Question 1

What is WhatsApp Cloud API and how is it different from WhatsApp Business App?

Accepted Answer

WhatsApp Cloud API is Meta's official enterprise-grade API that allows businesses to send and receive messages at scale. Unlike the free WhatsApp Business App (limited to 1 device, manual messaging), the Cloud API offers: unlimited messaging capacity, multi-agent access, automation capabilities, webhook integrations, CRM/ERP connectivity, and 99.9% uptime SLA. Whats91 provides a zero-markup gateway to this API with added features like Busy ERP integration and AI chatbots.

Question 2

How do I get started with Whats91 WhatsApp API?

Accepted Answer

Getting started is simple: 1) Sign up on whats91.com with your business details, 2) Verify your business with Meta (we guide you through the process), 3) Set up your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA), 4) Create your first message templates, 5) Integrate via our API or use our no-code dashboard. The entire onboarding takes 24-48 hours. Contact our sales team for a personalized demo.

Question 3

What are the requirements to use WhatsApp Business API in India?

Accepted Answer

To use WhatsApp Business API in India, you need: a valid business with GST registration (optional but recommended for ITC), a verified Meta Business Manager account, a phone number not currently on WhatsApp (or willing to deactivate), accepted business category (no gambling, alcohol, etc.), and compliance with WhatsApp's Commerce Policy. We handle the Meta verification process for you.

Question 4

How long does it take to get WhatsApp Business API access?

Accepted Answer

With Whats91, most businesses get API access within 24-48 hours. The process includes: account creation (instant), business verification (12-24 hours), number registration (2-4 hours), and template approval (varies by category - utility templates are often instant, marketing takes 24-48 hours). Enterprise clients with existing Meta verification can be live in under 4 hours.

Question 5

Can I keep my existing WhatsApp number for Business API?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but with conditions. Your existing WhatsApp number can be migrated to Business API, but you must first: 1) Export your chat history (API doesn't retain personal chats), 2) Deactivate the number from WhatsApp/WhatsApp Business app, 3) Wait 24-48 hours before registration. We recommend using a new dedicated business number for seamless transition.

Question 6

What's the difference between WhatsApp Cloud API and On-Premise API?

Accepted Answer

WhatsApp Cloud API is Meta's hosted solution - no server infrastructure required, automatic updates, built-in scalability, and no maintenance overhead. On-Premise API requires your own servers, dedicated hosting, and technical maintenance. Whats91 exclusively uses Cloud API, giving you enterprise-grade reliability without infrastructure costs. Cloud API also receives new features first.

Question 7

Do I need technical knowledge to use Whats91?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Whats91 offers two modes: 1) No-Code Dashboard - manage contacts, send broadcasts, view analytics through our intuitive interface, 2) API Integration - for developers building custom solutions. Our Busy ERP integration requires zero coding - we handle everything. For custom CRM integrations, basic API knowledge helps, but our team provides comprehensive documentation and support.

Question 8

What are the WhatsApp API pricing rates in India for 2026?

Accepted Answer

Official Meta rates for India (2026): Marketing messages - ₹0.8631 per delivered message, Utility messages - ₹0.1150 per delivered message, Authentication (OTP) - ₹0.1150 per delivered message, Service messages - FREE within 24-hour customer window. Whats91 charges zero markup on these rates - you pay exactly what Meta charges.

Question 9

Are there any setup fees or monthly charges?

Accepted Answer

No setup fees, no monthly platform charges, no hidden costs. You only pay for successfully delivered messages at official Meta rates. This is our zero-markup guarantee. Compare this to competitors like Wati (15-20% markup) or Gupshup (8-10% markup). At 1 million monthly messages, this saves you ₹9-17 lakhs annually.

Question 10

How does volume discount pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Utility and Authentication messages have automatic volume tiers: 0-25M messages at ₹0.1150 (base), 25M-50M at ₹0.1081 (6% off), 50M-100M at ₹0.1012 (12% off), up to 30% off at 300M+ messages. Marketing has a flat rate regardless of volume. Tier upgrades happen automatically - no negotiation needed.

Question 11

When are WhatsApp messages completely free?

Accepted Answer

Three scenarios for free messaging: 1) 24-Hour Customer Service Window - any reply within 24 hours of customer message is free, 2) 72-Hour CTWA Window - all message types (including marketing) are free after a Click-to-WhatsApp ad click, 3) Utility templates within an active service window are free (April 2025 update).

Question 12

How is billing handled? Is there GST?

Accepted Answer

Meta bills in INR directly to Indian businesses. 18% GST applies and is fully claimable as Input Tax Credit (ITC) for GST-registered businesses. Invoices show every message as a line item with delivery status. No USD conversion fees, no foreign transaction charges. This local billing setup saves 12-20% compared to earlier USD billing.

Question 13

What happens if my message is not delivered?

Accepted Answer

You don't pay. WhatsApp API uses per-delivered billing - only successfully delivered messages are charged. Undelivered messages due to invalid numbers, user opt-outs, or network issues cost nothing. Our dashboard shows detailed delivery analytics with reason codes for failed attempts.

Question 14

How do I add money to my WhatsApp API account?

Accepted Answer

Meta uses a prepaid credit system. You can add funds directly through Meta Business Manager using credit card, debit card, or UPI. For Indian businesses, we recommend maintaining a balance equivalent to 2-4 weeks of messaging volume. Our dashboard shows real-time balance and projected usage alerts.

Question 15

Can I get a refund for unused credits?

Accepted Answer

Meta's policy doesn't allow refunds for purchased credits. However, credits don't expire and can be used indefinitely. We recommend starting with smaller amounts and scaling based on actual usage. For enterprise clients, we offer custom billing arrangements with monthly invoicing.

Question 16

Why are some providers charging more than official Meta rates?

Accepted Answer

Many Business Solution Providers (BSPs) add markups of 10-25% on top of Meta's base rates. For example, Wati charges ~₹1.03 for marketing (vs ₹0.8631 official). At 100M monthly messages, a 15% markup costs ₹12.9 lakhs extra per month. Whats91's zero-markup model passes official rates directly to you.

Question 17

How do WhatsApp Webhooks work?

Accepted Answer

Webhooks are HTTP callbacks that notify your server of events in real-time. When a customer messages you, WhatsApp sends a POST request to your webhook URL with the message payload. Our platform handles webhook setup automatically - you just specify your endpoint URL. For developers, we provide webhook security validation using X-Hub-Signature-256 headers.

Question 18

What message templates are supported?

Accepted Answer

WhatsApp supports four template categories: 1) Utility - order confirmations, shipping updates, account alerts, 2) Marketing - promotional offers, newsletters, product launches, 3) Authentication - OTP delivery, verification codes, 4) Service - customer support responses. Each category has different pricing and approval requirements.

Question 19

How do I create and approve message templates?

Accepted Answer

Templates are created through Meta Business Manager or our dashboard. Each template needs: a name, category, language code, and content body with optional variables. Meta reviews templates within 24-48 hours. Utility templates are often auto-approved. Marketing templates require more scrutiny. We provide pre-approved template libraries for common use cases.

Question 20

What's the message rate limit (throughput)?

Accepted Answer

Throughput depends on your messaging tier: Tier 1 (verified) - 1,000 unique users per 24 hours, Tier 2 - 10,000 users, Tier 3 - 100,000 users, Tier 4 - unlimited. Within these limits, you can send multiple messages per user. Our platform supports burst throughput of 500+ messages per second for time-sensitive campaigns.

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