WATI vs Gupshup: Detailed Comparison (2026)
Wondering whether to go with Wati or Gupshup? Let’s help you decide.
Quick summary
WATI and Gupshup both enable you to use the WhatsApp Business API, but they’re designed for very different audiences. WATI is a user-friendly, SaaS-style platform designed for mid- to large-sized businesses seeking WhatsApp-focused campaign management and automation tools. Gupshup, in contrast, is a more technical, enterprise-grade messaging provider, offering APIs, multi-channel support, and deep customization for businesses with in-house development teams.
That said, both platforms add a markup to WhatsApp API charges, which can become costly as usage scales, and often fall short of providing the hands-on support growing businesses require to succeed.
That’s where WANotifier comes into play. It offers a dedicated WhatsApp marketing and automation solution with transparent pricing, 0% markup on API charges, and responsive email and chat support across all plans, enabling you to scale your WhatsApp communications without unnecessary complexity or hidden costs.
Want to give WANotifier a try? Start your 7-day free trial today!
Wati
Wati is a go-to platform for businesses that want to scale customer conversations on WhatsApp. With tools like bulk broadcasts, Click-to-WhatsApp ads, chatbots, WhatsApp Flows, and an AI-powered support agent, Wati helps brands deliver timely and personalized messages while streamlining customer support.
Gupshup
Gupshup is a customer engagement platform that enables large enterprises to manage communication across multiple channels, including WhatsApp, SMS, RCS, Instagram, and others. Gupshup offers a wide range of marketing and automation tools, but it can feel overwhelming and expensive for SMBs that only want to use it for WhatsApp marketing.
Core differentiators
Wati core differentiators
Key features
- Broadcast campaigns
- Easy-to-use chatbot builder
- WhatsApp Flows and retargeting automations
- WhatsApp payments
- AI-powered support agent
Pros
- Powerful automation features, including an AI support agent and a no-code chatbot builder
- Integrates easily with popular CRM, ecommerce, and other third-party platforms
- Offers email support across all plans
Cons
- Adds a 60% markup on marketing messages ($0.01712 per message vs. the official $0.0107 rate)
- Requires users to pre-purchase messaging credits
- Maximum no. of users capped at 5 (even in the highest tier); additional seats cost $39 to $89 per user
- Broadcast scheduling and analytics not included in the base plan
- No free onboarding support for Growth or Pro plan users
Supported integrations
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Zapier
- Zoho CRM
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
…and more
Best for
Mid- to large-sized businesses that want a scalable WhatsApp automation solution and can absorb higher messaging costs.
Gupshup core differentiators
Key features
- Multi-channel messaging (WhatsApp, SMS, RCS, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, etc.)
- Targeted WhatsApp broadcasts
- Advanced user segmentation
- AI-powered chatbots
- WhatsApp payments
Pros
- Supports multi-channel messaging
- Easy-to-use chatbot builder with extensive customization options
- Seamless integrations with major CRMs and business tools
- Prompt and helpful customer support
Cons
- Adds a considerable markup on WhatsApp’s official messaging costs
- Charges an additional fee for session messages, even though WhatsApp does not
- No free trial
- Better suited for large enterprises than SMBs
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Reporting tools offer limited customization options
Supported integrations
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Shopify
- Zendesk
… and more
Best for
Mid-market and enterprise businesses that are already managing multiple channels and want to include WhatsApp as part of a broader omnichannel strategy.
Pricing
Wati pricing
(Messaging charges include a markup and are billed separately)
Free Trial: Yes (7-day free trial)
Subscription Options: Monthly and yearly billing
Plans:
- Growth: $69 / ₹2,499 per month
- Pro: $149 / ₹5,999 per month
- Business: $349 / ₹16,999 per month
Pay-as-you-go Plan:
- ₹999 (includes 500 WhatsApp messages, valid for 3 months)
Gupshup pricing
(WhatsApp messaging charges + Gupshup’s additional fee are billed separately)
Free Trial: No
Subscription Options: Self-serve and Enterprise plans
Plans:
Gupshup offers both self-serve pricing and enterprise plans. In the self-serve model, charges are deducted on a per-message basis, with additional fees for:
- Session messages (which are technically free as per WhatsApp’s pricing policy)
- Template messages
Support
Wati support options
Customer support
- Support documentation
- Email support (for all paid users)
- Chat support (only for Pro and Business users)
- Priority support (only for Business users)
- Dedicated customer success manager (only for Business users)
Onboarding
Wati does not include onboarding support for Growth or Pro plan users. However, you can purchase it as a paid add-on for these subscriptions. Custom onboarding and setup are also offered as a paid add-on.
Gupshup support options
Customer support
- Help center
- Email support (for all users)
- Support tickets
- Dedicated account manager (for all users)
Onboarding
Gupshup offers in-depth product documentation and personalized assistance to help users get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wati FAQs
Does Wati offer a free trial?+
Yes. Wati offers a free 7-day trial on all its plans.
What type of businesses can use Wati?+
Wati caters to several industries and use cases, including e-commerce and D2C brands, e-learning platforms, healthcare institutions, and marketing agencies.
What are the limitations of Wati?+
Wati adds a notable markup to WhatsApp’s messaging rates and requires users to prepay for messaging credits. It also restricts essential features, such as broadcast scheduling and analytics, to higher plans, caps the maximum number of team members at 5, even in the highest tier plan, and offers onboarding support only as a paid add-on for its Growth and Pro users.
How does Wati compare to WANotifier?+
Wati offers powerful automation features and robust support for integrations. However, it can become costly due to its high markup on messaging rates and the added costs for extra users, automation triggers, and onboarding assistance.
WANotifier, on the other hand, charges 0% markup, provides chat and email support across all plans, includes more features in its lower tiers, and offers free WhatsApp API onboarding assistance for every user, making it a more cost-friendly choice for growing businesses just getting started with WhatsApp.
What are the alternatives to Wati?+
WANotifier is a strong alternative to Wati for WhatsApp marketing and automation. For other options, check out this list of Wati alternatives.
Gupshup FAQs
Does Gupshup offer a free trial?+
No, Gupshup does not offer a free trial or free version of its platform.
What type of businesses can use Gupshup?+
Gupshup is best suited for mid-market and enterprise businesses that want to manage conversations across multiple channels, including WhatsApp, SMS, RCS, and social media platforms like Instagram.
What are the limitations of Gupshup?+
Gupshup adds a significant markup to WhatsApp’s official messaging rates, including session messages, which are technically free under WhatsApp’s pricing policy. Its pricing model can also feel unclear and complex, and the platform can be overkill for small teams focused solely on WhatsApp marketing. Additionally, it has a steep learning curve and offers limited customization options within its reporting tools.
How does Gupshup compare to WANotifier?+
Gupshup is ideal for enterprises looking to engage customers across multiple channels, but it can be complex and costly for smaller teams focused only on WhatsApp marketing.
WANotifier, on the other hand, is built specifically for WhatsApp marketing and automation and is ideal for SMBs and growing businesses seeking a platform that supports their current needs and long-term growth goals. It also offers transparent pricing (starting at $49/month for 1,000 contacts) with 0% markup on WhatsApp’s messaging rates (so you only pay for what you use). Also, unlike Gupshup, WANotifier provides a free 7-day trial on all paid plans, allowing you to test its features and ensure they align with your goals.
What are the alternatives to Gupshup?+
If you want a platform that’s designed specifically for WhatsApp marketing and automation, WANotifier is a great choice. For additional options, check out this list of Gupshup alternatives.