If you’re looking to understand how WhatsApp Business APIs work, how it differs from the WhatsApp business app, and how it can help SMBs, you’ve come to the right place. We aim to give you a quick primer on everything you need to know before you get started.What Is WhatsApp Business API?

If you’re looking to understand how WhatsApp Business APIs work, how it differs from the WhatsApp business app, and how it can help SMBs, you’ve come to the right place. We aim to give you a quick primer on everything you need to know before you get started.What Is WhatsApp Business API?


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WhatsApp API was launched to help medium to large companies that wanted to use WhatsApp to communicate with multiple customers at scale. WhatsApp Business API enables businesses to automate communications with automated replies, WhatsApp chatbots & interactive messages.

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In short, WhatsApp Business API helps businesses to create a personalized communication flow that works best for their customers.

WhatsApp Business App

WhatsApp Business App & its WhatsApp Business Web extension are free-to-use apps aimed to help small business owners. It helps small businesses connect with customers and offer their products and services and support them through their journey. But it has limited capabilities and is not built for scale.

* Cannot send bulk messages to customers/leads.
* Cannot automatically trigger messages via APIs.
* Does not support multiple logins & dashboards to measure agent performance.

  All these limitations can be overcome by using the “WhatsApp Business API“.

  But, before you decide to use WhatsApp API, you must know a few basics about APIs and the rules-

   ![](https://brainfish-storage-prod.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/8ce9edeb-6728-4e9a-aea1-2080a897fd28/2899aa5b-e408-40aa-b44d-77468b24ec94/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAUPPN5IL3QLQZLDSU%2F20250509%2Fus-east-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250509T023319Z&X-Amz-Expires=3000&X-Amz-Signature=1d2e11f6303d3d3e287492bf9b182af4ca0218c666a9d463085b4b1363fc778d&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment)

  Pre-Onboarding:
* If onboarded with WhatsApp Business API solution provider (like WATI), the previous chats cannot be seen.
* If onboarded with a WhatsApp Business API solution provider (like WATI), the number cannot be used on any other WhatsApp apps - including the [WhatsApp](https://www.whatsapp.com/download) & [WhatsApp Business](https://www.whatsapp.com/business/) mobile app.

  Post Onboarding:
* Businesses can send messages to customers only after a customer initiates a message. These messages are called session messages and can be sent by businesses to customers only till 24 hours of the customer sending a message.
* After 24 hours, the session expires and businesses can only send 'template messages' to their users. Template messages must be pre-approved by WhatsApp and can be done from the WATI dashboard.
* All template messages must adhere to WhatsApp Commerce Policies.
* WhatsApp Group Feature is not supported
* WhatsApp Voice or Video Calls are not supported. Voice notes are supported.
* WhatsApp Message Forwarding Feature is not supported
* WhatsApp apps cannot be used with the same number if using WhatsApp Business APIs
* Sent messages cannot be deleted as WhatsApp's API currently does not support deleting a sent message.




What is the difference between Whatsapp Business and WATI?

Get your own WATI custom Sub-domain

Creating click-to-chat link

How do I scan the QR Code on WATI Trial?

WhatsApp Chat Button Integration

Backup WhatsApp Chats

How To Import WhatsApp Chats

Explore our Free trial

Book a demo with WATI Team

Try our product

How to Use a Phone Number Previously Registered With WhatsApp Business

How to Update the Connected Phone Number and Business Portfolio

How to Connect Your WhatsApp Number to Wati

Getting Free WhatsApp Business Phone Numbers from Meta

How to Reconnect your Phone Number to Wati

Understanding Your WhatsApp Phone Number Connection Status

Migrating Your WhatsApp Business Account from Another BSP to Wati

Connecting Your WhatsApp Phone Number to Facebook and Instagram

Creating a QR Code for Your WhatsApp Number

Choosing the Right Phone Number for WhatsApp

Phone Number Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Manage Multiple WhatsApp Numbers in a Single Wati Account

Connect Your Number

How to Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in Wati

Is Wati GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Compliant?

Wati Security and Data Management

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General FAQs: Marketing Messages Lite (MM Lite) 

What are the most frequent problems encountered in the Embedded Signup process?

How to create or send your First Broadcast

Prerequisites before you Get Started with Wati

How to Create your First Chatbot

Creating Your Wati Account

How to Change or Update your Display Name on Wati

Guidelines to Choose your Display Name

How to Set Up or Update Your WhatsApp Account Profile

How to Change Your Timezone in Wati

How to Change the Language in Wati

Managing Notifications and Sounds in Wati

How to Configure Auto replies and OOO messages

How to Create Your First Template Message

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Introduction to the Team Inbox

Marketing Messages Lite (MM Lite): All you need to Know

Getting Started

Steps to Complete Facebook Business Verification

How to Raise an Appeal for Account Review

How to Apply for Official WhatsApp Business Account (Blue Tick Verification)

A Deep Dive into WhatsApp Manager: What You Should Know

How to Check WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) Status

How to Access the WhatsApp Manager

WhatsApp Business Account (WABA): Everything You Need To Know

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How to Check If Your Business Is Verified by Facebook

Facebook Business Verification: Required Documents by Country

How to Enable the 'Start Verification' Button in Facebook Business Manager

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Reasons Why Your Business Can't be Verified

How to Increase Your WhatsApp Messaging Limit Without Meta Business Verification

Is Facebook Business Verification Required? 

Facebook Business Verification: Everything You Need To Know

Set Up Web-hooks for WhatsApp Business Account Notifications

How to Appeal if your Account is Banned due to WhatsApp Policy Violation

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WhatsApp Commerce Policy Rejection (CPR)

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How to Export Chats in Wati

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Wati Mobile App

How to Book a Demo with Wati

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How to Customize Your Wati Subdomain

How to Create WhatsApp Click-to-Chat Links

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What is Wati - WhatsApp Team Inbox? 

Understanding Wati Add-Ons and Their Pricing

Understanding Wati's Pricing Structure

How to Estimate your Conversation Usage Cost

What is Conversation Based Pricing?

How to Check Credit Usage History

How to Set Up Auto Recharge for Credits 

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Understanding Wati Credits

Understanding Wati Plans

Understanding Monthly Chatbot Sessions

Understanding Automation Triggers and Their Cost

Wati Pricing: A Complete Guide

Introducing Pay-as-you-Go (PayG) Plan

Wati Vs WhatsApp Business: What's the Difference?

Wati Overview

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Getting Started with Rule-Based Automation in Wati

Understanding Automation Triggers in Wati

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How to Create and Use WhatsApp Flows in Wati

Understanding Custom Attributes for WhatsApp Flows in Wati

Configuring Default Action in Wati

How to Use the Sequence Feature

Setting Up Reply Materials

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Automation: Everything you need to know

Automating Replies with Keyword Matching

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Setting Up Routing

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Automation

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How to Send Quick Replies and Canned Responses

How to Search and Filter Chats

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Troubleshooting: Wati Account Running Slow

How to Copy a Conversation URL in Wati

Supported Media Types and Sizes in Wati

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Phone Number Masking in Team Inbox

Managing Customer Chats with Multi-Channel Team Inbox

How to Log Out Users from Active Sessions

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Understanding the Overview Section in Team Inbox

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Integrating Wati with Eber

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Understanding Cash on Delivery and Abandoned Cart Analytics in the Shopify App

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Additional Custom Parameters Available in Wati Shopify App Customers

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