Clarivo vs Wati: WhatsApp Automation Comparison
At a Glance
| Clarivo | Wati | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $79/month flat | $119/month + per-message fees |
| Setup | 10 minutes (QR code) | 1-2 hours (API migration) |
| Keep existing number | Yes | No (requires API number) |
| Per-message fees | No | Yes (20% markup) |
| AI included | Yes (all plans) | ⚠️ Add-on pricing |
| Best for | Small-mid businesses | Teams needing omnichannel |
Pick Wati If…
- You need Instagram, Facebook, and SMS alongside WhatsApp
- You have 5+ team members needing simultaneous inbox access
- You're based in India/Southeast Asia (local pricing, INR support)
- You want established platform with 14,000+ customers
- You need Shopify integration ($4.99/month add-on)
- Enterprise features like SOC 2 certification matter
Pick Clarivo If…
- You want to keep your existing WhatsApp number and chat history
- You prefer flat monthly pricing without per-message surprises
- You need AI automation without paying extra
- Quick setup matters (10 minutes vs. 1-2 hours)
- You receive voice messages from customers
- You want predictable costs as you scale
Use-Case Comparisons
For a 3-Person Service Business
Clarivo wins. At $79/month, you get AI handling customer inquiries, flat pricing regardless of message volume, and no API migration hassle. Wati's $119/month base + per-message fees + AI add-ons would cost $150-200+ monthly for typical usage.
Winner: Clarivo (lower cost, faster setup, AI included)
For an E-commerce Store (Shopify)
Wati wins. Direct Shopify integration ($4.99/month add-on) offers abandoned cart recovery, order notifications, and catalog sync. Clarivo handles customer service but lacks deep e-commerce automation.
Winner: Wati (native Shopify features)
For a Business in India
Wati wins. Local pricing in INR, regional support, payment options, and India-centric compliance. Clarivo works globally but lacks India-specific optimizations.
Winner: Wati (local market focus)
Pricing Reality Check
Scenario: 2,000 messages/month, 2 users
| Cost | Clarivo | Wati |
|---|---|---|
| Base plan | $79 (Pro) | $119 (Growth) |
| Extra users | $0 (1 business included) | $0 (3 users included) |
| AI features | $0 (included) | $50+ (estimated add-on) |
| Per-message fees | $0 (flat rate) | ~$40 (20% markup estimate) |
| Shopify integration | N/A | $4.99 |
| Monthly total | $79 | ~$214+ |
Wati costs vary by message type and country. 20% markup applies to Meta's rates ($0.025-0.1365 per message).
Sources: clarivo.io/pricing, wati.io/pricing
Limitations & Tradeoffs
Clarivo Limitations
- WhatsApp-only — no Instagram, Facebook, or SMS integration
- No 99.999% uptime SLA (newer platform)
- Limited team inbox features for 5+ agents
- Smaller ecosystem (fewer integrations than Wati)
- No Shopify-specific e-commerce features
Wati Limitations
- Requires WhatsApp Business API migration (lose chat history)
- Per-message fees with 20% markup create unpredictable costs
- AI features cost extra (not included in base plans)
- Complex setup (1-2 hours vs. 10 minutes)
- Annual billing required for best pricing
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Clarivo | Wati |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp connection | QR code (existing number) | API (new number required) |
| Setup time | ~10 minutes | 1-2 hours |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly | Base + per-message fees |
| Starting price | $79/month | $119/month |
| Per-message fees | None | 20% markup on Meta rates |
| AI Agent | Included (all plans) | Add-on pricing |
| Team inbox | Limited (1-3 users) | Yes (3-5 users base) |
| Instagram/Facebook | No | Yes |
| Shopify integration | No | Yes ($4.99/month) |
| Voice messages | Transcribe + reply | Calling only |
| Uptime SLA | Standard | Standard |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
Sources: clarivo.io, wati.io
FAQ
Q: Can I switch from Wati to Clarivo without losing customers?
A: Not directly. Wati uses WhatsApp Business API; Clarivo uses QR code to regular WhatsApp Business. Different number types. You would need to inform customers of a new number or run both during transition.
Q: Why is Wati more expensive if Clarivo has AI included?
A: Wati's base price ($119) doesn't include AI or cover message fees. Add AI features ($50+), per-message markups (~$40 for 2K messages), and integrations ($4.99), and Wati costs 2-3x more than Clarivo's flat $79.
Q: Does Wati's omnichannel justify the higher price?
A: Only if you use Instagram, Facebook, or SMS. If you're WhatsApp-only, you're paying for features you don't use. Clarivo focuses purely on WhatsApp at lower cost.
Q: Which has better AI?
A: Both offer AI Agents for autonomous conversations. Clarivo includes AI on all plans ($79+). Wati charges extra. Feature parity depends on use case — both handle FAQs, lead qualification, and handoffs.
Q: Can I use Clarivo for e-commerce?
A: Clarivo handles customer service and sales conversations. For Shopify-specific automation (abandoned cart, order updates), Wati's direct integration works better.
Sources
[1] Clarivo pricing
[2] Wati pricing
[3] Wati features
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