Overview
Try our product
Set up your WATI account
Before you sign up to WATI
Migrate your phone number to WATI from another BSP
How To Import WhatsApp Chats
Backup WhatsApp Chats
Get your own WATI custom Sub-domain
Green Tick Verification for your business
How should I choose a phone number for WhatsApp?
What are the limitations of using WATI / WhatsApp APIs
Steps to use phone number that has been registered with Whatsapp Business before
Get started with WATI
Embedded Sign Up
Facebook Business Verification
How can I contact Facebook Team for Business Verification Issues?
What if the 'Start Verification' button is greyed?
What documents are required for Facebook Business Verification?
What are the steps to get Facebook Business Verification?
How to check whether your business is verified?
Where to find the Facebook Business Manager ID?
Why is Facebook Business Verification required?
WhatsApp Manager ID (WABA)
How to check WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) Status?
Everything you need to know about your WhatsApp Manager
How to access WhatsApp Manager?
More from us!
Our Roadmap - See What's Planned
How To Link WhatsApp Number To Facebook Page
How To Add WhatsApp Number To Facebook or Instagram Pages
WhatsApp Chat Button Integration
Creating click-to-chat link
How can I create a QR Code for my WhatsApp Number?
Display Name
Phone Number
Commerce Policy Rejection (CPR)
Pricing
WATI Subscription
PRO plan: Support export chat
What are difference between WATI Standard and Pro plan
Key Differences Between WATI CRM and WhatsApp API Gateway
What is the pricing for WATI CRMs & APIs?
Conversational Based Pricing
WATI and its Features
Team Inbox on WATI
Different types of chat status in WATI
Supported media types & sizes on WATI
Copy Conversation URL
WATI Account running Slow
What happens if someone you blocked messages you again?
How to download chats from WATI?
How to search and filter chats?
How to use quick replies/canned replies?
How to add custom parameters/attributes?
How to add a tag to chat?
How to add contact to Favorite?
How to start a new Chat?
What features does WATI Team Inbox offer?
Building your WATI chatbot
Automation
Routing
Keyword Action
Flow
Assign chats to your agents in Round Robin style
How to test a flow?
Why is my flow not working?
Advanced Flow Builder: Invoke New Flow
How to create list message & message with reply button?
Advance Flow Builder: Time Delay
Export and Import of Flows
Flow Builder: What is a node and how many types of node?
How to collect data with Google Spreadsheets
Advance flow builder: Template
What features are available in advance flow builder
Advance flow builder: Webhook
Advance flow builder: Update Attribute
Advance flow builder: Setup Assign User / Assign Team
Advance flow builder: Setup Subscribe or Unsubscribe
How to use Conditions for Flowbuilder
How to use Questions for Flow builder
How to build a flow
What and how to access Flow Builder?
Reply Material
Default Action
Broadcast on WATI
Broadcast Sequence Sheet Add-on
Messaging limit for Click-to-WhatsApp Ads (CTWA)
How to allow users to Opt-Out or Unsubscribe from Broadcasts?
Troubleshoot common errors in WATI
How can I search and filter Broadcasts?
Where can I see Broadcast Statistics?
What is a Broadcast History?
How do I edit or delete a scheduled broadcast?
How do I add a new Broadcast?
Is there a limit of broadcast messages?
How to send message to someone who is not in the Contact List?
Tips to send personalized media content broadcast to each number
Template Messages on WATI
How to use Google Drive to host media files for templates
Troubleshoot template message rejection
How to trigger a flow with template?
How to add buttons to templates?
Template Message Guidelines
How to get Opt-in for WhatsApp Messaging?
How to use interactive messages?
Are non-transactional messages allowed with WhatsApp Business APIs?
How to submit template messages on WhatsApp Manager?
How do I check and add credit to send broadcast template message
How to export and import template messages from one environment to a new environment?
How to add buttons with template messages?
How to avoid template message rejection?
