WhatsApp Business Calling API: Pricing, use cases & FAQs

The WhatsApp Business Calling API is a Meta feature that allows companies using the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) to make and receive voice calls directly on WhatsApp. It extends messaging by enabling real-time VoIP conversations.

Businesses can manage calls and messages together through integrated inboxes, CRMs and automation tools. On respond.io, teams can talk to customers, track call activity and switch between messages and calls within one interface.

Personal WhatsApp accounts have always supported free voice calls. WhatsApp Business API accounts did not allow calling until Meta introduced the WhatsApp Business Calling API.

Incoming calls remain free for both the business and the customer. Calls made through the API are billed per minute for outbound calls, with rates that vary by destination. Unlike personal calls, API-based calls are integrated with business tools so teams can share access, automate tasks and manage conversations professionally within solutions like respond.io.

Enabling WhatsApp Calls on respond.io takes less effort than you might expect.

Click on Settings > Channels > Select your WhatsApp Business account > Select WhatsApp Calls.

Turn on the Enable WhatsApp Call toggle to allow your team to make and receive calls.

Turn on the Allow contacts to call you toggle to show customers the call icon and allow them to call you anytime. Once activated, calls appear in the respond.io inbox with full access to chat history and contact details.

You can call any WhatsApp user who has granted permission, provided you are in a region where business-initiated or user-initiated calls are supported via the WhatsApp Business Calling API. That said, a call request can only be sent inside an active conversation window such as a marketing, service, authentication or free entry point chat.

Customers are never charged for calls made by a business. Calls must be placed from a verified WhatsApp Business account to a WhatsApp user. The API does not support calling people who are not on WhatsApp. If you need to reach customers who aren’t on WhatsApp, you can use a platform like respond.io that supports VoIP calls. This lets your team handle regular phone calls and WhatsApp conversations together in the same shared inbox.

To protect users’ privacy, Meta requires businesses to request permission before calling a customer. A call permission request can only be sent during active conversations, when an existing marketing, utility, authentication, service or free entry point conversation is open.

Meta restricts businesses to one call request per day, and up to two in 7 days. Once approved, you have 72 hours to initiate the call. The 7-day limit resets once a call successfully connects.

On respond.io, businesses can let customers call them by enabling Allow contacts to call you in their WhatsApp channel settings. Once activated, a call icon appears in the chat so customers can start a call directly from WhatsApp.

Respond.io also lets businesses share a deep link or call button that connects customers instantly from websites, emails or ads. This feature helps teams attract inbound calls, stay reachable on WhatsApp and manage every voice and chat interaction in the same shared inbox.

No. The WhatsApp Business Calling API cannot dial public telephone numbers. It only supports calls between a verified WhatsApp Business account and a WhatsApp user.

If you need to reach non-WhatsApp numbers, use a phone system or a VoIP provider. For WhatsApp conversations, keep calls inside the app to preserve context, maintain compliance, and keep chat and call history in one thread on respond.io. This limitation ensures clear consent and consistent identity for both parties.

Yes. You will continue using your existing WhatsApp Business number, verified profile and green tick badge if you have one. Your brand identity stays consistent and trusted.

Both calls and chats occur through the same profile so customers always know they are speaking with your business. On respond.io, your team can view the entire conversation history and handle all interactions from one shared inbox.

Yes. Respond.io supports multiple users with a shared omnichannel team inbox, CRM integrations, AI and automation. Your team can switch between WhatsApp chats and calls effortlessly, with full access to chat history, customer profiles, notes and past interactions right inside the respond.io inbox. In addition to this, you’ll also be able to access detailed reports and analytics to pinpoint areas of improvement and make data-driven decisions.

Yes, there are usage fees. Incoming calls are free but Meta charges businesses per minute for outbound calls, with rates that vary by destination country.

Some WhatsApp Business Solution Providers may add markups, setup fees or hosting fees on top of Meta’s call rates. Respond.io does not. You only pay Meta’s standard call rates when using WhatsApp Business Calling. This makes it a cost-effective alternative to traditional phone lines or separate VoIP tools. Calculate your estimated calling costs with our WhatsApp Call calculator.

WhatsApp Business Calling API is a VoIP. It reduces call costs because calls are transmitted over the internet instead of traditional phone networks, eliminating long-distance or carrier charges. With solutions like respond.io, you only pay Meta’s call charges with no extra markups or fees imposed. Teams also no longer need to switch tools or lose context between channels. On respond.io, voice and messaging share the same automation, AI Agents and CRM integrations, creating a single place to manage all customer conversations with full context.

Yes. Businesses can make international calls through the WhatsApp Business Calling API to any country where WhatsApp Calling is permitted. The API delivers clear audio and reliable performance over Meta’s VoIP infrastructure, making it a cost-effective way to reach global customers compared to traditional phone networks. Use a solution designed for stability especially under high usage, such as respond.io, for reliable communication.

Note that calls cannot be made to or from regions where WhatsApp Calling is restricted by government or carrier policy, including certain Middle Eastern and sanctioned territories.

At the moment, the WhatsApp Business Calling API supports voice calls only. Video calls are not yet available for business accounts. Meta plans to expand the API over time, so video support may be added in future updates. Businesses can check Meta’s documentation for the latest feature releases.

Yes you can, on respond.io. During a voice call on WhatsApp Business Calling API, users can send photos, videos, files or links through the chat interface. This helps businesses provide visuals or documents in real time without ending the call. All shared media stays in the same chat thread, giving teams a complete record of each interaction.

The API does not include built-in call recording. Businesses that need recordings can use third-party solutions connected to their CRM or call management tools as long as they comply with local laws.

Customers must always be informed and give consent before any recording takes place. That said, call recording is a feature available on respond.io. When enabled, recorded calls are automatically saved in the call logs and can be downloaded or reviewed later. You can also access call transcripts under selected plans.

If customers call when your team is offline, the call will not go through and will appear as a missed call in your call logs. You can set automated replies via respond.io to acknowledge missed calls, share your business hours and invite customers to leave a message or call back later.

If you’re running a lean team with low chat volumes, the WhatsApp Business App may be all you need — it supports voice calls and is free to use.

But if you're managing a high volume of conversations, the WhatsApp API is a smart upgrade. It lets you continue voice and chat seamlessly, scale your team and unlock powerful tools from your conversation management software.

Scaling medium to large businesses use respond.io for its omnichannel team inbox that supports calls and chats, integrations with CRMs and other software, automation and AI Agents, WhatsApp broadcasts, click to WhatsApp ads, detailed analytics and more.

Yes, you can. Although the WhatsApp Business Calling API does not generate transcripts by default, respond.io automatically transcribes recorded WhatsApp calls. The transcripts help teams review conversations, verify information and follow up accurately without replaying the full recording. However, note that this feature is only available on respond.io’s Growth plan and up.

The availability of WhatsApp Business Calling depends on the type of call:

User-Initiated Calling (Incoming)

You can receive calls from customers in any country where the WhatsApp Business API is supported, except:

• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria
• Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk)

These regions do not support incoming or outgoing calls.

Business-Initiated Calling (Outgoing)

You can initiate calls to customers in most supported countries. However, business-initiated calls are currently not allowed in the following locations:

• United States
• Canada
• Turkey
• Egypt
• Vietnam
• Nigeria
• Plus all regions listed above where user-initiated calls are not supported

This list is based on Meta’s current restrictions and may change. For the latest updates, refer to Meta’s documentation.