Why Businesses Outgrow Interakt

Interakt has carved out a strong position in the WhatsApp automation market, particularly across India and Southeast Asia. It offers affordable entry-level plans, basic chatbot flows, and integration with Shopify for e-commerce businesses. For many companies, it was their first step into WhatsApp automation.

But as businesses scale, the limitations of Interakt's approach become clear. Per-conversation fees eat into margins. The chatbot builder handles simple flows but struggles with nuanced conversations. And when you want real AI, not rule-based decision trees, you realize the platform was not designed for it.

This article examines where Interakt works well, where it falls short, and how Waslo offers a different approach for businesses ready to move beyond basic automation.

How Interakt's Pricing Works

Interakt uses a tiered model built on the WhatsApp Business API:

Starter: From around $15-20/month with limited conversations included
Growth: Around $35-50/month with more conversations and features
Advanced: Higher tiers with additional capabilities
Per-conversation fees: Meta's WhatsApp Business API charges apply to every conversation
Template message costs: Outbound messages use pre-approved templates with per-message fees

The low entry price makes Interakt attractive for businesses just getting started. But the per-conversation model means costs are unpredictable and scale directly with success. A marketing campaign that generates 5,000 new conversations could result in a messaging bill several times larger than the platform fee itself.

Interakt also does not include AI capabilities in its standard offering. The chatbot builder uses decision-tree logic, where you manually define every possible conversation path. This works for simple FAQ scenarios but breaks down quickly when customers ask questions outside the predefined flow.

How Waslo Approaches WhatsApp Differently

Waslo is built on a different premise: your WhatsApp number should have an intelligent AI agent that handles conversations the way a skilled team member would, not a rigid flow chart that frustrates customers when they go off-script.

Here is what that means in practice:

Flat pricing, no per-message fees. Waslo charges $149/month (Starter plan) for unlimited messages. Whether you handle 200 or 20,000 conversations in a month, the price does not change. There are no WhatsApp Business API fees because Waslo connects via QR code, not the Business API.

AI agent included in every plan. The AI agent is not an add-on. It is the core of the platform. Powered by Google Gemini, it understands natural language, processes images and audio, maintains conversation context, and makes intelligent decisions about lead qualification and follow-ups.

Two-minute setup. No Business API application, no Meta business verification, no phone number provisioning. Scan a QR code and your AI agent is live.

Feature Comparison

| Feature | Interakt | Waslo | |---------|----------|-------| | Starting Price | ~$15-20/mo + per-conversation fees | $149/mo flat rate | | Per-Message Fees | Yes (Meta API) | None | | AI Capabilities | Rule-based chatbot builder | Autonomous AI agent (Gemini) | | Setup Method | WhatsApp Business API | QR code (2 minutes) | | Business Verification | Required | Not required | | Natural Language Understanding | No (decision tree logic) | Yes (full NLU) | | Multimodal Processing | No | Images, audio, video | | Lead Classification | Manual | Automatic (HOT/WARM/COLD) | | Auto Follow-ups | Template-based | AI-powered, personalized | | Human Handoff | Manual | Keyword-triggered + alerts | | Shopify Integration | Native | Via webhooks | | Google Sheets Sync | Limited | Built-in (Growth+) | | E-commerce Catalog | Yes (WhatsApp Catalog) | Via AI conversation | | Broadcast Campaigns | Yes | AI-driven follow-ups | | Green Badge | Yes (Business API) | No |

The Real Cost Over 12 Months

Let us compare what each platform actually costs for a business handling a moderate volume of WhatsApp conversations.

Scenario: 2,000 conversations per month

Interakt (Growth plan):

Platform fee: ~$45/month
Meta conversation fees (~$0.025 avg): ~$50/month
Template message costs for follow-ups: ~$15/month
Monthly total: ~$110/month
Annual cost: ~$1,320

Waslo (Starter plan, annual billing):

Platform fee: $149/month
Conversation fees: $0
AI agent: Included
Follow-ups: Included
Monthly total: $149/month
Annual cost: $1,788

At 2,000 conversations, Interakt appears cheaper. But this comparison misses two critical factors.

Factor 1: The AI Gap

Interakt's chatbot follows a decision tree. When a customer asks something outside the predefined paths, the bot either gives a generic fallback response or drops the conversation entirely. This means you still need human agents handling a significant portion of conversations.

Waslo's AI agent handles the full range of customer inquiries. It understands context, answers follow-up questions, and qualifies leads without human involvement. The labor savings from not needing to staff a response team often far exceed the difference in platform cost.

Factor 2: Cost at Scale

At 5,000 conversations per month:

Interakt:

Platform + API fees: ~$200-250/month
Annual: ~$2,400-3,000

Waslo:

Platform fee: $149/month
Annual: $1,788

At 10,000 conversations:

Interakt:

Platform + API fees: ~$400-500/month
Annual: ~$4,800-6,000

Waslo:

Platform fee: $149/month
Annual: $1,788

The more your business grows, the more you save with flat pricing. And you never have to worry about a successful campaign creating an unexpected spike in your messaging bill.

