What is WhatsApp Business API?
WhatsApp Business API is Meta's official way for businesses to send WhatsApp messages at scale through software: broadcasts, chatbots, notifications and shared team inboxes. This guide covers how it works, examples and how to get access.
API vs WhatsApp Business app
The WhatsApp Business app runs on a phone and suits a small team replying by hand. The WhatsApp Business API connects WhatsApp to software, so many agents can share one number, bots can reply automatically and messages can be sent to large opted-in lists using approved templates.
What you can do with it
- Send approved template messages to opted-in customers
- Run chatbots and AI assistants
- Share one number across a team inbox
- Connect chats to your CRM
Examples by industry
- Real estate: brochures, site visit confirmations, construction updates
- Finance: EMI reminders and document collection
- D2C: order updates and cart recovery
- Education: admission and fee reminders
How to get access
- Verify your business in Meta Business Manager
- Get a phone number that is not active on the WhatsApp app, or migrate it
- Set up the API through Meta's Cloud API or a provider
- Get your display name and message templates approved
Put it to work
Knowing this is step one. The next step is acting on it every day without adding headcount. See how WhatsApp Marketing does that, or book a 20-minute demo.
FAQs
What is the difference between WhatsApp Business and the API?
The app is for one phone and manual replies. The API connects WhatsApp to software for team inboxes, bots and messaging at scale.
Is WhatsApp Business API free?
No. Meta charges per delivered message by category. Up to 1,000 service messages a month per number are free.