WhatsApp Business API Integration.
Get approved on the WhatsApp Business API and wire the Cloud API into your CRM: templates, automation, AI chatbots and a shared team inbox.
The WhatsApp Business API lets a company message customers at scale from a verified business number, with automation, a shared team inbox and chatbots behind it. EqualPixels handles the approval, the setup and the software, so WhatsApp becomes a working sales and support channel rather than a phone someone has to watch.
Why use the WhatsApp Business API instead of the app?
In Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and much of Europe and Latin America, customers message before they call and call before they email. The free Business app is fine for one person answering messages. The API is what you need once several people share the inbox, or once you want the CRM to know what was said.
| WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business API | |
|---|---|---|
| Users on one number | Limited | Unlimited agents |
| Automation | Away messages only | Full chatbots and workflows |
| CRM integration | No | Yes |
| Bulk template messages | Restricted | Approved templates at scale |
| Green tick verification | No | Possible |
What does a WhatsApp Business API integration include?
- Business API access and verification
- , including Meta Business Manager setup and business verification
- Number provisioning or migration
- from an existing WhatsApp Business app number
- Message templates
- written and submitted for approval, in English, Urdu and Arabic
- Shared team inbox
- with assignment, tags, notes, canned replies and reporting
- Chatbots and AI agents
- that answer from your own content and escalate cleanly to a person
- CRM integration
- so every conversation lands against the right contact automatically
- Automation flows
- lead capture, appointment reminders, order updates, payment links, post-sale follow-up
- Opt-in and consent handling
- to keep your number in good standing
Cloud API or a Business Solution Provider: which should you use?
For most businesses we connect directly to Meta’s WhatsApp Cloud API, which Meta hosts, so there is no middleman fee per message. A Business Solution Provider such as Twilio or 360dialog makes sense when you already run other channels through them, or want their inbox instead of your own.
| WhatsApp Cloud API (direct) | Business Solution Provider | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Meta | The provider, on top of Meta |
| Per-message cost | Meta’s rates only | Meta’s rates plus the provider’s markup or fee |
| Inbox and tooling | Built into your CRM or ours | The provider’s dashboard |
| Best for | CRM-led sales and support, custom automation | Teams already on that provider for SMS or voice |
Meta’s own Cloud API documentation covers the technical limits. We have built on it in our own products: Odobase sends trip updates over the Cloud API, and Agenso runs WhatsApp messaging around approved templates and the 24-hour customer service window.
How does WhatsApp Business API approval work?
- Meta Business ManagerCreated and verified with your legal business documents.
- Business verificationMeta checks your company exists and matches the documents. This is the step that usually takes the longest.
- Number registrationA number not currently on the WhatsApp Business app, or one migrated across.
- Display name approvalMeta has rules about how the display name relates to your brand.
- Template approvalEach outbound template is reviewed. We write them to pass the first time.
- Go liveInbox, automations and CRM connection tested end to end.
Realistic timeline: a few days to about two weeks, depending on how quickly Meta reviews your business documents. That part is outside anyone’s control, including ours.
How much does a WhatsApp Business API integration cost?
A WhatsApp Business API setup with us typically starts at $2,500, covering approval, templates, a shared inbox and one CRM integration. Meta’s message fees are separate and paid to Meta.
Since 1 July 2025 Meta charges per delivered template message rather than per conversation, at rates that vary by country and by category: marketing, utility and authentication. Replies inside the 24-hour customer service window are not charged. The current rates are on Meta’s WhatsApp pricing page.
What moves our price:
- The number of CRMs and systems to connect
- Chatbot or AI agent scope, and the languages it answers in
- The number of automation flows: reminders, order updates, payment links
- Number migration from the WhatsApp Business app
- Ongoing management of templates and the inbox
Case study
Odobase: fleet operations for car rental
Odobase, our fleet platform for car rental companies, sends customers WhatsApp trip updates through the WhatsApp Cloud API.
Read the case study: Odobase: fleet operations for car rental
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Write to us at [email protected]
How do I get WhatsApp Business API approved in the UAE or Pakistan?
You need a registered business, matching documentation in Meta Business Manager, a phone number not already tied to the Business app, and a display name that follows Meta’s naming rules. We prepare the submission and handle the back-and-forth. Most rejections come from mismatched company details, which is avoidable.
Does the WhatsApp Business API cost money?
Yes, in two parts. Meta charges per delivered template message, at a rate that depends on the country and the category (marketing, utility or authentication), while replies within the 24-hour customer service window are free. Then there is the setup and software: with us that typically starts at $2,500. We set out both before you commit, because the per-message rate decides whether a campaign is viable.
Can we keep our existing number?
Usually yes, through a migration that removes it from the Business app and registers it on the API. Chat history on the app does not transfer, so we plan the switch for a quiet period.
Can we send marketing messages?
Only to users who opted in, and only using approved templates in the marketing category. Sending without consent gets your number rate-limited or blocked, which is a much larger problem than a slow campaign.
Can a chatbot answer on WhatsApp?
Yes. We connect the same AI chatbot or agent that runs on your website, so customers get consistent answers on both channels and everything is written to the same CRM.
Which CRMs do you integrate with?
HubSpot, Zoho, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Odoo, Houzez and custom CRMs. If it has an API or webhooks, we can connect it.
What is the WhatsApp Cloud API?
The WhatsApp Cloud API is Meta’s hosted version of the WhatsApp Business Platform. Your software sends and receives messages through Meta’s servers directly, so you do not need to host anything yourself or pay a provider markup on each message.
Let’s build what’s next.
Tell us about your WhatsApp Business API Integration project. We’ll reply within 24 hours with a clear plan and estimate.