Decision Trees vs. AI Agents: Why It Matters

This is the most important distinction between the two platforms, and it deserves a deeper look.

How Interakt's Chatbot Works

Interakt's chatbot builder lets you create flows with buttons, quick replies, and branching logic. A typical flow might look like this:

Customer sends a message
Bot replies with: "Welcome! What can I help you with? A) Pricing B) Book a demo C) Support"
Customer taps option A
Bot sends pricing information
Bot asks: "Would you like to proceed? A) Yes B) No C) Talk to an agent"

This works when customers follow the script. But what happens when a customer types "Do you offer a discount for annual plans?" instead of tapping a button? Or sends a voice message asking about a specific product? Or replies to a pricing message with "That is too expensive, what about a smaller package?"

The decision tree cannot handle these scenarios. It either repeats the menu, sends a fallback message, or routes to a human agent, defeating the purpose of automation.

How Waslo's AI Agent Works

Waslo's AI agent processes the actual content of each message. When a customer asks about annual discounts, the agent understands the question and responds with relevant information from your configured prompt. When someone sends a voice message, the agent transcribes and responds to it. When a customer pushes back on pricing, the agent handles the objection naturally.

The agent also makes intelligent decisions throughout the conversation:

Classification: After enough conversation context, the agent classifies the lead as HOT, WARM, or COLD
Follow-up scheduling: Cold leads automatically receive follow-up messages on a configurable schedule
Handoff triggering: When a customer uses specific keywords (like "speak to a manager") or the conversation requires human judgment, the agent pauses and alerts your team
Welcome messages: New contacts receive a personalized greeting based on your configuration

This is the difference between automation that handles 30% of conversations and an AI agent that handles 90%+.

Where Interakt Still Makes Sense

Interakt has genuine advantages for certain use cases:

E-commerce on Shopify

Interakt's native Shopify integration with WhatsApp Catalog support is well-built. If you run a Shopify store and primarily need order notifications, catalog browsing, and basic FAQ automation through WhatsApp, Interakt's e-commerce features are purpose-built for this.

Very Low Volume

If your business handles fewer than 500 conversations per month and you do not need AI capabilities, Interakt's low entry price makes it a cost-effective starting point.

Broadcast Marketing

For businesses focused primarily on outbound template campaigns to large contact lists, Interakt's broadcast tools and template management are mature and reliable.

Markets Where Budget Is the Primary Constraint

In price-sensitive markets, Interakt's low starting price point removes the barrier to entry for small businesses experimenting with WhatsApp automation for the first time.

Where Waslo Is the Better Choice

You Need Real AI, Not Decision Trees

If your customers ask varied questions, send media, or have conversations that do not follow a predictable script, an AI agent will dramatically outperform a rule-based chatbot.

Your Volume Is Growing

Once you cross a few thousand conversations per month, flat pricing becomes significantly cheaper than per-conversation billing. And you never have to worry about cost spikes.

You Want to Reduce Staffing Needs

Waslo's AI agent handles conversations autonomously, meaning you do not need to hire, train, and manage a team of chat agents. Your team focuses on closing deals with qualified leads, not answering repetitive questions.

Response Speed Matters

The AI agent responds in seconds, 24/7. No queue times, no business hours limitations, no waiting for an available agent. For businesses where response time directly impacts conversion rates, this is a decisive advantage.

You Value Simplicity

No Business API application, no template approval process, no complex chatbot flow builder. Configure your AI agent with a prompt template, scan a QR code, and you are live.

Switching from Interakt to Waslo

The migration process is straightforward:

Create your Waslo account and start the free trial
Disconnect your number from Interakt and the WhatsApp Business API (note: there may be a waiting period before you can reuse the number)
Connect via QR code in Waslo's dashboard
Select a prompt template that matches your business type and customize it with your specific details
Configure classification and follow-up settings to match your sales process
Set up notifications via Telegram so your team knows when hot leads come in

One important note: when switching from the Business API to a QR code connection, you will lose the green verification badge. For most small and medium businesses, this has no measurable impact on conversion rates. But if the badge is important for your brand, factor this into your decision.

The Bottom Line

Interakt is a solid entry-level platform for businesses taking their first steps with WhatsApp automation, especially in e-commerce. But its decision-tree chatbot and per-conversation pricing model create real limitations as businesses grow.

Waslo represents the next generation of WhatsApp automation: AI agents that think, not chatbots that follow scripts. Combined with flat pricing and instant setup, it gives growing businesses the tools to automate customer communication without the escalating costs and complexity.

If you have outgrown what a rule-based chatbot can do, or if you are tired of watching your messaging bill climb every time your marketing works, it is time to consider what an AI agent can do for your business.

Ready to Get Started?

Waslo gives you an AI-powered WhatsApp agent with flat pricing, zero per-message fees, and setup in under 2 minutes. No WhatsApp Business API required -- just scan a QR code and go live.

Start your free trial today -- no credit card required.

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