WhatsApp Business APIs
Send and receive WhatsApp messages at scale - templates, notifications, OTP, and two-way support via the Business API.
TL;DR: Top pick: Twilio WhatsApp Business API. 14 APIs compared, 1 with a free tier; cheapest published entry $12 month (Interakt). Why →
What is a WhatsApp Business API?
A WhatsApp Business API lets developers send and receive whatsapp messages at scale - templates, notifications, otp, and two-way support via the business api over HTTP. The WhatsApp Business APIs below are compared on pricing, compliance, capabilities, and developer experience from structured, cited data.
| # | API | Pricing | Free | Self-serve | SOC 2 | HIPAA | GDPR | Webhooks | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twilio WhatsApp Business API | Usage | ✗ | ✓ | Type II | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 20 |
| 2 | Bird WhatsApp API (MessageBird) | Hybrid | ✗ | ✓ | Type I | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 16 |
| 3 | Vonage Messages API (WhatsApp) | Usage | ✗ | ✓ | ? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 21 |
| 4 | Infobip WhatsApp Business API | Sales-led | ✗ | ✓ | Type II | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 21 |
| 5 | WhatsApp Cloud API (Meta) | Usage | ✗ | ✓ | Type II | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 28 |
| 6 | 360dialog WhatsApp Business API | Hybrid | ✗ | ✓ | · | · | ✓ | ✓ | 18 |
| 7 | Gupshup WhatsApp Business API | Usage | ✗ | ✓ | ? | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 29 |
| 8 | Sinch WhatsApp Business API | Sales-led | ✗ | ✓ | Type II | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 18 |
| 9 | Gallabox | Subscription | ✗ | ✓ | In progress | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 19 |
| 10 | Respond.io | Subscription | ✗ | ✓ | - | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 22 |
| 11 | AiSensy | Subscription | ✓ | ✓ | · | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | 21 |
| 12 | Interakt | Subscription | ✗ | ✓ | · | · | · | ✓ | 20 |
| 13 | WATI | Hybrid | ✗ | ✓ | · | · | ✓ | ✓ | 21 |
| 14 | Kaleyra WhatsApp API (Tata Communications) | Sales-led | ✗ | ✓ | · | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 23 |
The APIs
#1 Twilio WhatsApp Business API
80 / 100Twilio WhatsApp Business API lets developers send and receive messages on WhatsApp across all supported countries, covering two-way support conversations, alerts, OTP authentication, marketing broadcasts, and AI chatbots. Pricing is usage-based starting at $0.005 per message with no credit card required for the sandbox, and enterprise plans are available. SDKs ship for seven languages including Node.js, Python, and Java, and the API carries SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS certifications. Senders are subject to Meta's tiered throughput limits (250 to unlimited unique users per 24 hours) and must obtain explicit user opt-in before messaging.
PricingUsage · from $0.005 per message · free tier ✗TrustSOC 2 Type II · HIPAA · GDPR · ISO 27001 · PCI DSSUsed byMagalu, inDrive, QVC Italy, HubSpotAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#2 Bird WhatsApp API (MessageBird)
66 / 100Bird's WhatsApp API gives marketing, support, and operations teams programmatic access to WhatsApp through a REST interface with API key authentication, supporting template messages, interactive buttons, carousels, product catalogs, WhatsApp Flows, and one-click payments. Pricing starts at $0.005 per message plus Meta's per-conversation passthrough fees, with self-serve signup and a sandbox available. The platform holds SOC 2 Type 1, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR certifications, with data hosting options in the US, EU, and APAC. SDKs are available for Node.js, Python, PHP, Go, Java, Ruby, and C#.
PricingHybrid · from $0.005 per message (+ Meta passthrough per conversation) · free tier ✗TrustSOC 2 Type I · HIPAA · GDPR · ISO 27001Used byAirwallex, Glovo, Zillow, ExpertAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#3 Vonage Messages API (WhatsApp)
73 / 100Vonage Messages API (WhatsApp) is a REST-based multichannel messaging platform that lets businesses send and receive WhatsApp messages alongside SMS, RCS, Viber, Messenger, and email through a single integration. It suits customer support, marketing, OTP authentication, conversational commerce, and chatbot use cases, with rich message types including interactive buttons, carousels, product messages, and flows. Pricing starts at $0.0002 per message with self-serve signup, a sandbox free tier capped at 100 messages per month, and enterprise plans available. The platform holds HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS certifications, offers SDKs in seven languages, and includes an MCP server; note that WhatsApp channel access is currently in limited availability and not guaranteed.
