Key Takeaways
If your clients already message you on WhatsApp, the free WhatsApp Business app covers one person on one phone; SleekFlow, respond.io and ChatDaddy are paid shared inboxes for when a team, broadcasts or automation come in, with listed prices from about US$49 to US$79 a month at the entry plan (checked 20 October 2026).
- The WhatsApp Business app gives you a business profile, a product catalogue, and greeting and away messages (WhatsApp, checked 20 October 2026).
- SleekFlow lists an Essential plan from US$49 a month with 3 user seats and an omnichannel inbox; it says the plan is rolling out by country.
- respond.io lists a Starter plan from US$79 a month, priced by monthly active contacts, with a free trial.
- ChatDaddy lists a Mini plan from $59 a month with 1 channel, broadcast campaigns and unlimited contacts.
- The paid tools connect through the WhatsApp Business Platform, where Meta charges per delivered message by market and message category, and does not charge for service messages.
In Detail
Most small businesses in Singapore start with WhatsApp on one phone. The question is not which tool is better, but when one phone stops being enough: a second person needs to reply, you want to send the same update to many clients, or you want routine questions answered automatically.
How we compared We looked at the WhatsApp Business app, SleekFlow, respond.io and ChatDaddy on four points: what it is for, shared inbox and channels, automation and AI, and the entry price each lists. Each cell comes from the provider’s own product or pricing page, checked on 20 October 2026. An empty cell means we found no first-party statement on that point.
| Provider | What it is for | Shared inbox and channels | Automation and AI | Entry price listed (as of 20 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business app (Meta) | One-on-one chats with customers from a business profile, with a product catalogue | Greeting and away messages | No price on the product page we read | |
| SleekFlow | Shared inbox and messaging automation | Omnichannel inbox; all messaging, email and call channels on every plan | AI inbox co-pilot on Essential; AI agents, broadcasts and a flow builder from Pro | Essential from US$49 a month, 3 seats (rolling out by country) |
| respond.io | Customer conversation platform priced by monthly active contacts | AI agents and advanced reports from Growth | Starter from US$79 a month; free trial | |
| ChatDaddy | Messaging platform for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, SMS and email | Multichannel inbox from Basic | AI agent chatbots; broadcast campaigns on every plan | Mini from $59 a month, 1 channel, unlimited contacts |
When the free app is enough
WhatsApp describes the Business app as a way to talk one-on-one with customers, show products and prices, and greet people or reply when you are away (WhatsApp Business app). If you are the only person replying, start here and set up the profile, catalogue and away message first.
When a shared inbox earns its fee
The three paid tools all put conversations from several people, and often several channels, into one inbox. SleekFlow’s Essential plan lists 3 user seats and its Pro plan (from US$109 a month) lists 10 user accounts, AI agents, broadcast campaigns and an automation flow builder (SleekFlow pricing). respond.io prices by monthly active contacts, lists Starter from US$79, Growth from US$159 and Advanced from US$279 a month, and states that all its prices are in US dollars (respond.io pricing). ChatDaddy lists Mini from $59 (1 channel), Basic from $119 (2 channels, multichannel inbox) and Pro from $299 a month (3 channels) (ChatDaddy pricing); the page we read did not state the currency.
The cost under the subscription
Tools that send through the WhatsApp Business Platform also pass on Meta’s message charges. Meta says it charges per delivered message, by market and message category (marketing, utility, authentication and service), that service messages are not charged, and that rates are published by market (WhatsApp Business Platform pricing). A broadcast to many clients can cost more than the subscription itself, so check the rate for Singapore before you plan one.
Before you send a broadcast
A broadcast is marketing. Make sure clients agreed to hear from you, and check the Do Not Call and consent rules under Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act before sending marketing messages to Singapore numbers.
Putting This Into Practice
This belongs to the DELEGATE step: Equip.
- Count who replies. One person: the free app. Two or more on the same number: a shared inbox.
- List your five most common messages. These become greeting, away or quick replies in the app, or automations in a paid tool.
- Price it on your own numbers. respond.io and SleekFlow both price by active contacts as well as by plan; ChatDaddy by channels.
- Add Meta’s message charges if you plan broadcasts.
- Approve every automated message before it goes live, and test it on your own number first.
Questions to check on each provider’s own site before you choose: How many seats and channels does the entry plan include? How are contacts counted? Which features need a higher plan? Are Meta’s message fees billed through the tool or separately? Is there a trial?
Key Questions Answered
Is the WhatsApp Business app enough for a small business?
For one person on one phone, often yes. WhatsApp says it offers a business profile, a product catalogue, and greeting and away messages. When several people need to reply on one number, look at a shared inbox tool.
How much does SleekFlow cost in Singapore?
SleekFlow’s pricing page lists the Essential plan from US$49 a month with 3 user seats, and Pro from US$109 a month, as of 20 October 2026. It says Essential is rolling out by country, so confirm availability for Singapore.
How does respond.io charge?
respond.io prices by monthly active contacts, with Starter from US$79, Growth from US$159 and Advanced from US$279 a month as of 20 October 2026, and offers a free trial.
What does ChatDaddy include on its entry plan?
ChatDaddy’s Mini plan lists 1 channel, broadcast campaigns and unlimited contacts from $59 a month as of 20 October 2026.
Do I pay WhatsApp for every message?
On the WhatsApp Business Platform, Meta charges per delivered message by market and category and does not charge for service messages. The Business app’s product page we read lists no price.
Sources
- WhatsApp, Business App, business.whatsapp.com (checked 20 October 2026)
- WhatsApp, Business Platform Pricing, business.whatsapp.com (checked 20 October 2026)
- SleekFlow, Pricing and Plans, sleekflow.io (checked 20 October 2026)
- respond.io, Pricing, respond.io (checked 20 October 2026)
- ChatDaddy, Pricing, chatdaddy.tech (checked 20 October 2026)
- Personal Data Protection Commission, Personal Data Protection Act, pdpc.gov.sg