Meta WhatsApp Cloud API - A comprehensive guide

“We are opening WhatsApp to businesses of all sizes around the world with WhatsApp Cloud API” - Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, announced in May, 2022.

But what is WhatsApp Cloud API and how to use it to upscale your business? We will provide you all the details in this blog.

The blog provides you a look into:

• What is WhatsApp Cloud API?
• Key differences between WhatsApp Cloud API and WhatsApp On-premises API
• WhatsApp Cloud API pricing
• How to get WhatsApp Cloud API for your business?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s dig in!

What is WhatsApp Cloud API?

Until May 2022, WhatsApp had 3 variants: WhatsApp for personal use, WhatsApp Business (for small businesses), and WhatsApp API (or WhatsApp Business API) for growing businesses who would like to leverage advanced features like sending message templates, automation, CRM integrations, etc. However, in May 2022, Meta Facebook announced the launch of its fourth variant: WhatsApp Cloud API (also known as Meta WhatsApp Cloud API).

WhatsApp Cloud API is a counterpart to WhatsApp Business API, but it is cloud-based. Simply put, while WhatsApp Business API is hosted on an on-premise Business Solutions Provider (BSP) server or a business's private server, WhatsApp Cloud API is hosted on Meta's cloud servers. For the same reason, WhatsApp Cloud API doesn’t require businesses to approach WhatsApp Business Solution Partners (BSPs) like Twilio to register for WhatsApp API services. Instead, they can opt for direct approval from Meta Facebook to avail WhatsApp API services. Removing the intermediaries from the process saves time, removes the hassle of applying for API through BSPs, and cuts down the costs associated with hosting and maintenance.

Are you wondering how more WhatsApp Cloud API can be different from On-premise WhatsApp Business API? We are here to help you.

Key differences between WhatsApp Cloud API and WhatsApp On-premises API

While the features offered by WhatsApp Cloud API are not very different from on-premise WhatsApp API for businesses, there are still a few significant differences.

Refer to the table below for a clear understanding.

Meta provides API access and hosting directly to businesses using WhatsApp Cloud API. This means you can get automatic access to API software upgrades and security upgrades. All you need to pay is per conversation fees by Meta without any imposed server charges.

On the contrary, WhatsApp On-premise API involves two parties: Meta and BSPs. Meta provides the API to BSPs. As a result, businesses must obtain WhatsApp API from BSPs as part of their hosting package or host WhatsApp API on their own servers. Here’s where WhatsApp Cloud API saves time with direct cloud hosting and also omits the charges induced by BSPs for hosting and maintenance.

Our latest blog can provide you with more information on how WhatsApp Cloud API can be beneficial for your business.

WhatsApp Cloud API pricing

As mentioned before, WhatsApp Cloud API is undoubtedly cost-effective. It is free to access. However, the users are charged based on conversations. The conversation includes the messages sent between the user and the business within 24 hours of initiation. This conversation-based pricing is segmented into two categories:

• User-initiated: It refers to the conversations initiated by customers. When businesses respond to messages within the 24-hour messaging window, they will be charged user-initiated conversation fees.
• Business-initiated: It refers to the conversations initiated by businesses outside the 24-hour messaging window. Message templates are required to start a business-initiated conversation.

However, your first 1,000 conversations each month are free. You will have to add a payment method to your WhatsApp Business account only if you want to exceed 1,000 conversations per month.

Read more about conversation-based pricing here.

How to get WhatsApp Cloud API for your business?

There are 3 major steps you need to follow to get WhatsApp Cloud API for your business and make it work for you.

1. Get WhatsApp Cloud API through your Facebook developer account.
2. Generate a permanent access token
3. Use the access token to integrate WhatsApp Cloud API with Pepper Cloud CRM

After integrating WhatsApp Cloud API with Pepper Cloud CRM, you can send and receive messages right from your CRM conveniently.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is WhatsApp business account?

It is a variant of WhatsApp built for businesses with smaller teams. It can be downloaded for free from the app stores. For more information, read our blog on WhatsApp CRM integration.

