Glossary
What are WhatsApp payments (UPI) for businesses in India?
How Indian businesses collect payment inside a WhatsApp chat: the order-details message, supported gateways, payment methods and what happens after the customer pays.
By Broadchat teamPublished 2 min read
Definition
WhatsApp payments (UPI): WhatsApp payments in India let a business on the WhatsApp Business Platform send an order-details message that the customer pays inside the chat. Payment runs through a Meta-supported payment gateway, namely BillDesk, Razorpay, PayU or Zaakpay, in Indian rupees only. The customer can pay with a UPI app, card, net banking or wallet, and the business receives a status update when the payment succeeds or fails.
Also called: WhatsApp Pay, Payments API India, Order details message, UPI checkout on WhatsApp
How WhatsApp payments work in India
WhatsApp payments in India start with an order-details message: an interactive message that lists the items, amounts, taxes and total, with a button to pay. The business sets up a payment configuration that links its WhatsApp Business Account to its account with a supported gateway. When the customer taps to pay, they choose a method and complete it without leaving WhatsApp.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Supported gateways | BillDesk, Razorpay, PayU, Zaakpay |
| Currency | INR only |
| Payment methods | UPI apps, cards, net banking, wallets |
| What the business gets | A payment status (success or failure) it can act on |
After payment, the business sends an order-status update, such as "Processing" or "Shipped", so the customer sees progress in the same thread.
Worked example
Priya orders two cushion covers from Rangoli Home through the catalog. The bot replies with an order-details message:
Priya pays with her UPI app. Rangoli Home's system receives the success status, marks the order paid and sends "Your order is confirmed and will ship tomorrow." If the payment fails, the bot offers to resend the request or switch to cash on delivery, the flow covered in COD order confirmation.
Things to check first
- You need a merchant account with one of the four supported gateways; other gateways cannot power in-chat checkout.
- The order must be priced in rupees.
- Payment messages are interactive, so free-form ones need an open customer service window.
- Your goods must be allowed under WhatsApp's Commerce Policy.
WhatsApp payments in Broadchat
In a Broadchat panel, connect Razorpay or PayU for WhatsApp-native payments under Payments → Payment Gateways; PhonePe payment links are also supported. Requests and their status appear under Payments → Payment Orders. In Chatbots → Chatbots, the send-message step has a payment type, and the payment received and payment failed triggers start follow-ups automatically. The ecommerce playbook and the WhatsApp Business API overview explain where payments fit.
Sources
- Payments API India: payment gateways — Meta for Developers, checked 12 October 2026
- WhatsApp Commerce Policy — WhatsApp, 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
Is WhatsApp payments the same as sending a UPI link?
No. A UPI or payment link opens a separate page. With WhatsApp payments, the order-details message lets the customer pay within the chat through a supported gateway, and the business gets the status back automatically.
Which gateways can I use for in-chat payments in India?
Meta's documentation lists BillDesk, Razorpay, PayU and Zaakpay. You need an active merchant account with one of them and a payment configuration linked to your WhatsApp Business Account.
Can I accept payments in other currencies?
Not through this feature. WhatsApp payments in India are INR only. For international customers, send a payment link from a gateway that supports their currency.