PricingUsage · from $0.0002 per message · free tier ✗TrustHIPAA · GDPR · ISO 27001 · PCI DSSUsed byAramexAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#4 Infobip WhatsApp Business API
53 / 100Infobip WhatsApp Business API is a Meta-authorized platform that gives businesses programmatic access to WhatsApp's messaging infrastructure for customer support, marketing broadcasts, OTP authentication, conversational commerce, and order notifications across 180-plus countries. Pricing is per message with no published rates, though self-serve signup is available and each WhatsApp Business Account gets 1,000 free service conversations per month. The REST API supports API key, OAuth2, and basic auth, with SDKs for six languages, webhooks, a sandbox, and an MCP server. Infobip holds SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR certifications, with data residency options across the EU, UK, India, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and Singapore.
PricingSales-led · free tier ✗TrustSOC 2 Type II · HIPAA · GDPR · ISO 27001Used byUber, TGR Haas F1 Team, Bajaj Markets, HomechoiceAvoid ifYou need transparent pricing up front#5 WhatsApp Cloud API (Meta)
54 / 100WhatsApp Cloud API is Meta's hosted REST API for sending and receiving WhatsApp messages at scale, covering customer support, marketing broadcasts, OTP authentication, conversational commerce, and interactive flows, without requiring businesses to run their own servers. Pricing is per message and usage-based with published rates; service conversations initiated by users are free with no volume cap as of November 2024. The API is self-serve, available globally (with a short list of sanctioned-region exclusions), and holds SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR certifications. New numbers start at 250 unique users per 24 hours and can scale to unlimited throughput, though all outbound template messages require prior WhatsApp approval and opt-in from recipients.
PricingUsage · free tier ✗TrustSOC 2 Type II · GDPR · ISO 27001Used byBMW, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Vodafone, iFoodAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#6 360dialog WhatsApp Business API
58 / 100360dialog WhatsApp Business API is a REST-based access layer to Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform, suited for businesses running customer support, marketing broadcasts, chatbots, conversational commerce, and OTP flows at scale. Plans start at $59 per month with self-serve signup and no sales call required, though a sandbox environment is available for testing before committing to production. The service is GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001 certified, with a published SLA and data residency options across India, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. Standard throughput reaches 80 messages per second, scaling to 1,000 messages per second on a higher-tier plan at $299 per month.
PricingHybrid · from $59 month · free tier ✗TrustGDPR · ISO 27001Avoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#7 Gupshup WhatsApp Business API
50 / 100Gupshup WhatsApp Business API is a Meta-authorized platform for sending and receiving WhatsApp messages at scale, covering customer support, marketing broadcasts, OTP authentication, conversational commerce, and in-chat payments via WhatsApp Pay across 130+ countries. Pricing is usage-based with a per-message markup and no monthly subscription, a $10 minimum wallet recharge, and unlimited free service conversations. The REST API supports webhooks, a sandbox, and both API key and JWT auth, with ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance. Notable customers include Citibank, Netflix, and L'Oreal.
PricingUsage · free tier ✗TrustGDPR · ISO 27001Used byCitibank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, ICICI BankAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#8 Sinch WhatsApp Business API
47 / 100Sinch WhatsApp Business API is a REST API for businesses that need to send and receive WhatsApp messages at scale, covering customer support, marketing broadcasts, OTP authentication, chatbots, and conversational commerce including in-chat product catalogs and a payments beta in Brazil. Pricing is per-message and quote-based with no published rates, though self-serve signup is available and a 14-day free trial covers smaller teams. SDKs are available for Node.js, Python, Java, and C#/.NET, and the platform holds SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR certifications.
