Glossary
What is a WhatsApp credit line and who needs one?
How Meta's credit line for Solution Partners works, how it differs from a card or India's prepaid UPI top-ups, and what happens when no payment method exists.
By Broadchat teamPublished Updated 2 min read
Definition
Credit line: A credit line is credit that Meta extends to a Solution Partner so the partner can pay for the WhatsApp messages its clients send. The partner attaches the credit line to a client's WhatsApp Business Account during onboarding, Meta invoices the partner, and the partner bills the client. Without a credit line or another valid payment method, a WhatsApp account cannot pay for messages beyond any free allowance.
Also called: Meta credit line, Partner credit line, Shared credit line
The three ways Meta gets paid
Every WhatsApp Business Account needs a way to pay Meta. There are three routes:
| Route | Who pays Meta | Typical user |
|---|---|---|
| Card or payment method on the account | The business | Businesses with an accepted card |
| Prepaid UPI top-ups (India) | The business, in advance | India-billed businesses that prefer prepaying |
| Partner credit line | The Solution Partner | Businesses that want one partner invoice |
India prepaid billing through UPI top-ups launched on 8 Sep 2026. If the prepaid balance runs out, sends fail with error 131042. Meta also requires eligible India-billed accounts to switch to INR billing by 31 Dec 2026.
What happens without a payment method
Since 1 Oct 2026 each business phone number gets 1,000 free service messages a month. After that, service messages are charged, and if the account has no payment method they stop being delivered. Template messages are charged from the first one. So an account without a credit line, card or prepaid balance can do very little.
Example
Sunrise Clinic in Lucknow, run by Dr Priya, sends appointment reminders. Her accountant does not want USD card charges. Option one: switch the account to INR and prepay with UPI top-ups. Option two: sign up through a platform whose clients are attached to a Solution Partner's credit line and receive one rupee invoice. Both work; the second adds the partner's terms, and possibly a markup, between Priya and Meta.
Credit lines and Tech Providers
A Tech Provider has no credit line of its own. It can still offer partner billing by joining a Solution Partner's Multi-Partner Solution, so the credit line is attached when the client connects through Embedded Signup.
In Broadchat
Broadchat is not a Solution Partner and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta. In a Broadchat panel, Meta charges are paid either through the client's own payment method or through a Solution Partner's credit line, and each channel has a prepaid messaging wallet that the client tops up; see how to recharge the wallet. For current Meta charges by category and country, see the pricing explainer, and for the bigger picture read what the WhatsApp Business API is.
Related terms
Sources
- Pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform — Meta for Developers, checked 12 October 2026
- Solution providers overview — Meta for Developers, checked 12 October 2026
- WhatsApp Business Platform changelog — Meta for Developers, checked 12 October 2026
Broadchat team · Product and partner success team
The people who build and support Broadchat, the white-label WhatsApp Business API platform. We write from what we see while onboarding partners and their clients on the official WhatsApp Cloud API, and we check every article against Meta's current documentation.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a small business get its own credit line from Meta?
Meta extends credit lines to Solution Partners, not to individual businesses. A business pays with its own payment method, prepays where available, or uses a partner's credit line.
Is a credit line cheaper than paying Meta directly?
Not by itself. Meta's charges are the same; the partner may add a markup or fees. The benefit is convenience: one invoice, no card, local currency.
What if my partner removes its credit line?
Template sends will start failing until you add another payment method. Keep your WhatsApp account in your own business portfolio so you can attach a card, a prepaid balance or another partner quickly.