Wati vs Periskope

Wati is an official WhatsApp Business API platform built for template campaigns, chatbots and Click-to-WhatsApp ads, billed per plan plus per-message charges. Periskope connects your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business App numbers by QR code and is built for teams that work in WhatsApp groups and 1:1 chats across several numbers, with no per-message fees. Pick Wati for large opt-in broadcasts and a verified badge; pick Periskope for group-heavy support, sales and operations.

The short version

• Connection: Wati runs on the WhatsApp Business API; Periskope links regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business App numbers by QR code.

• Groups: Wati supports API groups only on its Business plan, for verified (OBA) numbers, with up to 7 external participants per group. Periskope manages unlimited groups the number is already part of.

• Pricing: Wati starts at ₹2,699 a month billed quarterly plus per-message charges. Periskope is ₹2,000 (Starter) or ₹3,000 (Pro) per user per month on monthly billing, with no per-message fees.

• Choose Wati for template marketing at scale, green tick, chatbots and Click-to-WhatsApp ad tooling. Choose Periskope for groups, multiple numbers and CRM-style ticketing on WhatsApp.

Feature comparison

Pricing compared

Prices checked October 23, 2026. Wati Growth is ₹2,699 a month billed quarterly with 3 users and no option to add users. Pro is ₹5,799 a month billed quarterly with 5 users, and Business is ₹16,799 a month billed quarterly with 5 users. Extra WhatsApp numbers cost ₹2,499 a month each. Every Wati plan adds per-message charges for marketing, utility and authentication templates, and from October 1, 2026 service replies are charged after 1,000 free per number per month. Periskope Starter is ₹2,000 and Pro is ₹3,000 per user per month on monthly billing (₹1,200 and ₹2,000 on annual billing). The first phone is free, each extra phone is one license, and there are no per-message fees.

Worked example: 5 agents on 2 numbers. On Wati, 5 users rules out Growth, so the starting point is Pro at ₹5,799 plus ₹2,499 for the second number, about ₹8,298 a month before message charges. Wati lists multiple numbers as a Business plan feature, so confirm whether Pro can take the add-on; Business is ₹16,799 a month. On Periskope, you pay for 5 users plus 1 extra phone, which is 6 licenses: ₹12,000 a month on Starter monthly, or ₹7,200 a month on Starter annual, with no message fees. If you mostly send opt-in template campaigns, Wati’s subscription can be lower. If your team spends its day replying in groups and chats, Periskope avoids the per-message line entirely.

Key differences between Wati and Periskope

Wati is an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider. You onboard a number to the WhatsApp Business API through your Meta Business Manager, send approved templates, run chatbots and broadcast campaigns, and pay WhatsApp’s per-message charges on top of the plan.

Periskope does not use the Business API. It links your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business App number the same way WhatsApp Web does, by scanning a QR code from Linked devices. Every chat and group the number is part of syncs into a shared team inbox, where you can assign chats, add labels and custom properties, raise tickets and leave private notes.

The practical split: Wati is stronger for outbound marketing to opted-in contacts. Periskope is stronger when the work happens in existing conversations, especially WhatsApp groups.

WhatsApp groups: Groups API vs your existing groups

Meta’s Groups API is open only to numbers with an Official Business Account, allows at most 8 participants per group, and participants join by invite link. Wati’s implementation follows those rules: groups are available only on the Business plan, need a verified number, allow up to 7 external participants, and are not available on coexistence numbers. Campaign broadcasts to groups are not supported.

If you use coexistence to keep the WhatsApp Business App, Wati says group chats stay in the app and are not synchronized to Wati.

Periskope works with the groups your number is already in, of any size WhatsApp allows. You can tag, assign and ticket group messages, send bulk messages to many groups, and add or remove members in bulk when your number is a group admin. That is why teams that serve clients, partners or field staff in groups tend to choose Periskope.

Integrations

Wati lists integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Shopify, WooCommerce, Zapier, Pabbly Connect, Make, Klaviyo, Google Sheets and Zoho Flow. The number you can use depends on plan: 2 select integrations on Growth, 5 including HubSpot on Pro, and unlimited including Salesforce on Business.

Periskope has native integrations with HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Freshdesk, Zoho Desk and Google Sheets, plus Zapier. It also offers REST APIs and webhooks for chats, groups, messages, tickets and phones, so you can build your own sync without the Business API.

AI features

Wati includes Wati AI in the inbox (summaries, an AI editor, internal agents) and Astra, an AI agent builder. Growth includes 1 Astra agent and 2,000 AI credits a month, Pro 2 agents and 5,000 credits, and Business unlimited agents and 20,000 credits.

Periskope’s AI agent replies from your FAQs and documents, can call your own APIs, creates tickets, and hands off to a person. AI also flags important messages and summarises chats. Pro includes 5,000 AI credits per license per month, and Periskope’s hosted MCP server lets Claude or ChatGPT read and act on your WhatsApp chats.

When to choose Wati instead

Choose Wati if most of your WhatsApp volume is outbound marketing or notifications to opted-in customers. The official API, approved templates and campaign tools are built for that, and they do not carry the ban risk of bulk messaging from a regular number.

Choose Wati if you want a verified business badge, Click-to-WhatsApp ad tooling with conversion events, or one inbox for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and webchat as well as WhatsApp.

Choose Wati if you need no-code chatbots, Shopify abandoned-cart flows or high-speed sending. Periskope is not an official API provider and does not offer these.

How to switch from Wati to Periskope

1. Export your contacts, tags and attributes from Wati so you can recreate labels and custom properties.

1. Pick the numbers you will connect. Periskope cannot link a number registered on the WhatsApp Business API, so use a WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business App number, or ask Wati how to release your API number so it can be registered on the app again.

