WATI vs TimelinesAI: cloud route or QR link, plan ladder or per seat
WATI sells a rupee plan ladder on Meta's Cloud API; TimelinesAI sells dollar seats on a QR link with six CRM syncs. Cost, groups and numbers compared.
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- By WavesFlo team
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- 3 min read
WATI and TimelinesAI sit on different routes. WATI connects numbers through Meta's Cloud API and sells a rupee plan ladder where users, extra numbers and automation limits rise by tier. TimelinesAI links a number by QR scan and sells dollars per seat, with unlimited numbers that each take a seat and six native CRM syncs on every plan. Groups are conditional on WATI's top plan and absent from TimelinesAI's feature list.
How do WATI and TimelinesAI compare?
| Compared on | WATI | TimelinesAI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹2,699, ₹5,799, ₹16,799 a month billed quarterly | $35 or $49 a seat a month; $28 or $39 billed yearly |
| Users | 3, 5 and 5 included; extra ₹1,299 or ₹2,199 | Per seat; the trial allows 10 |
| Numbers | Extra numbers ₹2,499 a month each | Unlimited, each needing one seat |
| Groups | Business plan only, with limits | Groups API not included on Starter or Pro; coming soon on Enterprise |
| CRM | HubSpot on Pro, Salesforce on Business | HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce, Zoho, monday.com and Close on every plan |
| API calls a month | 10,000; 200,000; 20 million | 10,000; 20,000; 50,000 |
| Free trial | 7 days on every plan | 10 days, up to 10 seats, no card |
| Message charges | By category from a rate card | Not stated in the pricing text we read |
What is the real difference between WATI and TimelinesAI?
- The route decides what each can do with groups and with an existing phone. TimelinesAI keeps the number you have; WATI's groups need a number with Meta's verified badge, and it does not support coexistence numbers for them.
- The bill grows differently: WATI by users and numbers on a tier, TimelinesAI by seats alone, with the number rule adding seats.
- CRM is the sharper contrast. TimelinesAI's pitch is the sync; WATI's is the conversation, with the CRM on a higher tier.
How do they fit three kinds of team?
| Team shape | WATI | TimelinesAI |
|---|---|---|
| 5 agents, 1 number | Pro, ₹5,799 a month billed quarterly | Starter, $175 a month; $210 if the number takes a seat |
| 15 agents, 10 numbers | Business, ₹61,280 a month billed quarterly | Starter, $525 to $875 a month |
| A team on HubSpot | Pro, with HubSpot among 5 integrations | Any plan, with unlimited numbers synced |
Which should you pick, WATI or TimelinesAI?
Pick WATI if:
- You want a rupee price ladder with chatbots, automation triggers and a large integration list.
- Broadcast campaigns on Meta's route are central.
- You may use groups and can run them on the top plan.
Pick TimelinesAI if:
- Your reps live in a CRM and the job is logging every conversation there.
- You want to keep each phone and its existing chats and groups.
- Per-seat pricing in dollars suits your finance team.
What should you test in a trial or demo?
- Connect one real number in each and see what happens to its groups.
- Log one conversation into your CRM in TimelinesAI, and build one chatbot in WATI.
- Check what each charges for the sixth user and the second number.
- Ask each for the exit terms in writing.
What are WATI and TimelinesAI not built for?
Both are one-number-at-a-time tools at heart, priced by capacity, so neither is shaped for a business with an estate of numbers that needs to know who owns each chat. WavesFlo's shared inbox takes that case: each number stays on its own phone, every chat arrives marked with its number, and the quote is set on numbers and team members rather than seats or tiers.
Questions
Is WATI or TimelinesAI cheaper?
It depends on what you count. WATI's Pro is ₹5,799 a month billed quarterly for 5 users; TimelinesAI's Starter is $35 a seat. Different currencies and billing, so compare like with like.
Which has a CRM integration?
TimelinesAI lists six native syncs on every plan. WATI lists HubSpot on Pro and Salesforce on Business.
Which supports WhatsApp groups?
WATI on its Business plan, with limits. TimelinesAI lists a Groups API as not included on Starter and Pro.
Which has the better free trial?
TimelinesAI offers 10 days for up to 10 seats; WATI offers 7 days on every plan.