What is the WhatsApp Business API?
The WhatsApp Business API is WhatsApp for a whole company. Instead of living on one phone, it runs inside Rabtan. Your team shares one number, and some messages send themselves.
Rabtan team, RiyadhUpdated: 4 min read
In this guide
WhatsApp vs WhatsApp Business vs the WhatsApp Business API
- For people
WhatsApp
Chats with friends and family.
- For one owner
WhatsApp Business app
Free. Runs on your phone. You reply by hand. Adds a business profile, catalog and quick replies.
- For a team
WhatsApp Business API
Runs on computers, inside Rabtan. You pay for each message you send.
I already have WhatsApp Business. Why change?
If one person answers every chat and it works, you don't need to. You need the API when:
- More than one person needs to answer customers.
- You type the same messages every day: confirmations, reminders, "your driver is on the way".
- Chats get lost and nobody knows who replied.
- You want each conversation saved on the customer's record.
- You want to message many customers at once.
Why do I need my own API account?
Rabtan connects your own WhatsApp number to the system. You don't share ours, and that's better for you:
Your name, your number
Customers see your business, not Rabtan, and their replies come back to you.
Your reputation is yours
Meta rates each number on how customers react. Another business's spam can't get your number limited.
Approved in your name
Meta approves templates and checks the business under your own name.
You keep it
The number and the account belong to your business, wherever you go.
Rabtan sets it up and connects it for you. You don't need any technical knowledge.
What changes
For your customers, nothing. They use normal WhatsApp, see your business name, and chat the same way.
For you:- Your team replies from Rabtan on a computer, not from a phone.
- The number usually stops working in the WhatsApp app on a phone. Meta now lets some businesses keep both, so ask us whether yours can.
- To start a conversation, you use a message Meta has approved first. It is called a template, explained below.
How much does the WhatsApp Business API cost?
You pay for each message you send. The price depends on what the message is for.
- Marketing
Offers and promotions.“Eid sale: 20% off all week”
- Utility
Updates about an order or booking.“Your booking is confirmed for 4 pm”
- Authentication
Login codes.“Your code is 482913”
- Service
Your replies when the customer messaged first.“Yes, we have a slot tomorrow”
Ask us for current prices.
The 24-hour rule
- When a customer messages you, a 24-hour window opens. Each new message from them restarts it.
- Inside the window you can reply with anything. The first 1,000 service replies a month on each number are free.
- After 24 hours you can't just type a message. You start again with an approved template.
- A customer who came from a click-to-WhatsApp ad can be messaged free for a while, up to 7 days.
What's a template?
A message you write once and send to Meta for approval. After that, Rabtan fills in the details and sends it whenever it's needed.
Hi {name}, your booking is confirmed for {time}. Reply here if you need to change it.
Two rules to follow
- Only message people who agreed to hear from you. Meta requires it.
- If many people block or report you, Meta can limit how many customers you can message.
The Business app is a phone for one person. With Rabtan, WhatsApp becomes a tool for your whole business.Read next: CRM · Buyer's guide
FAQ
What is the WhatsApp Business API?
WhatsApp for a whole company. It runs inside a system like Rabtan, so a team shares one number and some messages send themselves.
What's the difference between the WhatsApp Business app and the API?
The app is free, runs on one phone, and you reply by hand. The API runs on computers inside a system, lets several people answer on one number, and charges per message.
Do my customers need a different app?
No. They use normal WhatsApp and see your business name.
Can I keep using my number on my phone?
Usually the number stops working in the phone app once it moves to the API. Meta now lets some businesses keep both, so ask us whether yours can.
Is the WhatsApp Business API free?
No. You pay for each message, by type. The first 1,000 service replies a month on each number are free.
How much does a WhatsApp API message cost?
It depends on the message type. Ask us for current prices.
What is the WhatsApp 24-hour rule?
When a customer messages you, you can reply with anything for 24 hours. After that, you start again with an approved template.
What is a WhatsApp template message?
A message you write once and Meta approves, because it starts a chat with a customer who hasn't messaged you in 24 hours. Rabtan fills in the details, such as the name and time, and sends it when needed.
Do I need a developer to set up the WhatsApp Business API?
No. Rabtan sets up your account and connects your number for you.
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