Ready to chat? Before you jump into using our app to do cool things with WhatsApp, let’s talk about the first step: linking your WhatsApp account. There are two ways to do this: one is through something called the QR Code API, and the other is through the Official Meta API. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and we’ll walk you through them. So, get ready because we’re about to learn about linking WhatsApp with our app!
Official API #
✅ It is stable
This means it’s reliable and won’t suddenly stop working. Since it’s approved by Meta (the company that owns WhatsApp), you can trust that it will keep working as long as WhatsApp and our app are around.
✅ You only have to connect once
Once you link your account, you’re good to go. You won’t need to keep doing it every time you want to use the app.
✅ You can make your chatbot more interactive
You can add buttons and menus to your chatbot to make conversations more fun and helpful for your customers. These tools are not available with the QR Code API.
❌ It takes longer to set up
It involves a few more steps, like signing up with Meta and connecting your WhatsApp number to the Cloud. It might take around half an hour to get everything set up.
❌ You won’t be able to use WhatsApp normally.
Once you link your WhatsApp account to the Cloud, you won’t be able to use the regular WhatsApp app on your phone. You’ll only be able to send and receive messages through our app’s Livechat (which by the way, can be accessed on mobile devices).
❌ You’ll need to go through some additional verification steps
Using the official Meta API requires additional verification steps. For customer-initiated conversations (that is, when your leads write to you first), Business Verification is not required to get started. However, for business-initiated conversations (that is, if you want to start the chat with them), you will need to undergo the Facebook Business Manager verification process to gain access. Rest assured, we will provide guidance through the approval steps.
❌ There are extra fees for using WhatsApp.
If you use the Official Meta API, you might have to pay extra for using WhatsApp, depending on how much you use it and where your customers are located.
Businesses are entitled to 1000 conversations per month at no charge, regardless of whether they are initiated by the business or the customers. Once this limit is reached, further messaging will incur charges on a per “new conversation” basis.
A single conversation is a messaging session that lasts 24 hours and starts when either of two events happens: The business proactively messages a contact that is outside the 24-hour messaging window (business-initiated conversation) or the business responds to a contact’s inquiry within 24 hours (contact-initiated conversations).
The first message in the session is paid. The following messages sent within the 24-hour session are free.
The final price for a single conversation of either type depends on the country code of the contact’s number. You can find more information about this in our tutorials and at the Meta Developers Portal.
QR Code API #
✅ It’s quick and easy to connect
You just scan a QR code, and you’re done! It’s as simple as using WhatsApp Web on your computer.
✅ You can still use WhatsApp normally
You won’t lose access to your regular WhatsApp app, so you can keep using it like you always do. This is a big advantage, especially of you are a reseller or creating chatbots for your customers, as most of them do not want to lose their accounts.
✅ No extra fees for WhatsApp
You won’t have to pay anything extra for using WhatsApp with our app. The only associated costs will be your subscription to our app, and the cost of OpenAI tokens in case you wish to connect an AI to answer your chats (more on this here).
❌ It might not be as reliable
Since it’s not the preferred method by Meta, there’s a chance it could stop working with future updates.
❌ You might need to update the connection occasionally
The library we use for the WhatsApp QR Code API connects through something called sockets. These sockets keep WhatsApp Web connected to WhatsApp servers, receiving data about events like when a message is received. However, sometimes WhatsApp disconnects them without any reason. To solve this, you will need to go to admin mods from the side menu and click on “restart app.” This will restart the socket connections and reconnect them again.
❌ Some features might not work
You won’t be able to use certain features, like buttons and menus, with this method.
So, those are the main things to consider when linking your WhatsApp account with our app. If you’re unsure which option is best for you, feel free to reach out to us for help!
