SmartChat vs. Gupshup
SmartChat vs. Gupshup.
SmartChat vs. Gupshup: The two providers charge for WhatsApp differently. SmartChat lists fixed plans in euros per month, with no add-ons and no markup on Meta fees. On its self-serve pages, Gupshup lists a fee per message in US dollars, no subscription fee and the WhatsApp fee at actual cost. As of: 02.11.2026.
The comparison table at a glance.
The details about Gupshup come from the public Gupshup pages, retrieved on 02.11.2026. Gupshup prices and fees are shown as a word-for-word quote from the page, in US dollars.
| SmartChat | Gupshup | |
|---|---|---|
| proof of consent | Per contact with date, time and channel, as a PDF, in every plan | x |
| Automatic double opt-in | Confirmation in WhatsApp after signing up through a landing page or popup, in every plan | x |
| WhatsApp newsletter and follow-ups | In every plan, even Free. Sending costs no credits | x |
| Automations per plan | 1, 1, 3, unlimited (Free, Starter, Basic, Pro) | x |
| Pricing model | Fixed plans: €0 (Free), €299, €499, €999 per month | Self-serve: “Gupshup charges a standard 0.001 USD per message fee.” “No hidden fees, no subscription fees, no volume commitment” |
| Meta fees for WhatsApp | You pay Meta directly. SmartChat adds nothing on top. No add-ons, no setup fee | “*WhatsApp fee at actuals”. “First 1,000 Service messages are free of WhatsApp fees.” |
| Minimum term and cancellation | No minimum term, no commitment. Cancel any time, up to 1 hour before the charge | x |
| Limits for contacts, messages, team | Unlimited contacts. Messages 100 one-time (Free), 3,000 (Starter), 6,000 (Basic) per month, Pro unlimited. Team seats 1, 3, 6, 12 | x |
x = not described on the provider's public pages, as of 02.11.2026.
Who fits what.
The points below are documented features, not a verdict. The two providers bill WhatsApp differently, and that is the biggest difference.
SmartChat features
- A ready-made system in 60 seconds. Enter your website and SmartChat AI builds your landing page, confirmation message and follow-ups.
- Consent built in. The double opt-in runs automatically, and you get the proof for each contact with date, time and route as a PDF.
- Sending without credits. Newsletters, follow-ups and automations cost no credits. Only SmartChat AI, the emergency WhatsApp message and domain purchases use credits.
- Fixed monthly prices. Free costs €0, Starter €299, Basic €499 and Pro €999. Contacts are unlimited in every plan.
- Integrations included in the plan. API, MCP, webhook, Zapier, Make and n8n are included in every plan.
Gupshup features
- Fee per message. The pricing page writes: “Gupshup charges a standard 0.001 USD per message fee.”
- No subscription fee in self-serve. The page says “No hidden fees, no subscription fees, no volume commitment”.
- WhatsApp fee at actual cost. The page says “*WhatsApp fee at actuals”.
- Free service messages. The pricing page writes: “First 1,000 Service messages are free of WhatsApp fees.”
Prices at a glance.
The pricing models are completely different: SmartChat charges per plan per month, Gupshup lists fees per message. That is why the providers' own figures are shown here, without conversion and without a calculation example.
Prices at Gupshup
The Gupshup self-serve pages say: “Gupshup charges a standard 0.001 USD per message fee.” The page lists amounts in US dollars and does not say whether taxes are included. On billing, it says: “No hidden fees, no subscription fees, no volume commitment”. For the WhatsApp fee, it says “*WhatsApp fee at actuals”, and “First 1,000 Service messages are free of WhatsApp fees.”
Prices at SmartChat
SmartChat lists four plans with a fixed price in euros per month. Paying 3 months in advance gets you 24% off, 12 months in advance 37%.
| Free | Starter | Basic | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | 0 € | 299 € | 499 € | 999 € |
| Price per month when paying 3 months in advance | 0 € | 227 € | 379 € | 759 € |
| Price per month when paying 12 months in advance | 0 € | 188 € | 314 € | 629 € |
| Contacts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| team seats | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| Automations | 1 | 1 | 3 | Unlimited |
| Source | SmartChat pricing | SmartChat pricing | SmartChat pricing | SmartChat pricing |
Meta fees
With SmartChat, you pay the Meta fees directly to Meta, through the payment method in your Meta account. There is no markup per message.