Could I attach a PDF or image into a template message?
What are the supported languages for template update?
What is the max numbers of template message submission?
What are the category values of Template Message?
What are template formatting rules?
How do I create a Template Message?
What is a template message?
What are actions in Template Messages Page?
What is the difference between template message and session message?
How do I increase the expiry time of chats?
Manage your Contacts on WATI
How to delete contact attribute in bulk?
How to add an attribute in bulk to a list of contacts?
How do I search and sort contacts?
How do I remove contacts?
How can I edit a contact?
How to import contacts from Excel?
How to add attributes to a contact?
How to add a single contact?
Manage your Operators on WATI
How to force logout a specific user from all active sessions?
How to view, search and delete operator?
Detail Access Menu of each Roles
How to add team and assign operator to team?
How do I add more agents to my account?
Dashboard and Reporting on WATI
Payments on WATI
What should you do in case of payment failures?
How can I download the past invoices?
How can I manage the billing and payment methods?
How do I unsubscribe from WATI?
What are the working hours for WATI Support Team?
Personalize your account on WATI
How to change my timezone in WATI?
How to change language for WATI?
How to manage notifications and sound?
How can I update my WhatsApp Profile Picture & add business details?
Catalog
How to collect customer order details from Catalog cart messages in a Google Sheet
How to use Sync button for Catalog feature
How to trigger a reply message once the “View sent cart” catalog message is sent from customer
What are sets & How to create sets in your catalog
How to use WATI Flow builder to send Catalog Messages
How to send Catalog messages via Keyword action
How to enable WhatsApp Catalog feature for your WATI number
WATI Mobile App (App Store / Google Play)
WATI App Updates (Release Notes)
Released in 2022
2022.09.1 - Released on Dec 2022
2022.07.2 - Released on Oct 2022
2022.07.1 - Released on Sept 2022
2022.06.2 - Released on Aug 2022
2022.06.1 - Released on July 2022
2022.05.2 - Released on June 2022
2022.05.1 - Released on 18th May 2022
2022.04.2 - Released on 22nd April 2022
2022.04.1 - Released on 6th April 2022
2022.03.1 - Released on Mar 2022
2022.01.2 - Released on Feb 2022
2022.01.1 - Released on Feb 2022
2022.03.2 - Released on 25th Mar 2022
Mobile App - Released 2022
Mobile version 3.2.0 - Released on 4th December 2022
Mobile version 3.1.1 - Released on 22nd June 2022
Mobile version 3.0.3 - Released on 22nd May 2022
Mobile version 3.0.0 - Released on 15th May 2022
Mobile version 2.9.0 - Released on 30th Apr 2022
Mobile version 2.8.0 - Released on 8th Apr 2022
Mobile version 2.7.1(hotfix) - Released 24th Mar 2022
Mobile version 2.7.0 - Released on 14th Mar 2022
Mobile version 2.6.0 - Released on 23rd Feb 2022
Mobile version 2.5.0 - Released on 15th Feb 2022
Mobile version 2.4.0 - Released on 29th Jan 2022
Mobile version 2.3.0 - Released on 20th Jan 2022
Mobile version 2.2.0 - Released on 7th Jan 2022
Released in 2021
2021.07.1 - Released on Jan 2022
2021.06.1 - Released on Nov 2021
2021.05.2 - Released on Sep 2021
2021.05.1 - Released on July 2021
2021.04.1 - Released on May 2021
2021.03.1 - Released on Apr 2021
2021.02.1 - Released on Mar 2021
2021.01.1 - Released on Feb 2021
Released in 2020
2021.07.1 - Released on Dec 2021
RBI e-Mandate Latest Guidelines
2020.12.1 - Released on Jan 2021
2020.11.1 - Released on Dec 2020
2020.10.1 - Released on Oct 2020
2020.09.1 - Released on Sept 2020
2020.08.1 - Released on Aug 2020
2020.07.1 - Released on July 2020
2020.06.1 - Released on May 2020
2020.05.1 - Released on May 2020
2020.04.1 - Released on Apr 2020
3.1.0 Released on Mar 2023
2.11.0 - Released on Jan 2023
2.12.0 - Released on Feb 2023
Terms, Privacy & Security
Integrations and API's
Integrations on WATI
Google Sheets
How to trigger Whatsapp Shop using Templates
Why Whatsapp Message Sender is not working?
