Can I use WhatsApp api to send message?

Yes, it is possible to use the WhatsApp API to send messages programmatically. The WhatsApp Business API provides a REST API that allows businesses to send messages to WhatsApp users who have opted in to receive them.

What are the requirements to use the WhatsApp API?

Here are the main requirements for using the WhatsApp Business API:

You must apply and be approved for a WhatsApp Business account.

You must use approved templates for your messages.
You can only message users who have opted in to receive messages from you.
Messages must follow WhatsApp’s terms of service and community standards.

In order to get started, you’ll need to:

Integrate your Business Manager and WhatsApp accounts.
Generate an access token that allows you to authenticate API requests.

Once your account is set up, you’ll be able to start building out your business communication strategies using the WhatsApp Business API.

What can you do with the WhatsApp API?

Here are some of the key features the WhatsApp Business API enables:

Send text messages to users who have contacted your business or opted in to receive updates.
Send media like images, video, and documents.

Send messages using pre-approved templates.
Receive and respond to messages from users.
Create customized message workflows and automation.

This allows for varied use cases like order confirmations, shipping updates, appointment reminders, marketing and promotional content, and customer support messaging.

What are the limits and usage policies?

WhatsApp does enforce limits and policies on Business API usage:

Daily limits on number of messages sent.

Require opt-in from users before messaging.
Limits on number of recipients per message.
Rate limits to prevent spam and abuse.

Restrictions on content categories like political messaging.

Make sure to review WhatsApp’s full Business API policies so you are aware of all the guidelines. Failing to follow the policies can result in your account being suspended.

What languages and regions are supported?

The WhatsApp Business API supports:

English, Arabic, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish languages.
Phone numbers from most countries around the world.

This allows businesses in many geographies to leverage WhatsApp messaging and connect with their customers around the globe.

How do you send a message via the API?

Here is an overview of the steps to send a message using the WhatsApp Business API:

Construct your HTTP request to the https://graph.facebook.com/v13.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages endpoint.
Authenticate with your access token in the request headers.

Provide the recipient’s phone number ID in the endpoint URL.
Include a JSON payload with your message text and parameters.
Set the Content-Type header to application/json.

Send the HTTP POST request.
The WhatsApp servers will queue and deliver your message.

You’ll get back a successful response if the message was validated and accepted.

Example code for sending a message

Here is some example code for sending a test message using the WhatsApp Business API in Python:


```python
import requests

url = 'https://graph.facebook.com/v13.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages'

data = {
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "RECIPIENT_NUMBER_ID",  
  "text": {
    "body": "Hello World!"
  }
}

headers = {
  'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN'  
}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.text)
```

Just make sure to replace the access token, IDs, and message values.

How much does the WhatsApp API cost?

WhatsApp currently provides 100,000 free messages per month, after which pricing is:

$0.00485 per message to recipients in the US.
$0.00485 per session (max 4 messages) to recipients outside the US.

So costs are very low for small to medium usage sizes. High-volume messaging may get more expensive.

Are there client libraries to help?

There are open source and commercial client libraries available to make it easier to integrate with the WhatsApp Business API, including:

Language	Client Options
Python	py-whatsapp, pywhatsapp
JavaScript	wppconnect, chat-api
PHP	whatsapp-api-php
C#	WhatsAppBusinessApiSDK
Java	whatsapp-business-java

These wrappers make it easier to get started compared to working directly with the API.

Can you send messages without the official API?

Technically it is possible to send WhatsApp messages without using the official Business API. Some options include:

Using an unofficial API developed through reverse engineering.
Automating WhatsApp Web with a headless browser.
Developing a custom client that connects to WhatsApp’s servers.

However, these approaches violate WhatsApp’s terms of service and may result in your account being banned. The Business API is the only authorized way to automate WhatsApp messaging.

What are some alternative messaging APIs?

Some alternative messaging platforms provide official APIs for automating messages:

Twilio – Provides SMS and WhatsApp messaging APIs.

MessageBird – Global SMS, voice, and chat API.
Vonage – SMS, voice, video, and messaging APIs.
Infobip – Omnichannel communications platform.

These all have various usage limits, pricing models, and features compared to WhatsApp. Other options like Telegram, Signal, Facebook Messenger also have APIs available.

Conclusion

The WhatsApp Business API provides an easy way to programmatically send messages at scale and engage your customers in a familiar, convenient channel. While there are policies and restrictions to follow, it opens up many possibilities for automated business workflows. Alternative third-party messaging APIs can also meet communication needs. When exploring options, be sure to check the platform capabilities, restrictions, and pricing to determine if they align with your use case and volume requirements.