AiSensy, Wati or Interakt for WhatsApp?
All three resell the same WhatsApp Business API. What differs is the layer on top — and that's what you're actually buying.
The first thing to understand: none of these is WhatsApp. All three are Business Solution Providers sitting on Meta's WhatsApp Business API. The underlying messaging capability, the template approval process and Meta's conversation charges are broadly the same whichever you pick.
You are choosing the software on top, and the support behind it.
What is genuinely the same
- Template messages need Meta approval. Every provider waits in the same queue.
- Meta's conversation-based charges apply regardless.
- Green tick verification is Meta's decision, not the provider's.
- 24-hour customer service window rules are Meta's rules.
Any provider implying otherwise is selling you something that is not theirs to sell.
Where they differ
Interakt is the most Shopify-native of the three. Catalog sync, abandoned cart and order notifications work with the least configuration. For a merchant whose main need is transactional messaging tied to Shopify events, it is generally the shortest path to working.
AiSensy leans towards campaigns — broadcast, segmentation, retargeting flows. If your use case is marketing volume rather than transactional messaging, this is where it is strongest. It also tends to be the more accessible option at the lower end.
Wati is the most team-oriented. Shared inbox, agent assignment, routing. If several people answer customer messages, this is the difference between a tool and a chaos multiplier.
Choosing by use case
| If your primary need is | Start with |
|---|---|
| Order and shipping notifications from Shopify | Interakt |
| Broadcast campaigns and segmentation | AiSensy |
| A team answering customer conversations | Wati |
| A custom flow you will build yourself | Whichever has the best API docs |
The things that actually bite
Template rejection. Meta rejects promotional templates routinely and the reasons are frequently opaque. Ask any provider you are evaluating how they support you through rejections, because you will need it.
Opt-in hygiene. Messaging people who did not opt in gets your number quality rating downgraded, and a bad rating throttles your sending limits. This is the most common way merchants damage a WhatsApp channel, and no provider protects you from yourself.
Number migration. Moving a number between providers is possible but disruptive. Treat the first choice as sticky for at least a year.
API depth. If you plan to build custom automations rather than use their dashboard, evaluate the API before the UI. This is where the three diverge most and where feature grids tell you least.
My default
For a Shopify merchant who mainly wants order updates and abandoned cart recovery working quickly: Interakt. For a brand running WhatsApp as a marketing channel: AiSensy. For anyone with a support team: Wati.
Verify current pricing directly — it moves, and it is the one thing not worth taking from a blog post.