Why Google Sheet Automation is not working?
Add-on: Google Sheet Automation
Add-on: Google Spreadsheet WhatsApp Message Sender
WhatsApp Shop Plugin
Zoho
Assign chats in WATI based on Lead owner in Zoho CRM
Convert first time visitors to Zoho Lead/Contact using Zoho Flows
Get Notifications for new messages on WATI on Zoho CRM
How to send template message using Zoho CRM Workflow?
How to get Contact Attributes from WATI into Zoho CRM Leads/Contacts?
Why is my ZOHO integration not working?
Zoho CRM Integration
WATI Embedded Team Inbox in Zoho
How to send template message using Zoho CRM Extension?
Shopify
How to Add Product Images in Abandoned Cart Message
What does COD and Abandoned Cart in analytics represent?
Why are my Cash on Delivery Messages (COD) not sending in Shopify?
How to add/import Shopify Contacts into WATI
How to create a COD (Cash on Delivery) Template
How to set up Cash on Delivery (COD) in Shopify
How to use pre-defined variables in Shopify?
What are fixed variables for Shopify integration?
Shopify Integration for TRIAL user
Shopify Integrations for Paid WATI Users
WooCommerce
How to use pre-defined variables in WooCommerce?
What are fixed variables for Woocomerce integration?
WooCommerce Integration
Hubspot
Create contact in HubSpot when new user messages your WhatsApp number
HubSpot WhatsApp Integration: Capture New WhatsApp Contacts To HubSpot For Free [Deprecated]
Hubspot Integration
Zapier
Calendly
Make.com / Integromat
LeadSquared
WhatsApp Templates for Leadsquared
WATI LeadSquared Integration
LeadSquared WhatsApp Integration: Capture All New WhatsApp Contacts To LeadSquared
Dialogflow
WhatsApp and Razorpay Integration
Google Calendar Integration
APIs on WATI
WATI APIs
Are your file attachment names appearing as null or untitled?
Where can I find the WATI API Endpoint URL and Bearer Token?
What if I need access to more APIs?
Where can I find WATI API Documentation?
How can I add webhooks using WATI or WhatsApp API Gateway?
Can I send OTP on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp APIs
Cloud API
Table of Contents
- All Categories
- Pricing
- WATI Subscription
- Key Differences Between WATI CRM and WhatsApp API Gateway
Key Differences Between WATI CRM and WhatsApp API Gateway
Updated
by Helpdesk
Key Differences Between WATI CRM and WhatsApp API Gateway
Facebook launched the WhatsApp Business API back in 2018. This enables businesses to
- Build their systems/products on top of the WhatsApp API, e.g. WATI CRM (WhatsApp Team Inbox)
- Distribute the WhatsApp Business API to more businesses, e.g. WhatsApp API Gateway
Official WhatsApp Business Solution Providers (BSPs) like Clare.AI help businesses communicate with their customers on WhatsApp for the approved use cases of customer support and time-sensitive, personalized notifications.
Now, every business that wants to implement the WhatsApp API in their systems has two options:
1. They can use our in-built WhatsApp API Solution i.e WATI CRM. This also includes access to APIs to send WhatsApp messages, webhooks to listen to the incoming messages, advanced chatbot builder, multi-agent support dashboard and analytics, broadcast and message scheduler, integrations with ZOHO, ZAPIER, SHOPIFY, WOOCOMMERCE, GOOGLE SHEETS, etc.
