The best BotSailor alternative for Indian businesses that mainly use WhatsApp in 2026 is a usage-only WhatsApp Business API platform billed in rupees, such as RichAutomate, where you pay ₹0 setup, ₹0 per month and only Meta's per-message rate plus ₹0.10 per message. BotSailor remains a good fit if you want one chatbot builder across WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and website chat, priced by subscriber count in US dollars.
This page compares both on published pricing, how the bill grows with your contact list, features, and how to move your number without losing it. All BotSailor figures come from BotSailor's public pricing page as of October 2026 and are shown there in US dollars; check their page for current numbers before you decide.
Quick verdict: BotSailor vs RichAutomate
BotSailor is a subscriber-tiered, multi-channel chatbot builder; RichAutomate is a usage-based WhatsApp Business API platform. With BotSailor your monthly plan is set by how many subscribers you have. With RichAutomate there is no monthly fee by default, and the bill moves only with messages you actually send.
- Choose RichAutomate if WhatsApp is your main channel, you want rupee billing with zero fixed cost, you have a large contact list you message only occasionally, or you need agency white-label at a flat rupee price.
- Choose BotSailor if you run bots on Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and your website as well as WhatsApp, or you have a very small list that fits its free plan.
- Look closely at your contact-to-message ratio. A big list with low send frequency pushes a subscriber-tiered plan up without adding value; a small list messaged daily narrows the gap.
| Factor | BotSailor | RichAutomate |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly plan priced by subscriber count | Per-message only; plans optional |
| Billing currency | US dollars | Indian rupees |
| Setup fee | Not listed as a separate fee | ₹0 |
| Free option | Free plan: up to 200 subscribers, 200K AI tokens a month | 14-day free trial + 100 free credits |
| Cheapest paid plan | $10.99/month for 500 subscribers | ₹0/month on usage-only billing |
| Meta message charges | Not stated on the pricing page | Client Pay: Meta's rate + ₹0.10/msg. SaaS Pay: ₹1.50 marketing, ₹0.50 utility |
| White-label for agencies | Separate reseller pricing | White-label plan ₹1,199/month |
BotSailor pricing in 2026, as published
BotSailor's pricing page lists a Free plan and a Premium plan whose price is set by your subscriber count. The more subscribers you hold, the higher the monthly fee, regardless of how many messages you send.
- Free ($0, forever): up to 200 subscribers and 200K AI tokens a month, across WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and website chat, with the visual flow builder and an omnichannel shared inbox. APIs and webhooks are not included.
- Premium (from $10.99/month): starts at $10.99 per month for 500 subscribers and rises in steps to $216.99 per month for 100,000 subscribers. Premium adds Shopify and WooCommerce integrations plus APIs and webhooks.
- Yearly billing: the page shows about 20% off when you pay annually.
- White-label and reseller: listed with separate pricing.
Two things the page does not spell out: how a subscriber is counted across channels, and whether Meta's per-message WhatsApp charges are billed on your own Meta card or through BotSailor. Ask BotSailor both questions before you compare totals. Because plans are priced in US dollars, your rupee cost also moves with the exchange rate, and your bank may add a foreign-currency fee on card payments.
How the bill grows with your contact list
The real difference is what drives the bill. A subscriber-tiered plan charges for the size of your list; a usage-only plan charges for the messages you send. The table shows RichAutomate's platform cost at three monthly volumes, before Meta's rate on Client Pay. Use our WhatsApp API cost calculator to add Meta's current India rate for your message mix.
| Messages sent a month | RichAutomate Client Pay (platform fee) | RichAutomate SaaS Pay, utility (all-inclusive) | RichAutomate SaaS Pay, marketing (all-inclusive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 | ₹200 + Meta's rate | ₹1,000 | ₹3,000 |
| 10,000 | ₹1,000 + Meta's rate | ₹5,000 | ₹15,000 |
| 50,000 | ₹5,000 + Meta's rate | ₹25,000 | ₹75,000 |
Now picture a business with 20,000 contacts that sends one order update or offer to each of them once a month. On a subscriber-tiered plan it pays the 20,000-subscriber tier every month, even in a slow month. On RichAutomate Client Pay it pays ₹2,000 in platform fees plus Meta's rate for the 20,000 messages it sent, and ₹0 in a month it sends nothing.
SaaS Pay is the convenience option, not the cheapest one: one rupee invoice and no card setup in Meta's billing, in exchange for a higher per-message price. If cost decides it, use Client Pay. Our guide to Client Pay vs SaaS Pay billing explains which suits your cash flow.
Test it with your own numbers: start a 14-day free trial with 100 credits on RichAutomate, connect a test number and send real templates before you commit to anything.
