Your official WhatsApp Business API.
Built on Meta’s Cloud API. Connect your number, verify your business, and run campaigns, chatbots, a shared inbox and AI, with no code. No setup fee from Meta; you pay per delivered message.
WhatsApp Business app vs the API.
- 3bn+monthly WhatsApp users worldwide (Meta, 2025)
- 24 hto review a message template
- 250 → ∞daily contact limit, rising with verification and quality
- 1,000free service messages per number per month
| WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business API with Automate AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One person answering from a phone | Teams, automation and scale |
| Who can message first | Broadcast lists: only people who saved your number, 256 per list | Any opted-in contact, up to your messaging limit (250 to unlimited per day) |
| Team access | A few linked devices | Unlimited agents in one shared inbox |
| Automation | Greeting and away messages, quick replies | Chatbot flows, drip sequences, AI Assistant |
| Message formats | Text, media | Approved templates with images, video, buttons, carousels |
| Analytics | Basic | Sent, delivered, read, replies, button clicks per campaign |
| Integrations | None | Shopify, ads, lead forms, marketplaces, REST API and webhooks |
| Coding needed | No | No with Automate AI (API available for developers) |
| Cost | Free | No Meta access fee; per delivered message, plus the Automate AI plan |
Facts from Meta’s help centre and developer documentation, October 2026. Messaging limits apply per business portfolio and rise with verification and quality.
Live on the API in four steps.
- 1Create your Automate AI account
Sign up, and have a Meta business portfolio ready (or create one in Meta Business Suite). No developer needed.
- 2Connect your WhatsApp number
Add a number you own that isn’t on WhatsApp (or keep your Business app number with coexistence), confirm the code and set your display name and PIN.
- 3Verify your business
In Meta Business Suite, submit your legal name, address, phone and website. Meta says decisions take up to 14 working days. This lifts your limit to 2,000 contacts a day.
- 4Create a template and send
Write your first template in Automate AI, submit it to Meta (reviewed within 24 hours), then send it to your opted-in contacts and watch delivery live.
Everything your team needs on one number.
Broadcast campaigns
Send approved templates with images, video, buttons or carousels to opted-in contacts, now or on a schedule, with live sent, delivered and read counts.
Shared inbox
Your whole team on one WhatsApp number, with assignment, notes, filters and auto-assign.
No-code chatbots
Build flows on a drag-and-drop canvas: keywords, buttons, lists, conditions, delays and actions.
AI Assistant
Answers customers from your own documents or website, by text or voice, and hands over to a person when needed.
Lead capture
Facebook lead forms, IndiaMART, JustDial and website forms become contacts automatically, ready for follow-up.
Commerce
Your own online store, or Shopify order updates and abandoned-cart reminders on WhatsApp.
Drip sequences
Timed follow-ups that stop when the customer replies and stay within your budget.
Analytics and clicks
Delivery and read rates, button clicks and smart links for every campaign.
Developer API and webhooks
A full REST API with real-time webhooks to connect your own systems.
AI Sales Center, AI Autopilot, AI Template Studio and RCS are plan add-ons. Meta’s message charges are separate from the Automate AI plan.
Built for how Indian businesses sell.
E-commerce and D2C
Order and shipping updates, back-in-stock alerts, abandoned-cart reminders and festival campaigns.
Real estate
Qualify buyers from ads, book site visits, share brochures and follow up until the deal closes.
Education and coaching
Answer admission queries, invite to demo classes, send fee and batch reminders.
Clinics and salons
Appointment booking and reminders, with health details kept out of chat.
Travel
Package enquiries, booking confirmations, itinerary updates and seasonal offers.
Services and B2B
Quotations, follow-ups, payment reminders and support, with every lead scored and assigned.
Read the full guide: What is the WhatsApp Business API and how to get it in India, and WhatsApp API pricing in India.
WhatsApp Business API FAQ
Is the WhatsApp Business API free?
Meta charges no access fee, but every delivered template message is charged by category and country: from 1 October 2026, ₹0.8631 for marketing and ₹0.1150 for utility or authentication messages to Indian numbers, plus 18% GST. Each number gets 1,000 free service messages a month. Automate AI plans are separate from Meta’s charges.
How long does it take to get the WhatsApp Business API?
Connecting a number and sending a first template can be done the same day. Meta reviews templates within 24 hours and business verification takes up to 14 working days.
Can I use my existing WhatsApp Business app number?
Yes, through Meta’s coexistence onboarding (app version 2.24.17 or later) the app keeps working on the same number with some limits. Otherwise you delete the WhatsApp account on that number and register it on the API.
Do I need business verification to start?
No. New accounts start at 250 unique contacts per 24 hours. Verification is one way to reach 2,000, after which limits rise automatically to 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited.
Do I need a developer?
No. Automate AI gives you the inbox, templates, campaigns, chatbots and AI on top of the API with no code. The REST API and webhooks are there if your developers want them.
Will I get the blue tick?
The verified badge (an Official Business Account) is granted by Meta to verified businesses it considers notable; neither Automate AI nor any provider can guarantee it. Business verification itself does not add a badge.
Get your WhatsApp Business API today.
Create your account, connect your number and send your first campaign. Our team helps at every step on WhatsApp.
Explore more features
- MarketingBroadcast rich WhatsApp templates now or on a schedule, and track every read.
- ChatbotBuild WhatsApp chatbots on a drag-and-drop canvas, no code needed.
- AI AssistantAI that answers customers from your own documents, by text or voice.
- AI Sales CenterLead scores, next steps and follow-ups from your WhatsApp chats.
- AI CopilotType a task and AI sets it up in your account, with your OK.
- Drip CampaignA series of WhatsApp messages over days or weeks that stops when they reply.
- Shared Team InboxYour whole team on one WhatsApp number, with assignment, notes and quick replies.
- Instagram Auto-ReplyKeyword replies to Instagram comments and DMs, with a private DM to commenters.
- Online StoreYour own store page with products, orders, payments and WhatsApp order updates.
- Voice AIAI phone agents that answer calls and call your leads, in six languages.