2. They can take WATI WhatsApp API Gateway to build their systems according to their use cases.
Seems complex? Let’s make it easiest to understand.
WATI CRM | WhatsApp API Gateway |
Get access to a team inbox solution built by us on top of WhatsApp APIs | Get access to WhatsApp APIs to build your own systems |
Includes User Interface for non-technical users | No User Interface is provided |
A complete No-Code Solution | Requires developers for setup |
WhatsApp API-approved Business Number is provided | Only official Whatsapp APIs are provided |
Suitable for businesses that want to enrich their customer experience on WhatsApp using a multi-agent support platform | Suitable for businesses that want to build their own solutions according to their requirements |
What is WATI CRM?
WATI (WhatsApp Team Inbox) CRM is a complete no-code solution built on top of WhatsApp Business API. It provides businesses with a platform from getting a Facebook-approved WhatsApp Business account to all the features like CRM, multi-agent dashboard, customer support management, chatbot, and other integrations.

What are the Features Of WATI CRM?
WATI CRM is a feature-rich platform that takes care of the need of businesses that communicate or want to communicate with their customers on WhatsApp.
Multiple Agent Dashboard: Businesses can run their customer support in real time on WhatsApp. Multiple agents can work on a single WhatsApp business account simultaneously to make customer support effective and efficient.
No Code Chatbot Builder: Businesses can implement a chatbot on their WhatsApp business number to automate customer support. The chatbot will handle your customer support even during non-working hours.
Broadcast Messages: Using the WATI dashboard, businesses can broadcast personalized messages to their customers. There are a few rules to look at before broadcasting a message.
Custom API Support: If a business wants to send transactional and reminder messages using its APIs, it can easily integrate APIs with WATI CRM.
Contact Management System: A complete contact management system allows businesses to easily filter, add or delete their WhatsApp contacts.
Integrations: Easily integrate with applications like Shopify, Google Sheets, Zapier, and more.
Mobile App For Agents: WATI CRM provides android and iOS applications for the agents so that they can provide chat support using their smartphones.
What is WhatsApp API Gateway?
Some businesses want to build their solutions over WhatsApp Business APIs.
Facebook recommends partnering with its official BSPs to get WhatsApp APIs. Hence, being an Offical WhatsApp API BSP, WATI further provides WhatsApp Business APIs to ISVs (Independent Software Vendors).
These ISVs either build their product for their WhatsApp Business API or further build their systems like Chat Management & Agent Dashboard to provide an Official WhatsApp API-approved account to their own customers.
WhatsApp API Gateway enables businesses to get their own WhatsApp Business APIs.
What are the Features Of WhatsApp API Gateway?
WhatsApp API Gateway provides access to all the WhatsApp Business APIs to businesses. Businesses can build their own systems using these APIs as discussed above.
It gives businesses the flexibility to build and integrate with their own solutions as it’s a code and businesses can customize and implement it according to their need.
Businesses have access to Rich Media Templates such as images, videos, and documents. They can also send interactive buttons such as quick reply buttons and call-to-action buttons.
What are the Limitations of WhatsApp API Gateway?
- WATI Gateway provides access only to the official WhatsApp APIs hence most of the features of WATI CRM will not be available.
- Businesses will need developers to build their own systems on top of WhatsApp APIs.
- It does not include a UI Interface that allows businesses to see incoming messages and reply to messages. All the interface has to be built by the businesses themselves.
Conclusion:
Though the purpose of both solutions is to provide access to the features of WhatsApp Business APIs, their use cases are a way different from each other.
WATI CRM is ideal for non-technical operators and business users who want to communicate with their customers using their WhatsApp Business accounts. It requires no coding and businesses can easily set it up for their requirements.
WATI WhatsApp API Gateway provides access to official business APIs but doesn’t provide an Interface over that. Businesses that can build their own solutions can leverage the benefits of the WhatsApp API Gateway.