WhatsApp
performance benchmarks
Browse WhatsApp's observed SMS API response time, error rates, and incident history over the last 90 days.
Live performance metrics
Real-world performance data from messages sent through Knock
Why is WhatsApp included here?
WhatsApp is not an SMS provider, but it is often used as an alternative to SMS for customer messaging, particularly outside of the US. We include it alongside SMS providers so you can compare performance and pricing across the messaging channels your customers actually use.
| Message volume | Growth | Status page updates (30d) | Status page updates (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|
<1M | 4th of 7 ↑ | 6 | 20 |
From April 18th to July 17th, Knock routed <1M messages through WhatsApp. For adoption, WhatsApp ranks 4th of 7 providers based on new channel connections, with adoption accelerating over the period. WhatsApp reported 20 status page updates over the last 90 days, 6 of which were in the last 30 days.
Response time
Response time measures how long WhatsApp takes to accept an SMS API request from Knock, including connection overhead and any automatic retries. Lower values mean faster message hand-off.
| Median (p50) | p90 | p95 | p99 |
|---|---|---|---|
459ms | 1045ms | 1163ms | 1456ms |
From April 18th to July 17th, WhatsApp averaged a daily median response time (p50) of 459ms across all days in the range, meaning half of all SMS API requests on a typical day complete in under 459ms. The 99th percentile averaged 1456ms, with a peak daily p99 of 26296ms. This is slightly higher than some providers, which may reflect additional processing WhatsApp performs on message acceptance.
Error rate
Error rate tracks the ratio of 5xx responses and timeouts to total SMS API requests. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
| Avg. daily error rate | Highest daily rate | Peak error date | Zero-error days | Days above 0.01% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0.52% | 41.67% | Jun 12 | 83 | 8 |
From April 18th to July 17th, WhatsApp averaged a 0.52% daily error rate for 5xx responses and timeouts, with the highest single-day error rate reaching 41.67%. This peak coincided with a critical incident reported on WhatsApp's status page (Resolved: Cloud API - Calling). This is slightly above average compared to other providers on Knock, though still within acceptable thresholds for production SMS delivery. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
About these metrics: Data represents messages sent through Knock to WhatsApp during the specified period. Response time measures time from Knock to provider acceptance. Error rate includes only provider 5xx responses and timeouts.
Recent WhatsApp incidents
Recent status page incidents for WhatsApp
Started Jul 6, 2026 — Resolved Jul 6, 2026
We are currently experiencing high disruptions impacting 2fa email deliveries on WhatsApp Business Account Management. Our engineering teams are investigating the issue. We will provide another update if additional information is available.
Started Jun 23, 2026 — Resolved Jun 23, 2026
We are currently experiencing high disruptions impacting sending messages on Coexistence - Messaging. This issue started at 2:24PM on June 24th. Our engineering teams are investigating the issue. We will provide another update within 1 hour or sooner if additional information is available.
Started Jun 23, 2026 — Resolved Jun 23, 2026
We are currently experiencing high disruptions impacting sending messages on Coexistence - Onboarding. This issue started at 2:24PM on June 24th. Our engineering teams are investigating the issue. We will provide another update within 1 hour or sooner if additional information is available.
Started Jun 23, 2026 — Resolved Jun 23, 2026
We are currently experiencing medium disruptions impacting the WhatApp Cloud API Calling. This issue started at 02:24PM GMT on June 24th. Our engineering teams are investigating the issue. We will provide another update within 4 hours or sooner if additional information is available.
Started Jun 23, 2026 — Resolved Jun 23, 2026
We are currently experiencing medium disruptions impacting the WhatsApp Cloud API. This issue started at 2:24PM GMT on June 24th. Our engineering teams are investigating the issue. We will provide another update within 4 hour or sooner if additional information is available.
Pricing calculator
| Plan | Per message | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Utility + authentication | $0.0034 | $340 |
WhatsApp charges per message for utility and authentication conversations, with graduated volume discounts. Marketing and service conversations have separate rate cards. US rates shown; international rates vary by country.
Compare WhatsApp with other providers
About WhatsApp
WhatsApp is the world's most popular messaging platform, offering rich media messaging, interactive elements, and conversation-based pricing through Meta's Cloud API.
Pros
- Reaches over 2 billion users on the platform they already use
- Rich messaging with media, buttons, and interactive elements
- Free 24-hour customer service window for inbound conversations
- High open rates compared to SMS and email
Cons
- Conversation-based pricing model is more complex than per-message SMS pricing
- Message templates require Meta approval before use, which can take up to 24 hours
- Limited to countries and regions where WhatsApp has significant adoption
Frequently asked questions
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is an SMS provider commonly used for transactional notifications and order updates, two-factor authentication codes, customer support conversations. WhatsApp is the world's most popular messaging platform, offering rich media messaging, interactive elements, and conversation-based pricing through Meta's Cloud API.
How much does WhatsApp cost?
WhatsApp charges per message for utility and authentication conversations, with graduated volume discounts. Marketing and service conversations have separate rate cards. US rates shown; international rates vary by country. WhatsApp does not offer a permanent free tier.
How fast is WhatsApp?
Based on real-world data from messages sent through Knock, WhatsApp accepts SMS API requests with a median response time of 459ms (p50) and 1456ms at the 99th percentile.
How reliable is WhatsApp?
From April 18th to July 17th, WhatsApp showed an error rate of 0.52% for 5xx responses and timeouts across <1M messages sent through Knock. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
What are the pros and cons of WhatsApp?
Key strengths include reaches over 2 billion users on the platform they already use and rich messaging with media, buttons, and interactive elements. On the other hand, conversation-based pricing model is more complex than per-message sms pricing and message templates require meta approval before use, which can take up to 24 hours.
Does WhatsApp work with Knock?
Yes. Knock has a native WhatsApp integration that enables you to send SMS notifications through WhatsApp as part of a cross-channel workflow. You can combine WhatsApp with other channels like in-app feeds, push, email, and Slack from a single API call.
Use WhatsApp with Knock
Knock enables you to integrate WhatsApp alongside other notification channels, manage templates, and orchestrate cross-channel workflows from a single platform.