---
description: Get a WhatsApp Business API account fast to start chatting with your customers.
title: WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Quick Start
image: https://assets1-proxy.respond.io/api/v1/image/assets%2F11f7a662b80a4675973850b067c01fa5%2F3f43c48b21b24f4e8b02b100c0c8fab0
---

[New🌍 WhatsApp API Calling is now available globally! Start making calls with respond.io today. Learn more![arrow-icon](https://assets1-proxy.respond.io/api/v1/image/assets%2F11f7a662b80a4675973850b067c01fa5%2Fe43213a7a9314673bd8d2060c25f9b87)](/whatsapp-business-calling-api)

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4. WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Quick Start

# WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Quick Start

![Avatar](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/4GvzCieeTBRY4TRJUbIr4y/b92428e6b049d23f546269180534f7ea/Ryan_Tan_Avatar.svg)

Joshua Lim

· 06 Nov 2025

3 min read

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/20LdpJnJNiSK20UZciWz9i/a02b8e40fef424c115c6895a25d58fe6/whats-app-logo.png?fm=jpg&q=80&w=255) 

## WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Overview

WhatsApp API is designed for medium to large companies that want to use WhatsApp with multiple users. It presents an attractive opportunity for businesses to broadcast messages to a wider audience and monitor agents’ and teams’ performances. However, WhatsApp API does not come with an interface to send and receive messages. Fortunately, respond.io solves that problem by providing you with an easy-to-use messaging platform that allows businesses to easily sign up and connect to the WhatsApp API.

> WhatsApp API is not free to use and incurs charges based on the number of conversations. Learn more about [WhatsApp Pricing here](https://respond.io/help/whatsapp/whatsapp-pricing).

> If you have a WhatsApp API account from another Business Solution Provider (BSP), you can [migrate your phone number to respond.io here](https://respond.io/help/whatsapp/phone-number-migration-to-respond-whatsapp-business-api).

## Pre-requisites to Sign Up for a WhatsApp Business Platform (API) account

Here are a few things you need to prepare and understand before getting a WhatsApp Business Platform (API) account:

* Respond.io account
* Phone Number OR **Virtual Phone Number (NEW!)**
* Meta Business Manager (MBM)

### Respond.io account

You’ll need [a respond.io account](https://respond.io/lp/whatsapp-api?utm%5Fsource=google-ads&utm%5Fcampaign=19951281981&utm%5Fagid=147199650959&utm%5Fterm=whatsapp%20api%20software&creative=654558725924&device=c&placement=&gclid=CjwKCAjwjYKjBhB5EiwAiFdSfhLW4ASprbzxLm5jnda%5FmC3tcFfJQLwnzeLAv1G2Z6V8TPNywDjdPBoCZhsQAvD%5FBwE) to get access to the platform for the WhatsApp API sign up process.

### Phone Number

#### Use your own phone number

* The phone number must be valid (can receive SMS or phone call for OTP verification).
* If your number is already in use on the **WhatsApp Personal App or WhatsApp Business App**, you must **delete your account first**. Learn how to [migrate your existing WhatsApp number](#).Your phone number must not be from any of these [restricted countries](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/cloud-api/support/troubleshooting#country-restrictions):
* Your phone number must **not** be from any of these **restricted countries**:  
   * Crimea (+7978)  
   * Cuba (+53)  
   * Iran (+98)  
   * North Korea (+850)  
   * Syria (+963)

#### Use a Meta-Provided Virtual Phone Number (NEW!)

To simplify onboarding, **Meta now offers free Virtual Phone Numbers** (555 business phone numbers) during the sign-up process.

**Benefits:**

* No need to purchase a new phone number.
* Auto-verified (No OTP verification required).
* Seamless integration into the onboarding process without additional setup.

These virtual numbers allow businesses to immediately complete onboarding and start using WhatsApp without delays.

### Meta Business Manager

* You need a [Meta Business Manager](https://business.facebook.com/) (MBM) to sign up for a WhatsApp Business Platform (API) account. However, if you currently do not have one, you can create one during [the embedded sign-up process](https://respond.io/help/whatsapp/whatsapp-api-quick-start#how%5Fto%5Fsign%5Fup%5Ffor%5Fwhats%5Fapp%5Fbusiness%5Fapi).
* Ensure that your business adheres to the [WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-policy/?fbclid=IwAR0r5k%5FN1rCYnfK8yyCWUP3D88tVCR814x9UX-w5EIcu8ai8b8is8ilrAQY).
* Ensure that you have an **Admin access level** in your MBM.
* When filling out your business info in your MBM, ensure that your website is valid.

