Manage WhatsApp Business API, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, voice and more in one platform with AI Agents

A WhatsApp BSP (Business Solution Provider) is a Meta-certified partner that gives businesses access to the WhatsApp Business API without requiring them to build their own direct integration. The BSP you choose determines your setup speed, messaging costs, support quality, and what platform features sit on top of the API connection. respond.io is an official WhatsApp BSP with no setup fees and no markup on Meta's official messaging rates.

WhatsApp API pricing is based on Meta's conversation-based pricing model plus the fee of your chosen Business Solution Provider. Meta charges per 24-hour conversation window, with rates varying by country and conversation category. Respond.io does not add message markups or setup fees. You pay Meta's official conversation fees and your chosen respond.io subscription plan. Your total cost depends on message volume, destination country and how you use approved templates. See the respond.io pricing page for plan details.

WhatsApp API setup can take from a few minutes to a few days depending on your Meta Business verification status and documentation readiness.

If your Meta Business Manager account is verified and your phone number is available, setup through respond.io can be completed quickly, in a matter of hours, thanks to 24/5 customer support. If business verification is pending, additional review time from Meta may be required.

The WhatsApp Business App is designed for small businesses and supports one primary device with limited automation. It does not allow a larger team of agents to respond from a shared inbox.

WhatsApp API, officially called the WhatsApp Business Platform, is built for growing and large teams. It supports multiple users, automation, CRM integrations, broadcasts and advanced reporting. Note that WhatsApp API does not include a native inbox and must be connected to a platform like respond.io to manage conversations.

Yes, you can use an existing phone number with WhatsApp API if it is not actively registered on the WhatsApp Business App or WhatsApp Messenger. The number must be removed from the app before it can be connected to the API.

In some cases, businesses choose to migrate an existing number. In other cases, they use a new dedicated number for API use. The eligibility of a number depends on Meta’s registration requirements.

WhatsApp API is designed for multi-agent access when connected to a team inbox platform. Multiple agents can handle conversations simultaneously within a shared workspace.

That said, the number of users supported depends on your chosen respond.io subscription plan and workspace configuration rather than the WhatsApp API itself.

Yes. Respond.io supports managing multiple messaging channels in one shared inbox, including WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook Messenger, depending on your configuration.

This allows teams to centralize conversations, maintain unified contact profiles and reduce context switching across platforms.

Yes, respond.io supports extensive integrations with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot & more.

These integrations allow your team to sync contacts, view deal or customer data while chatting and trigger workflows based on conversation activity. In addition to native CRM integrations, respond.io supports HTTP Requests as well as connections via Zapier and Make.com, allowing you to connect external systems, update records in real time and automate backend actions without switching between tools.

A WhatsApp AI Agent is an automated agent built on top of the WhatsApp Business API that handles real customer conversations without requiring a human to respond first. On respond.io, a WhatsApp AI Agent is trained on your product knowledge base, qualification criteria, and routing rules. It can answer questions, qualify leads, collect information, and hand off to a human agent with full context the moment a conversation exceeds its defined scope. It operates 24/7 and is testable before going live.

Yes. Respond.io provides guided onboarding and documentation to help businesses complete WhatsApp API setup. This includes assistance with connecting your Meta Business account, registering your phone number and configuring messaging templates.

For more complex requirements such as migration or enterprise setup, 24/5 support is available through the respond.io team.

To set up WhatsApp API, you need a Meta Business Manager account with the correct admin permissions.

During setup, you will connect your Meta Business account and create or select a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA). In many cases, business verification is required to unlock higher messaging limits and certain advanced features. If you plan to send outbound notifications or promotional messages, your message templates must be submitted and approved by Meta before use.

Meta charges official WhatsApp messaging fees according to its pricing model.

Depending on your configuration, billing may be handled through Meta or via your Business Solution Provider. Respond.io does not add message markups. Businesses pay Meta’s official WhatsApp fees plus their respond.io subscription plan.