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WATI alternative for appointment booking

WATI is built for WhatsApp specifically, and that focus shows: a shared team inbox, broadcasts, a no-code chatbot builder and an AI layer on top. For a business running WhatsApp at volume it is a well-established choice.

On the question that brought you here: WATI's pricing page on 11 August 2026 lists a 7-day free trial rather than a permanent free plan, across Growth, Pro and Business tiers billed annually. Its AI Co-pilot comes as a monthly credit allowance, and its Astra AI agents are a separately priced add-on on the higher tiers.

Elily is narrower. She is a front desk for an appointment diary rather than a WhatsApp platform, and answering and booking are both included on a free tier that does not expire.

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SIDE BY SIDE

WATI alternative for appointment booking, dimension by dimension

What you are comparing	WATI	Elily
What it is built for	A WhatsApp business platform — shared team inbox, broadcasts, no-code chatbot flows and an AI layer, aimed at businesses messaging at volume.	One job: appointment businesses. Answering the questions clients repeat, then booking the right slot with the right person.
Free tier	A 7-day free trial rather than a permanent free plan — see WATI's pricing for the current terms.	Free includes 150 AI replies a month, with no booking cap and no expiry. Compare Free, Lite and Pro
Where the AI sits	An AI Co-pilot credit allowance on the subscription tiers, with Astra AI agents as a separately priced add-on on the higher tiers.	Answering and booking are on Free. There is no add-on to buy to get them.
Booking rules	Built in the no-code chatbot builder and whatever you connect to it. Check WATI for its current native calendar support.	Per-service durations, processing and finishing time, per-person availability, buffers, breaks, split shifts and notice periods. No double bookings, even when two clients message at the same second.
Google Calendar	Via the chatbot builder and integrations — see WATI for what is native today.	Books natively into Google Calendar, checking live availability before a slot is ever offered.
Setup	A platform to configure: inbox, team, flows and templates.	Send Elily your website link and she reads your services, prices and hours. Srileo configures the booking rules with you.
When it should not answer	Hand off to the shared team inbox.	She stops and hands the conversation to a human with a one-line summary. You reply from your own WhatsApp.
Price	Growth, Pro and Business tiers, listed billed annually, after a 7-day trial — see WATI's pricing page. Meta's WhatsApp fees apply on top.	Plans start at $0; $49/month on Pro, the plan this comparison assumes. Compare Free, Lite and Pro

WATI is described from its own pricing page, checked 11 August 2026. Tier names, prices and what the AI add-on includes change, and WATI lists its prices billed annually — follow the source for its current position. Visit WATI

Official sources checked

WATI pricing

AN HONEST SPLIT

Which one should you actually pick?

Choose WATI if

WhatsApp is a channel your team works, not just a diary.

Several people need a shared inbox with assignment and templates.
Broadcasts and campaigns are part of how you sell.
You want to build your own chatbot flows and own that logic.
You are messaging at a volume where per-seat platform pricing makes sense.

Choose Elily if

You do not want a platform. You want the chair filled.

One calendar, or a few staff, and nobody free to answer the phone.
You want to start free and only pay when the volume is real.
The booking rules are the hard part — durations, staff, notice periods, reschedules.
You would rather someone configured it with you than learn a flow builder.

BEFORE YOU DECIDE

Questions we actually get asked

Does WATI have a free plan?

Its pricing page on 11 August 2026 lists a 7-day free trial rather than a permanent free plan. Check WATI's pricing for the current terms, as tiers and trials change.

Does WATI include AI?

Yes, in two forms on 11 August 2026: an AI Co-pilot credit allowance included with the subscription tiers, and Astra AI agents as a separately priced add-on on the higher tiers. Check WATI for what each includes today.

Can WATI book into my calendar?

You can build booking into its chatbot flows and connect a scheduling tool; check WATI for what is native today. Elily books into Google Calendar directly, checking live availability before offering a slot.

Is Elily a full WhatsApp platform?

No, and deliberately not. There are no broadcasts, campaigns or multi-agent inbox workflows. If those are what you need, a platform like WATI is the better fit.

Does Elily work on my own WhatsApp number?

Yes. Elily runs on your business's own number through the official WhatsApp Business Platform. Your number, your Meta account, your data — leave at any time and everything stays yours.

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