> **What is a valid website?**  
> \- Viewable and belongs to your business  
> \- Has a matching email domain and web address  
> \- Features your company's name or logo.  
> Having a valid website in your MBM serves as a best practice to prevent any potential issues if and when you want to apply for [Meta Business Verification](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2058515294227817?id=180505742745347).

## How to sign up for WhatsApp Business Platform (API)

Watch the video below from [0:00](https://youtu.be/zAXMnAHT9uA) to [1:17](https://youtu.be/zAXMnAHT9uA?t=77) on how to sign up for a WhatsApp Business Platform (API) account. 

![How to Get WhatsApp API for Business](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/zAXMnAHT9uA/hqdefault.webp) 

## Connecting WhatsApp Business Platform (API) to respond.io

1. On respond.io, navigate to **Workspace settings** \> Channels
2. Click **Add Channel** \> look for the **WhatsApp Business Platform (API)** Channel card from the Channel Catalog > Click [Connect](https://rspd.link/Dsz3).
3. Click "**Get Started"** and proceed through the eligibility checks.
4. Click **Connect With Facebook** button and log in to your Facebook account.
5. Click **Continue** to grant permissions for respond.io to manage your WhatsApp Business account and billing.
6. Select an existing Meta Business account or create a new account. (The following steps will show you the steps to create a new Meta Business account)
7. Fill in your business information and make sure your [website is valid](https://respond.io/help/whatsapp/whatsapp-api-quick-start#meta%5Fbusiness%5Fmanager) \> Click **Next**.
8. Create or select your WhatsApp Business Account. To create a new account, under Choose a WhatsApp Business account, select **Create a WhatsApp Business account.** Under Create or select a WhatsApp Business profile, select **Create a new WhatsApp Business profile** \> Click **Next.**
9. Create a WhatsApp business profile. Fill in your business details as necessary > click **Next**.
10. Add your WhatsApp phone number
11. Verify your phone number with the code provided via text message or phone call > Click **Next.**
12. Click **Finish**.

Congratulations! You have successfully signed up and connected your WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Channel with respond.io.

You can edit your profile information such as adding a profile photo, address, description and other configurations. Learn more about [managing your WhatsApp Business Platform (API) profile here](https://respond.io/help/whatsapp/whats-app-business-api-channel-configuration#managing%5Fprofile%5Ffor%5Fwhats%5Fapp%5Fbusiness%5Fapi).

> Ensure your WABA/MBM currency is set to USD. This step is crucial to avoid issues with sending business-initiated conversations, even when you have sufficient credits.

## Send a Test Message

Once you have successfully signed up and connected your WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Channel, you can send test messages to your WhatsApp Business Account and reply to messages on the respond.io platform.

* **Send a test message** \- Use this link <https://wa.me/{phoneNumber}> link to start sending test messages to your WhatsApp Business account.
* **Reply to the test message** \-Navigate to the Inbox module in the respond.io platform to send a reply.

> Alternatively, you can try using our [WhatsApp Link Generator](https://respond.io/whatsapp-link-generator#Generator) to generate a chat link for your phone number to send a test message.

## What’s Next? 

You’ve successfully signed up for a WhatsApp Business Platform (API) account and connected the Channel to respond.io. You are now ready to move on to the next step of your journey - [Getting Ready for Inbound Conversations](https://respond.io/help/whatsapp/getting-ready-for-inbound-conversations).

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## 

Related articles 👩‍💻

* [WhatsApp Business App Quick Start (WhatsApp Coexistence)Learn how to connect the WhatsApp Business App to respond.io for seamless messaging and automation. ](/help/whatsapp/whatsapp-coexistence)
* [Getting Ready for Inbound ConversationsLearn about conversation windows, sending message templates and setting up a simple entry point to manage WhatsApp messages from your customers. ](/help/whatsapp/getting-ready-for-inbound-conversations)
* [Getting Ready for Promotional MessagingLearn how to broadcast promotional messages using WhatsApp message templates. ](/help/whatsapp/getting-ready-for-promotional-messaging)
* [WhatsApp Official Business Account (Blue Tick)Learn how to get a WhatsApp Official Business Account. ](/help/whatsapp/whatsapp-official-business-account-blue-tick)
* [Grow your WhatsApp Audience by Maximizing Entry PointsLearn how to reach customers and gain Contacts by adding multiple WhatsApp entry points. ](/help/whatsapp/grow-your-whatsapp-audience-by-maximizing-entry-points)

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2025-12-05T03:58:01.560Z

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