Fits less well, when.
At SmartChat
- You want to send messages across multiple channels. SmartChat only sends via WhatsApp.
- You want to build a chatbot yourself. SmartChat has no chatbot builder. In Basic and Pro, SmartChat builds your automation.
- You need multiple WhatsApp numbers in one account. One account has 1 WhatsApp number. For multiple numbers, you create multiple accounts.
- You want to build your own automations in the Starter plan. Your own automations start with Basic. The one automation in Starter is the fixed double opt-in automation.
- You want to resell SmartChat under your own name. There is no white label.
With Gupshup
- You want to plan a fixed sum per month. Gupshup lists a fee per message: “Gupshup charges a standard 0.001 USD per message fee.” On top of that comes, according to the page, the WhatsApp fee: “*WhatsApp fee at actuals”.
- You are looking for consent and newsletters in one plan. We found no description of this on the Gupshup pages we checked (as of 02.11.2026).
FAQ about SmartChat and Gupshup.
What is the difference between SmartChat and Gupshup in billing?
SmartChat charges fixed plans in euros per month and no surcharge per message. On its self-serve pages, Gupshup lists a fee per message in US dollars and no subscription fee. Word for word: “Gupshup charges a standard 0.001 USD per message fee.”
Does Gupshup have a subscription fee?
The Gupshup self-serve page writes: “No hidden fees, no subscription fees, no volume commitment”. The page applies to the self-serve offer, as of 02.11.2026. We did not check other offers.
Which plans does SmartChat have and what do they cost?
Free €0, Starter €299, Basic €499 and Pro €999 per month. If you pay 3 months in advance, you save 24%, and with 12 months in advance it is 37%. More details are shown on the page Pricing.
Who pays Meta's WhatsApp fee?
With SmartChat, you pay it directly to Meta, and SmartChat adds nothing on top. Gupshup writes: “*WhatsApp fee at actuals” and “First 1,000 Service messages are free of WhatsApp fees.”
Does sending cost credits with SmartChat?
No. Newsletters, follow-ups and automations cost no credits. Credits are used by SmartChat AI (for example 20 per AI reply), the emergency WhatsApp message and domain purchases. Credits never expire.
How does consent work at SmartChat?
Anyone who signs up through a landing page or popup confirms once in WhatsApp. That is the automatic double opt-in. Newsletters and follow-ups only go to confirmed contacts, and anyone who writes STOP unsubscribes.
Can I prove consent later with SmartChat?
Yes. For every contact, you get the proof of consent with date, time and route as a PDF. This applies in every plan, even Free. For Gupshup, we find no description of this on the pages we checked.
How many automations does SmartChat offer?
Free has 1, Starter 1 (the fixed double opt-in automation), Basic 3 and Pro unlimited. In Basic and Pro, SmartChat builds your automation for you on request.
Is there a minimum term with SmartChat?
No, there is no minimum term or commitment. You can cancel any time without notice, up to 1 hour before the charge. Paid time stays usable until the end.
What limits does SmartChat have?
You can store contacts in every plan with no upper limit. Messages per month: Starter 3,000, Basic 6,000, Pro unlimited, Free 100 one-time. Team seats: 1, 3, 6 and 12. One account has 1 WhatsApp number.
How quickly does an account start with SmartChat?
You enter your website, and SmartChat AI builds a landing page, confirmation message and follow-ups in 60 seconds. You can start on the free plan with no credit card.
When did SmartChat read the Gupshup pages?
The details come from the public Gupshup pages, retrieved on 02.11.2026. After that, prices and features can change. We are SmartChat and therefore a provider ourselves. Tell us about a wrong detail via Contact.
Try SmartChat for free.
Enter your website. In 60 seconds, your WhatsApp marketing system is ready, no credit card needed.
Sources and date. All details about Gupshup come from the provider's public pages, retrieved on 02.11.2026. Prices and features can change. SmartChat is the provider of this page. This comparison comes from SmartChat and is not legal advice.
Gupshup: Gupshup WhatsApp API pricing · Gupshup Self-Serve WhatsApp
SmartChat: SmartChat pricing · Landing page · proof of consent · Double opt-in · API
Gupshup is a trademark of its respective owners. Found a wrong detail? Please report it via Contact.
Last updated: By SmartChat Team