2. What is a conversation on WhatsApp?

Conversations on the WhatsApp Business API fall into two categories and are priced differently: user-initiated (For example: customer care and general support inquiries) and business initiated (For example: post-purchase notifications). All the conversations are measured in a 24-hour slot called as “sessions”. These 24-hour conversation sessions start whenever the first message is delivered by a business, either in response to a user inquiry or if a business-initiated message template is delivered.

3. Are all conversations paid?

The first 1,000 conversations per month for each WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) are free. In addition, conversations will not be charged when a user messages a business using a call-to-action button provided on Ads.

4. How are conversations charged?

Charges for conversations are based on the end user’s phone number. Rates for business-initiated conversations and user-initiated conversations vary by market (country or region).

Refer to this link to know more about conversation-based pricing.

5. When can a business send a free message?

A business can send free messages within 24 hours of the last user's message in a conversation. If it’s been more than 24 hours since the last user message, a business can only send a message template.

6. How can businesses respond after the 24-hour session window?

Businesses are only allowed to reply with WhatsApp Message Template. Message Templates are pre-approved messages used to reopen the 24-hour Messaging Window or start a new conversation.

To know more about message templates, click here.

7. How to get WhatsApp Business with multiple users?

Connect a WhatsApp Business API account to Pepper Cloud CRM. WhatsApp Business has two variants: WhatsApp Business App - one device, one user;  WhatsApp Business API - for organisations with bigger teams.

Read more about different versions of WhatsApp for business in the blog.

8. Are there any restrictions to the type of messages that I can send to my Contacts?

WhatsApp Business API has 2 types of messages:

• Session Messages: Whenever a contact sends an incoming message to your number, a timer is set. You have 24 hours to send outgoing messages to that user without any restrictions.
• Template Messages: After the 24 hours of the session message is finished, you can only send a pre-approved template by WhatsApp to encourage your contact to resume the conversation and you can keep sending session messages.

Read about WhatsApp templates for your business in our blog.

9. Can I use WhatsApp Groups with WhatsApp API?

Group Messages are not yet supported by WhatsApp Business API.

10. Can I receive WhatsApp calls with WhatsApp API?

WhatsApp calls are not yet supported by WhatsApp Business API.

11. What are the prerequisites to register the phone number registration for WhatsApp Business API?

To register for WhatsApp Business API:

• The phone number must be able to receive voice calls or SMS
• The phone number must not have been connected to WhatsApp Business API before.

Read more on how to add, register, migrate, or delete phone numbers in this link.

12. Can I register a single number for both the WhatsApp Business platform and WhatsApp messenger?

Numbers registered with the WhatsApp Business platform cannot be registered with WhatsApp messenger. If you no longer want to use the WhatsApp Business Platform, delete the phone number from the WhatsApp business platform. After that, it can either be used for the WhatsApp app or may be registered again in the WhatsApp Business Platform.

Refer to the link for steps to delete your phone number.

13. Can I register more than one number on my WhatsApp Business Account?

According to Facebook, you can register up to 25 phone numbers per WhatsApp Business Account (WABA). If you want to register more than 25, please contact customer support.

14. I am receiving an "Error validating access token" message. What are the steps to resolve this?

If your access token has expired, you will be notified of this error message. In such a case, you should delete the channel, generate a new token, and reenter the token.

Read the blog to know how to generate a token that doesn't expire (Permanent token).  

15. Can I add my Landline number to WhatsApp Cloud API?

Yes, you can add your landline number to your WhatsApp Cloud API. Here is the link to know more.

16. How can I add a logo for my WhatsApp Cloud API account?

You can add a logo from the WhatsApp Manager account. Go to "Settings". Go to profiles and  → Choose File.

In a nutshell, WhatsApp Cloud API can save your time and money and yet be a very convenient way to converse with your customers. Head to your CRM right now and integrate your WhatsApp Cloud API and enhance your sales conversation.