Features side by side
Both run WhatsApp on Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform, so delivery, template approval and quality rating are decided by Meta, not by the provider. No provider can promise delivery or protect a number from being restricted; opt-in quality and template relevance decide that.
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| Capability | BotSailor (per its site) | RichAutomate |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, website chat | WhatsApp-focused |
| Visual flow builder | Yes, including on Free | Yes, drag-and-drop |
| Shared team inbox | Omnichannel shared inbox | WhatsApp shared team inbox |
| AI tokens bundled | 200K a month on Free; Premium per plan | Not sold as token bundles |
| Developer API | APIs and webhooks on Premium | Public REST API with API keys |
| Broadcast to opted-in contacts | Check current plan details | Yes, with delivery tracking |
| Agency white-label | Separate reseller pricing | ₹1,199/month plan |
If you want a bundled plan instead of pure usage billing, RichAutomate lists Starter at ₹499/month and Pro at ₹899/month alongside usage-only billing; see current inclusions on the RichAutomate pricing page. If the chatbot builder is your main criterion, our roundup of the best WhatsApp chatbot builders in India compares more options.
When BotSailor is still the better fit
An honest alternative page should say when not to switch. BotSailor can be the better choice when:
- You need bots on several channels. One builder for WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and website chat saves running separate tools. RichAutomate focuses on WhatsApp only.
- Your list is tiny. If you stay under 200 subscribers, BotSailor's free plan may cover your bot without a monthly fee.
- You lean on AI replies and want an AI token allowance bundled into the plan.
- You already pay for software in US dollars and currency movement does not matter to your budgeting.
For an Indian business where WhatsApp carries most of the conversation, paying a dollar plan that grows with list size is the main cost to cut. If you are shortlisting more vendors, see our ranking of the best WhatsApp Business API providers in India and the Pabbly Chatflow alternative comparison.
How to switch from BotSailor to RichAutomate
You do not need a new number. If your number runs on the WhatsApp Business API, Meta supports migrating it between WhatsApp Business Accounts, and per Meta's documentation the display name, quality rating and messaging-limit tier carry over.
- Export your data: contacts, tags and opt-in records, so your consent trail moves with you.
- List your approved templates with their exact wording and category, ready to recreate.
- Document your bot flows with screenshots of each branch, so you can rebuild them in the new flow builder.
- Turn off two-step verification on the number, or get the PIN, so the number can be released.
- Connect the number in RichAutomate through Meta's onboarding and verify it with the OTP.
- Rebuild templates and flows, send test messages to your own phone, then move live traffic.
- Cancel the old plan only after a full day of clean sending on the new platform.
Keep your business verification documents handy. Meta may ask for them again, and the verified badge is always Meta's decision, not the provider's.
Ready to pay for messages instead of list size? Create your RichAutomate account with a 14-day free trial and 100 free credits: ₹0 setup, ₹0 monthly, rupee billing, and you only pay when you send.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best BotSailor alternative in India?
For Indian businesses that mainly use WhatsApp, a usage-only WhatsApp Business API platform such as RichAutomate is the strongest BotSailor alternative: rupee billing, ₹0 setup, ₹0 monthly fee, and Client Pay at Meta's rate plus ₹0.10 per message. BotSailor suits teams that want one chatbot builder across WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram and website chat.
How much does BotSailor cost per month?
BotSailor's public pricing page lists a Free plan at $0 for up to 200 subscribers, and Premium plans priced by subscriber count, from $10.99 per month for 500 subscribers up to $216.99 per month for 100,000 subscribers, with about 20% off on yearly billing. Prices are in US dollars; check their page for current figures.
Is RichAutomate cheaper than BotSailor?
It depends on how often you message your contacts. BotSailor's plan fee grows with your subscriber count whether you send or not, while RichAutomate charges ₹0 per month and only per message sent. For large contact lists messaged a few times a month, usage-only billing is usually cheaper; use the WABA cost calculator to check your own mix.
Does BotSailor include Meta's WhatsApp message charges?
BotSailor's pricing page does not state how Meta's per-message WhatsApp charges are billed, so ask BotSailor directly whether they are paid to Meta on your own card or added to your invoice. On RichAutomate you choose: Client Pay, where Meta bills your card and the platform fee is ₹0.10 per message, or SaaS Pay at ₹1.50 per marketing and ₹0.50 per utility message, all-inclusive.
Can I move my WhatsApp number from BotSailor to RichAutomate?
Yes, if the number is on the official WhatsApp Business API. Meta supports migrating a phone number between WhatsApp Business Accounts. Turn off two-step verification on the number, connect it in RichAutomate through Meta's onboarding, verify the OTP, and recreate your templates and flows before cancelling the old plan.