WhatsApp has more than two billion users worldwide and is the default way to message businesses for many US customers — especially in Hispanic, immigrant and international communities. A WhatsApp chatbot for business lets you answer, sell and support there instantly.
WhatsApp Business App vs. WhatsApp Business API
The free WhatsApp Business app is built for one person on one phone. To run an AI chatbot, multiple agents, or integrations, you need the WhatsApp Business Platform (API), accessed through Meta’s Cloud API or a business solution provider.
Setup steps
- Create a Meta Business account and complete business verification.
- Register a phone number that isn’t already on a personal WhatsApp account.
- Get message templates approved for outbound messages like reminders and order updates.
- Connect the AI agent via webhooks to your LLM, knowledge base and CRM.
- Design the handoff to a human inbox for complex conversations.
How WhatsApp pricing works
Meta charges for certain message types (marketing, utility and authentication templates), with rates that vary by country. Replies within the 24-hour customer-service window when a customer messages you first are treated differently from business-initiated messages. Check Meta’s current rate card for the US before you budget campaigns.
Best use-cases
- Customer support — order status, returns, FAQs.
- Appointment booking — see our AI receptionist.
- Sales — product recommendations and payment links.
- Lead qualification from click-to-WhatsApp ads.
- Reminders and notifications with approved templates.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spamming templates — poor quality ratings can limit your account.
- No human escape hatch — always offer a person.
- Generic AI answers — ground the bot in your data with RAG.
- Siloed data — sync every conversation to your CRM.
Get it done for you
We handle verification, templates, AI and integrations end to end. Explore our AI chat agents or talk to us.