SaleMag vs WATI (2026): features, pricing and which to pick

WATI is one of the best-known WhatsApp platforms, run by Clare.AI Limited in Hong Kong and used, by its own count, by 16,000 customers in 190 countries. SaleMag is a chat-commerce platform built in Dhaka for sellers in Bangladesh. Both use Meta's official WhatsApp API.

Every WATI fact on this page comes from WATI's website, help center and published rate card, checked on 24 October 2026. Where WATI is the better fit, we say so.

What is the main difference between SaleMag and WATI?

WATI is a broad WhatsApp-first platform for mid-sized and large companies, with TikTok, WhatsApp calling, Google Ads to WhatsApp and enterprise CRM integrations. SaleMag is built around how Bangladeshi shops sell: Facebook and WhatsApp chats, AI replies in Bangla and Banglish, and cash-on-delivery orders.

How much does WATI cost compared to SaleMag?

On 24 October 2026, WATI showed visitors from Bangladesh these prices in US dollars:

Add-ons cost extra: the Shopify integration is $4.99 a month, each extra WhatsApp number is $29 a month, 1,000 automation triggers are $25 a month, and 1,000 AI Co-pilot credits are $20 a month. There is a 7-day free trial and no free plan. WATI's terms say paid subscriptions are non-cancellable and non-refundable.

SaleMag's plans are on the pricing page.

What does WATI charge per WhatsApp message in Bangladesh?

WATI bills WhatsApp messages from its own rate card. Meta made Bangladesh its own pricing market on 1 October 2026, and both documents below are dated that day.

WATI's rate card says Business plans get an additional discount. Meta's rates are on its pricing page. In SaleMag, Meta bills message fees to your own WhatsApp Business Account. For a broadcast of 10,000 marketing messages, the difference between the two rates is about $18.30.

Since 1 October 2026, Meta also charges for service replies beyond 1,000 per number per month. Our WhatsApp pricing guide explains the rules.

How do the AI agents compare?

WATI's plans include AI Co-pilot credits: 250 on Growth, 500 on Pro and 1,500 on Business. Its Astra AI agents are priced separately. Astra Free has one English-only web agent; Astra Pro, which adds WhatsApp, is $99 a month; Astra Business is $399 a month. WATI also lets you bring your own model from OpenAI, Claude or Gemini.

SaleMag's AI chatbot is part of the product and runs on your own OpenAI, Claude or Gemini key, so you pay the AI provider at cost. It learns from your products, FAQs, files and web pages, replies in the customer's language, including Bangla script and Banglish, and hands the chat to a person when it is unsure.

WATI's AI pages claim 30 or more languages but do not name Bangla. Test any AI agent on real messages, such as "eta ki stock e ache? Outside Dhaka charge koto?", before you pay.

Which is better for cash-on-delivery orders?

WATI's commerce features are a WhatsApp catalog, Shopify abandoned-cart and order templates, and catalog payments through Razorpay and PayU for businesses in India. We found no cash-on-delivery feature on WATI's site.

SaleMag's AI order taking is built for COD. The AI checks your catalog for price, stock and options, builds the cart, and sends a WhatsApp order form where the customer picks Inside or Outside Dhaka and sees the delivery fee and total. The server works out the total, so the AI never quotes a wrong price. Messenger, Instagram and Telegram customers get the same form as a secure link.

SaleMag does not take online payments in chat and does not book couriers: there is no bKash, Nagad, Pathao, Steadfast or RedX connection.

Where is WATI the better choice?

WATI is the better choice if you need any of these:

• TikTok and WhatsApp calling in the same platform.
• Instagram comment automation. SaleMag does not reply to comments.
• Click-to-WhatsApp and Google Ads to WhatsApp campaigns.
• Enterprise integrations such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM and Klaviyo.
• Several WhatsApp numbers and very high API limits on the Business plan.
• A large, established vendor with an international customer base.

Where is SaleMag the better choice?

SaleMag is the better choice if you need any of these:

• Bangla and Banglish AI replies on your own AI key, with no separate AI agent plan.
• COD orders in the chat, with delivery-area fees.
• Telegram and WeChat alongside WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram.
• Bulk SMS through SMSBD, REVE SMS, BulkSMS BD, sms.net.bd or MimSMS.
• Email campaigns to the same contact list.
• Message fees billed by Meta, with no rate card in between.
• A Bangladeshi team, working in your time zone.

How do I switch from WATI to SaleMag?

1. Export your contacts from WATI as CSV.
2. Create a SaleMag account and connect your WhatsApp number through Meta's signup screens.
3. Import the CSV, keeping each contact's WhatsApp opt-in.
4. Connect your Facebook Page, Instagram account and store.
5. Re-create your templates, add your products and FAQs to the AI chatbot, and test it on real Bangla and Banglish messages.

Our checklist for choosing a WhatsApp API provider has the questions to ask every vendor, including us.

Facts about WATI were checked on its public website and rate card on 24 October 2026 and may have changed since. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.