Key takeaways
- WATI is a WhatsApp Business API platform offering broadcasts, chatbots and a shared team inbox: Chatbox AI offers the same core toolkit.
- Chatbox AI plans: Starter ₹999/month, Growth ₹2,999/month, Scale Custom, all with a 7-day free trial.
- Meta supports migrating a WhatsApp Business API number between providers, so you usually keep your number.
- Plan the switch: export contacts, list templates and flows, then rebuild and test before cancelling your old plan.
- Always verify WATI's current plans on its website before comparing costs.
Teams look for a WATI alternative for ordinary reasons: a new pricing model to evaluate, a feature they need bundled differently, or a wish to consolidate tools. This guide covers what to evaluate, how Chatbox AI fits, and exactly how to move your WhatsApp number.
Last reviewed: September 2026, verify current competitor plans on their websites. WATI is a WhatsApp Business API platform offering broadcasts, chatbots and a shared team inbox. We do not quote its pricing or limits here; please check its website.
What to look for in a WATI alternative
Because every official provider sits on the same WhatsApp Business API, the differences are in how each platform packages and presents the tools. Check these:
- Official API access: make sure the provider uses Meta's official WhatsApp Business API, not unofficial automation that risks a ban.
- Inbox quality: routing, notes, collision detection and quick replies decide how fast agents work.
- Automation limits: how many chatbot flows, and whether drip campaigns are included.
- Commerce: catalogue, cart, payment links and store integrations if you sell online.
- Reporting: campaign and agent analytics you can act on.
- Total cost: subscription plus Meta's WhatsApp charges, which apply on every provider.
How Chatbox AI compares on those criteria
| What to check | How Chatbox AI handles it | WATI |
|---|---|---|
| Official WhatsApp Business API | WhatsApp Cloud API on every plan | Yes (publicly listed) |
| Broadcast campaigns | All plans; audience filters on Growth | Yes (publicly listed) |
| Shared team inbox | Routing, notes, collision detection; assignment rules on Growth | Yes (publicly listed) |
| Chatbot builder | No-code; 3 flows on Starter, unlimited on Growth | Yes (publicly listed) |
| Drip campaigns | Growth and Scale | Check vendor site |
| Catalogue and orders | Growth and Scale | Check vendor site |
| Pricing | ₹999 / ₹2,999 / Custom per month | Check vendor site |
In more detail, Chatbox AI gives you:
- A shared team inbox with intelligent routing, private notes and collision detection, plus quick replies.
- Broadcasts with scheduling and analytics, backed by contact management and rich message templates.
- A no-code chatbot with human handoff and automation for keyword triggers, drip sequences and out-of-office replies.
- A WhatsApp catalogue, Shopify and Razorpay integrations, and API and webhooks.
- Analytics for campaigns and agent performance.
Chatbox AI plans
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ₹999/month | 1,000 conversations, 2 seats, broadcasts, 3 chatbot flows, email support |
| Growth | ₹2,999/month | 10,000 conversations, 10 seats, assignment rules, unlimited flows, drip campaigns, catalogue, analytics |
| Scale | Custom | Unlimited conversations and seats, white-label, SSO, SLA, dedicated account manager, 24/7 phone support |
Every plan includes a 7-day free trial, no credit card required, and you can cancel anytime. Yearly billing saves 20%. Meta's WhatsApp charges are separate and passed through at cost. See the pricing page for the full plan comparison.
How to migrate your WhatsApp number to Chatbox AI
Meta allows a WhatsApp Business API number to move between providers. The exact screens depend on your current setup, and the Chatbox AI team will guide you, but the process generally looks like this:
- Audit your current setup. List your approved templates, chatbot flows, automations, tags and integrations. Take screenshots of key flows so you can rebuild them.
- Export your data. Download your contacts, tags and custom attributes as CSV from your current provider.
- Start your Chatbox AI trial. Sign up and explore the dashboard. Build and test your main flows on a test number first if you have one.
- Check Meta access. Make sure you are an admin on the Meta Business account that owns the number and that business verification details are in order.
- Handle two-step verification. Disable two-step verification on the number with your current provider, or make sure you know the PIN, migration cannot complete without it.
- Start the migration in Chatbox AI. Connect the number through Chatbox AI's onboarding flow and confirm with the verification code Meta sends to the number.
- Re-approve templates if needed. If your templates did not carry over, resubmit them. Chatbox AI shows each template as approved, pending or rejected.
- Import contacts and rebuild automation. Upload your CSV, recreate segments, then rebuild chatbot flows, drip campaigns and quick replies.
- Reconnect integrations. Reconnect Shopify, Razorpay, LeadSquared or your webhooks so events trigger messages again.
- Test end to end, then cancel. Send test broadcasts, run each flow, confirm agents can reply, and only then cancel your old subscription.
Plan the cutover for a quiet period, and tell your team in advance so no customer chat is missed during the switch.
What stays the same after you switch
Some things are set by Meta, not by your provider, so they carry on unchanged: the opt-in requirement, template approval rules, the 24-hour customer service window, messaging limit tiers and Meta's per-message charges. Your customers keep messaging the same number and will not notice the change of platform, only your team will.
Is switching right for you?
If WATI works well for your team today, switching only makes sense when a clear gain is available: a feature you need, better value at your volume or support that suits you better. Use the Chatbox AI trial to find out without risk. For a detailed side-by-side, read Chatbox AI vs WATI. If you are new to the API, start with our WhatsApp Business API guide.
More switching guides: Interakt alternative · AiSensy alternative · DoubleTick alternative.
Make the move with confidence
Start your 7-day free trial, no credit card required, and rebuild your key flows before you migrate. Need help planning a larger migration? Talk to our team.
Frequently asked questions
The best alternative is the one that fits your workflows and budget. Chatbox AI is a strong option for Indian businesses: official WhatsApp Business API, INR pricing from ₹999/month, Shopify and Razorpay integrations, and a 7-day free trial to test before you move.
What is the best WATI alternative in India? The best alternative is the one that fits your workflows and budget. Chatbox AI is a strong option for Indian businesses: official WhatsApp Business API, INR pricing from ₹999/month, Shopify and Razorpay integrations, and a 7-day free trial to test before you move.
Will I lose my WhatsApp number if I leave WATI? Usually not. Meta supports migrating a WhatsApp Business API phone number from one provider to another. You need access to the number to receive a verification code and must disable or know the two-step verification PIN.
Do my message templates move with my number? It depends on how the migration is done. If your WhatsApp Business Account moves with the number, templates may carry over; otherwise you will need to resubmit them for Meta approval. Chatbox AI tracks each template's approval status in the dashboard.
How long does it take to switch to Chatbox AI? Connecting a number to Chatbox AI typically takes under two minutes once your Meta setup is ready. A full switch, importing contacts, rebuilding flows and reconnecting integrations, is usually planned over a few days so you can test before going live.
Can I try Chatbox AI before cancelling WATI? Yes. Every Chatbox AI plan includes a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. Many teams build and test their flows first, then migrate the production number once they are confident.
