WhatsApp Guide

3 important steps before starting WhatsApp

Chatbot Development
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 Introduction 💁
We wanted to make this guide as clear as possible.
Here you will learn what to do before creating a
WhatsApp chatbot.

We've divided the guide into several steps that you

should complete:

● Meet WhatsApp API limitations

● Get WhatsApp Business App
● Get access to WhatsApp API

Also, we will show the comparison of 3 WhatsApp

Partners at the end of the guide (we will explain who
are they and what is their role later).

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Step 1

Meet WhatsApp API limitations 🙅

Currently, WhatsApp keeps its API closed and does
not give access to everyone. WhatsApp opened API
for well-established medium and large businesses. It
is very complicated to get API access for small
businesses*.
But for industries like financial services, retail,
education, real estate, telecom, it is easy to get API
access because they are encouraged by
WhatsApp**.

WhatsApp also pays attention to the industry your

business operates in. For example, it is tough to get
API access for these industries: government, political
organizations, independent software vendors, cash
industry (gaming, gambling), adult content,
entertainment, arms, alcohol, tobacco, healthcare,
supplements*.

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*Sometimes there are exceptions.

**If you haven't seen your industry here, it doesn't mean that you are not able to create the WhatsApp
chatbot. We've listed only those industries that are most and least welcomed by WhatsApp.
Step 1

Meet WhatsApp API limitations 🙅

Probably, the most critical limitation is a chatbot
purpose. It is strictly forbidden to use the chatbot for
marketing and promotional notifications.

It is best to use the WhatsApp chatbots for customer

service and non-promotional notifications. In such
cases, you are more likely to get WhatsApp API
access.

Congrats if you meet most of the limitations. You can

move to the next step. If not, you can take
advantage of the WhatsApp Business App.
Read more

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Step 2

Get WhatsApp Business App 📱

The next step will be registering your business in There are 2 Types of WhatsApp Business App:
WhatsApp Business App*. ● Official business account
● Business account**
What is WhatsApp Business App? - It is a The differences between them are green checkmark
free-to-download app that is built with small badge and visible business name.
business owners in mind. With the app, businesses Read more
can interact with customers easily by using tools to
automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages.

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*If you already have one, you can go to step 3

**There are specific criteria to get an official account (for example, be a well-known brand and receive
at least 500 messages per day). But you can still create a chatbot even with the business account.
Step 2

Get WhatsApp Business App 📱

To get WhatsApp Business Account, all you need is to
download WhatsApp Business application (from Apple
Store or Google Play Market) and register your
business using a UNIQUE phone number.

You will connect your future chatbot to this account.

After this, you can move to the next step.

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Step 3

Getting access to WhatsApp API 🔑

The last and most crucial step is creating a request for WhatsApp API
access. There are two ways to get WhatsApp API access:

Partner up with business solution providers: Self API request**:

WhatsApp recommends collaborating with a Business
Solution Provider. Currently, there are 51 partners.
You'll need to contact the partner's representative
and apply for access to WhatsApp API.
There are 2 crucial reasons to work with partners*:
● You have more chances to get access to API.
● Your request will be considered within 1-4 weeks.
If you prefer to work with WhatsApp directly, you can
get access to WhatsApp API by filling out this form.
But WhatsApp prefers to work with businesses
through partners, so you may wait up to 6 months
for your request to be considered.

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*Please note each partner has its pricing list.
**Take a notice, to get an access to API directly is very complicated.
Your submission may be considered up to 6 months or even more.
Let’s talk about budgets 💵
All partners can give you access to WhatsApp
API and a platform to work with API. Platform
functionality and price are different at each
WhatsApp API provider.

Further, we are going to discuss pricing. But

first, let us explain how partners can charge
you.

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Let’s talk about budgets 💵
01. Set-up fees
Some partners have a platform set-up fee. Of course, they
will completely guide you through the installation
process. Note: not all platforms require the setup. That's
why there will not necessary be a set-up fee.
03. WhatsApp Template Messages fees
Since Whatsapp is a messenger, the main 'currency' here
is a message. Whatsapp has a different message price
depending on the country. These messages are called
WhatsApp Template Message. WhatsApp would charge
you only if your messages were sent more than 24 hours
after the user's last interaction. So, if the user previously
wrote you more than 24 hours ago, then your next
message will be paid. Also, if you haven't messaged to
the client before, the first message will be paid.
02. Monthly subscription fees
Some partners may have a monthly subscription fee, and
some don't. Prices vary depending on the vendor.
04. Platform Messages fees
Partners will charge you for each message (received
and/or sent). This message is called Platform Message.
Please note: Platform Message is any message sent from
a platform. If you send a message within 24 hours of the
last conversation, then WhatsApp Template Message Fee
and Platform Message Fee will be summed up.
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Nexmo
Billing Currency EUR

One time set-up fee €2,000

Monthly subscription
€800(all countries) / €400(India)
fee

WhatsApp Template depending on the country(ex. for first 250K messages in the
Messages fee United States you will be paying €0.0075 per message)*.

Platform Messages fee €0.0058 (all countries) / €0.0020 (India)**.

If you apply for a WhatsApp Business number before the end of the year and
Promotions
Nexmo will waive the set-up and monthly hosting fees until March 31st, 2020.

Summary at Nexmo, you do not pay for customers’ messages.

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*Prices are decreasing with an increasing number of messages
**At Nexmo, you pay only for outbound messages. It means you will be charged only
for sent messages but not for received.
Twilio
Billing Currency USD

One time set-up fee do not have

Monthly subscription
do not have
fee

WhatsApp Template depending on the country(ex. for first 250K messages in the
Messages fee United States you will be paying $0.0085 per message)*.

Platform Messages fee $0.005**

Promotions none

at Twilio, you are paying for customers’ messages, but

Summary
do not pay for set-up and monthly subscription.

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*Prices are decreasing with an increasing number of messages
***at Twilio, you pay for inbound and outbound messages. It means you will be
charged for sent and received messages.
Smooch
Billing Currency USD

One time set-up fee do not have

Monthly subscription $1490 (You have 50 000 conversations. The conversation is any number sent
fee or received messages between a unique end-user and your business.)
Platform extra
$0.02*
conversation fee:
WhatsApp Template
depending on the country
Messages fee:

Platform Messages fee: none

Promotions none

at Smooch, you pay for unique conversations. You won’t be charged for chatty
Summary
customers.

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*at Smooch, you do not pay for messages, you pay for unique conversations.
Conclusion 💁
Each platform has a different value proposition.
Choose an option which will be the best fit for your
business.

We've named the guide "3 important steps before

starting WhatsApp Chatbot Development", but there is
a 4th step.

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 Step 4: Act 😏

Contact Max, our Chatbot Expert, to discuss your

idea, quickly choose WhatsApp partner, and start
successful WhatsApp chatbot development
project.

Book a meeting
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