PricingSales-led · free tier ✗TrustSOC 2 Type II · GDPR · ISO 27001 · PCI DSSUsed byGoogle, Uber, PayPal, VisaAvoid ifYou need transparent pricing up front#9 Gallabox
55 / 100Gallabox is a WhatsApp-first omnichannel messaging platform that lets businesses run AI-powered chatbots, broadcast campaigns, lead qualification flows, and payments across WhatsApp, Instagram, web chat, and voice in 45-plus countries. Subscriptions start at $89 per month with a 14-day free trial and no sales call required, though WhatsApp conversation fees are billed separately by Meta on top of the platform fee. The REST API uses API key auth with webhook support and a sandbox environment, and an MCP server is available. GDPR compliance is documented, with SOC 2 certification in progress.
PricingSubscription · from $89 month · free tier ✗TrustSOC 2 In progress · GDPRUsed byApollo Hospitals, Sotheby's International Realty, Thrillophilia, Mall of QatarAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#10 Respond.io
57 / 100Respond.io is an AI-powered customer communication platform, launched in 2017, that lets businesses manage conversations and automate sales, marketing, and support workflows across channels including WhatsApp, where it operates as a Meta Business Solution Partner. Plans start at $79 per month with a 7-day free trial, self-serve signup, and an enterprise tier available. The REST API uses API key auth and supports webhooks, with a TypeScript/JavaScript SDK and an MCP server available. The platform holds ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance, and is active in more than 85 countries.
PricingSubscription · from $79 month · free tier ✗TrustGDPR · ISO 27001Used byKlook, Decathlon, British Airways, RocheAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#11 AiSensy
53 / 100AiSensy is a WhatsApp Business API platform for marketing, automation, and customer support, built on Meta's official infrastructure and serving businesses in India and 68 or more countries since 2020. It covers broadcast campaigns, chatbot flows, multi-agent live chat, catalog selling, and payments collection, all through a REST API with webhook delivery. Pricing starts at $45 per month with a free-forever plan that includes $1 in conversation credit, and self-serve signup is available without a sales call. Customers include PhysicsWallah, Adani Realty, and the Delhi Transport Corporation, and the platform is GDPR compliant.
PricingSubscription · from $45 month · free tier ✓TrustGDPRUsed byPhysicsWallah, Adani Realty, Delhi Transport Corporation, SkullcandyAvoid ifYou have strict compliance requirements#12 Interakt
56 / 100Interakt is a WhatsApp-first messaging platform for marketing, sales, and customer support, targeting e-commerce and D2C brands primarily in India and emerging markets. It provides a REST API with webhook support for sending template messages, interactive buttons, product catalogs, and inbound session messages, with rate limits tied to plan tier. Pricing starts at $12 per month, with a 14-day free trial and no sales call required, though API access is restricted to Growth plans and above. Note that Interakt applies a markup on Meta conversation fees on lower-tier plans, which Enterprise removes.
PricingSubscription · from $12 month · free tier ✗Used byThe Pillow Company, Bare Anatomy, Superbottoms, Flo MattressAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#13 WATI
57 / 100WATI is a WhatsApp Business API platform built for customer support, marketing broadcasts, chatbot automation, and conversational commerce, serving businesses globally since 2020. Plans start at $59 per month plus per-message markup, with a 7-day free trial and self-serve signup; an enterprise tier is also available. The REST API uses JWT authentication and supports webhooks, with API call quotas ranging from 10,000 to 20,000,000 requests per month depending on plan. An MCP server is available, and GDPR compliance is documented.
PricingHybrid · from $59 month + per-message markup · free tier ✗TrustGDPRUsed byVedantu, Zellbury, Habuild, ZostelAvoid ifYou want to try it free before paying#14 Kaleyra WhatsApp API (Tata Communications)
33 / 100Kaleyra WhatsApp API, offered by Tata Communications (a Meta Premier Partner) under its Kaleyra CPaaS platform, gives businesses access to the WhatsApp Business Platform across 190+ countries for marketing broadcasts, customer support, conversational commerce, OTP authentication, and chatbot automation. The REST API supports rich media, interactive buttons, list messages, WhatsApp Flows, catalog messages, and in-app payments in India via Razorpay and PayU. Pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation, though self-serve signup is available. The platform holds ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR certifications and publishes an SLA, with customers including AirAsia, Shiprocket, and Verisure.
PricingSales-led · free tier ✗TrustHIPAA · GDPR · ISO 27001Used byShiprocket, Verisure, Isansys, AirAsiaAvoid ifYou need transparent pricing up front