
- A customer who arrives through a Click-to-WhatsApp ad opens a free window of up to 7 days for most message types.
- Your app or provider may add its own fee on top of Meta’s charge.
Get opt-in before you message
Meta requires opt-in before you message anyone. Your opt-in has to make clear that the person is agreeing to hear from your business, name the business, and follow local law. A checkbox at checkout works, provided it says those things. Meta also suggests separate opt-ins by message type and a clear way to opt out, and you must honour opt-outs.
App or custom build?
An app from the Shopify App Store is usually the right start if your needs are confirmations, updates and cart reminders. Compare its monthly fee, any charge per message, and what it does to your page speed.
A custom setup becomes worth pricing when WhatsApp has to work with your CRM, your COD rules or systems outside Shopify, or when per-message markups grow large. Our WhatsApp commerce guide covers that architecture, and our WhatsApp commerce service shows what we build. To use confirmations against returned orders, read our cash on delivery guide.