2. Sign up for Periskope and scan the QR code from WhatsApp > Linked devices for each number. Chats and groups sync automatically.

3. Invite your team, set roles, and recreate labels, custom properties and assignment rules.

4. Reconnect HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Freshdesk, Zoho Desk, Google Sheets or Zapier.

5. Keep Wati running for template campaigns during a trial week, and compare response times in Periskope’s analytics before you cancel anything.

Frequently asked questions

Is Periskope a good Wati alternative?

Yes, if your team works mainly in WhatsApp groups and 1:1 chats across several numbers. Periskope links your existing numbers by QR code, manages unlimited groups and has no per-message fees. If you mainly send template campaigns to opted-in lists, Wati is the better fit.

Is Periskope cheaper than Wati?

It depends on your team size and message volume. Wati Pro is ₹5,799 a month billed quarterly for 5 users, plus per-message charges. Periskope is per license, ₹2,000 (Starter monthly) or ₹1,200 (Starter annual) per user per month, with no message fees. Template-heavy teams often pay less on Wati; chat-heavy and group-heavy teams often pay less on Periskope.

Can Wati manage WhatsApp groups?

Only on the Business plan, for numbers with an Official Business Account. Groups allow up to 7 external participants, are capped at 1,000 per number, are not available on coexistence numbers, and cannot receive campaign broadcasts.

Do I need the WhatsApp Business API to use Periskope?

No. Periskope connects regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business App numbers by scanning a QR code. There is no API application or template approval.

Will my number get banned on Periskope?

Periskope is not the official API, so WhatsApp’s normal rules apply and account status stays under WhatsApp’s control. Bans usually follow spam reports from bulk messages to people who do not know you. Message contacts who expect to hear from you, warm up new numbers, and follow Periskope’s best practices guide.

Can I use Wati and Periskope together?

Yes, on different numbers. Many teams keep an API number for template campaigns and connect their group and support numbers to Periskope.

Sources

Competitor details were checked on their official websites on 2026-10-23. Prices and plans change, so confirm on each vendor’s site before you buy.

• wati.io: Wati Growth ₹2,699/month billed quarterly, 3 users, no additional users; Pro ₹5,799/month billed quarterly, 5 users, extra users ₹1,299/user/month; Business ₹16,799/month billed quarterly, 5 users, extra users ₹2,199/use… source

• wati.io: Wati charges per message for marketing, utility and authentication templates on all plans. source

• wati.io: Wati additional WhatsApp numbers add-on ₹2,499/month per number; Business plan lists extra WhatsApp numbers. source

• wati.io: Wati AI: Growth 1 Astra agent and 2,000 AI credits; Pro 2 agents and 5,000 credits; Business unlimited agents and 20,000 credits. source

• wati.io: Wati integrations: 2 select on Growth, 5 including HubSpot on Pro, unlimited including Salesforce on Business; broadcasts 15k/month on Growth, unlimited on Pro and Business. source

• wati.io: Wati 7-day free trial; omnichannel inbox including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, webchat and RCS; ad account connections. source

• wati.io: Wati integration list: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, Zoho CRM, Shopify, WooCommerce, Pabbly Connect, Make, Google Sheets, Klaviyo, Zoho Flow. source

• support.wati.io: Wati WhatsApp groups: Business plan only, Official Business Account required, not on coexistence numbers, 1,000 groups per number, 7 external participants, campaign broadcasts not supported. source

• wati.io: With Wati coexistence, group chats remain in the WhatsApp Business App and are not synchronized with Wati. source

• periskope.app: Periskope Starter is $25 and Pro is $35 per user per month on monthly billing; annual billing shows $15 (Starter) and $25 (Pro). Users and phones are billed separately; the first connected phone is free and each extra ph… source

• periskope.app: Periskope INR pricing: Starter ₹2,000 and Pro ₹3,000 per user per month on monthly billing; ₹1,200 and ₹2,000 on annual billing. source

• periskope.app: Periskope includes unlimited WhatsApp groups, chats and messages across numbers, 3,000 bulk message credits per license per month, no template approval and no per-message cost. source

• periskope.app: Periskope Pro includes 5,000 AI credits per license per month and 2 automation rules per license; AI Pack is $25 for 10,000 credits; Bulk Message Pack is $60 for 10,000 credits. source

• periskope.app: Periskope integrates with HubSpot, Google Sheets, Freshdesk, Zoho Desk and Zapier, and offers custom APIs and webhooks with no Business API required. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope connects normal or business WhatsApp numbers by scanning a QR code from Linked devices; WhatsApp API numbers cannot be linked. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope connects multiple numbers into one inbox; each additional phone is charged separately. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope sends bulk messages with randomized delays, but account status remains under WhatsApp’s control. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope hosted MCP server connects WhatsApp to Claude and ChatGPT. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope AI agent answers from a knowledge base, escalates to people and creates tickets. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope exports chats, messages, members, notes, tickets and audit logs. source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope has a native Zoho CRM integration. source

• periskope.app: Periskope offers a free trial (‘Start your free trial today’). source

• docs.periskope.app: Periskope apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. source

• periskope.app: Periskope powers 5,000+ businesses across 50+ countries and is GDPR compliant and ISO/IEC 27001 certified. source

• developers.facebook.com: Meta’s Groups API is available only to Official Business Accounts, not WhatsApp Business app numbers, with a maximum of 8 participants per group and 10,000 groups per business number. source

• periskope.app: From October 1, 2026, service messages are charged after 1,000 free per business number per month, and utility templates inside the 24-hour window are charged. source