WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 2 billion active users. With such a massive user base, many businesses and marketers want to utilize WhatsApp for communicating with their target audience.
However, the biggest challenge is getting phone numbers that are actively using WhatsApp. Sending messages to numbers without an active WhatsApp account is simply a waste of time and resources.
So how do you filter out and find phone numbers that have active WhatsApp accounts? Let’s discuss the different methods to check WhatsApp numbers in bulk.
Using WhatsApp Web/Desktop App
The easiest way to check if a phone number has WhatsApp is by using the WhatsApp Web/Desktop application.
Here are the steps to check numbers via WhatsApp Web:
- Open the WhatsApp Web application on your computer browser or the Desktop app.
- Click on the “New Chat” option.
- Enter the phone number with country code you want to check.
- If the number has WhatsApp, it will show the Contact name. Else you will see an error “Phone number shared via URL is invalid”.
This method allows you to check one number at a time. So it’s suitable if you have a relatively small list of numbers to verify.
Pros
- Simple and fast process
- Instantly verifies if number is on WhatsApp
Cons
- Only allows checking one number at a time
- Not efficient for large number lists
Using Online WhatsApp Number Checker Tools
If you need to check a large list of numbers, using an online WhatsApp number checker tool is more efficient.
These tools allow you to upload a CSV/Excel sheet with hundreds or thousands of numbers to check in one go. Many also provide instant bulk verification through API integration.
Some popular WhatsApp number checker tools include:
The process of using such tools involves:
- Getting a list of phone numbers you want to check
- Uploading the list to the tool’s website in Excel/CSV format
- Configuring the country code if numbers belong to multiple countries
- Running the check and downloading the output result
The result file will identify numbers that are on WhatsApp vs numbers not registered. Some tools also provide additional insights like protecting checking, duplicate checking etc.
Pros
- Bulk check thousands of numbers together
- Fast verification through API integration
- Downloadable result report for analysis
Cons
- Paid tools have usage limits or monthly subscription
- Quality varies across different tools
Using Smart Phone Apps
There are also some nifty smartphone apps that can identify WhatsApp numbers in your phone contacts.
Apps like Truecaller and Should I Answer? can recognize which numbers in your phonebook use WhatsApp when you sync your contacts.
The steps are:
- Download Truecaller or Should I Answer app
- Sync your phone contacts with the app
- Open the app to view which contacts have WhatsApp
This gives you a quick way to segment WhatsApp numbers from your existing phone contacts.
Pros
- Instantly identifies WhatsApp numbers in your contacts
- Easy filtering of numbers at scale
Cons
- Only works for existing contacts in your phonebook
- Doesn’t allow uploading new number lists
- Contact syncing raises privacy concerns
Using WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp also offers a Business API that enables businesses to integrate WhatsApp messaging into their applications.
The WhatsApp Business API provides a checkNumber endpoint to programmatically validate if a phone number has WhatsApp activated or not.
To use it, you need to:
- Sign up for a WhatsApp Business account
- Get approved for the WhatsApp Business API
- Integrate the API into your application
- Call the checkNumber endpoint with number as parameter
The API returns a JSON response with status indicating if the number is valid and registered on WhatsApp.
This is best suited for developers looking to build custom integrations for number validation at scale.
Pros
- Automated way to check numbers via API
- Scalable for large number volumes
- Flexibility to build custom workflows
Cons
- Requires technical expertise to integrate API
- Involves business verification and approval process
- Paid usage charges apply
Using WhatsApp Groups
A simple hack to check WhatsApp numbers is by using WhatsApp Groups. This involves:
- Creating a new WhatsApp Group
- Adding the phone numbers you want to check
- Numbers that show “invalid” don’t have WhatsApp
The advantage here is that you can check up to 256 numbers together by adding them to a single WhatsApp Group.
You can then remove the invalid numbers from the group easily.
Pros
- Able to check multiple numbers together
- No additional app or tool required
Cons
- Very manual and time-consuming process
- Only allows adding up to 256 numbers in one group
Using Mobile Number Databases
There are some mobile number database services that can identify active WhatsApp numbers based on user behavior.
These include platforms like:
- RocketReach
- Hunter
- Voila Norbert
They use techniques like reverse phone lookup to match numbers with potential WhatsApp IDs based on user profiles.
However, this doesn’t guarantee 100% accuracy. The match rates vary for different number databases.
It’s recommended to combine this with other verification methods for best results.
Pros
- Large existing database of billions of phone numbers
- Can identify likely WhatsApp numbers
- Suitable for big number lists
Cons
- Doesn’t provide real-time verification
- Accuracy rates can be inconsistent
- Doesn’t confirm active WhatsApp usage
Tips for Effective WhatsApp Number Verification
Here are some tips to ensure you get the best results when checking WhatsApp numbers in bulk:
- Start with fresh and updated contact lists without duplicate numbers
- Use online checker tools for large volumes over 1,000 numbers
- For API integration, combine with actual message sending to confirm active usage
- Always comply with data privacy regulations like the GDPR
- Recheck inactive numbers periodically to identify new additions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to check WhatsApp numbers for free?
Yes, there are some free options to check WhatsApp numbers:
- Using the WhatsApp Web/Desktop app
- Creating WhatsApp groups and adding numbers
- Limited checks via free tiers of online tools
However, the process can be slow and tedious compared to paid tools that offer bulk verification.
Can I check WhatsApp numbers without saving them in my contacts?
Yes, you don’t need to save the numbers in your contacts to check them. Online checker tools and WhatsApp Business API allow you to check any number directly without adding it to your phone’s contacts.
Is it possible to check WhatsApp numbers from different countries?
Yes, many online checker tools and APIs allow configuring multiple country codes to validate international numbers in a single upload.
This enables segmenting WhatsApp numbers across different geographies based on the country code.
Can inactive WhatsApp accounts be detected?
Most checking methods only validate if the number is registered on WhatsApp, not whether the account is actively used. Combining validation with actual messaging can help identify inactive accounts.
WhatsApp Business API provides additional endpoints like getProfile and getStatus to detect account activity status.
Conclusion
Checking WhatsApp numbers in bulk is easy and convenient with the right tools and techniques.
Online checker tools provide the best experience to validate large WhatsApp number lists with fast turnaround.
For customized requirements, leveraging options like WhatsApp Business API may be more suitable.
Businesses should use a combination of these methods to build an effective WhatsApp outreach pipeline.
This enables connecting with the right audience, improving engagement, and driving growth across multiple channels.