What Is the WhatsApp Business API (Cloud API)? Pricing, Turkey Rates, Chatbot Rules and Setup

With the WhatsApp Cloud API you connect your business number to your own software: the customer's message reaches your server, a bot or an agent replies, and you send messages like appointment reminders with approved templates. It is Meta's official API. Pricing is per message: in Turkey, as of October 2026, a marketing message costs $0.0109 and reminder (utility) and service messages cost $0.0009. Each number gets 1,000 free service messages a month. It isn't a no-code app; you need a Meta app, a webhook and template approval. The bot must only answer about the business's own topics and must offer a handoff to a human.

What it does: Connects a business WhatsApp number to a bot or software
Turkey: Utility $0.0009 · Marketing $0.0109
Free: 1,000 service messages a month per number
Billing: USD, EUR…; no TRY
No-code?: No; requires n8n or code
General-purpose bot: Restricted by the terms
Cost: Per message; no middleman subscription

What does the WhatsApp Cloud API do?

The WhatsApp Business app is for chatting by hand on your phone. The Cloud API does the same job programmatically: the customer's message reaches your software via a webhook (an instant notification Meta sends to your server), and your software sends the reply back through the API. That way a bot, CRM, booking system or e-commerce dashboard can talk over WhatsApp. Meta hosts it on its servers; you don't set up your own WhatsApp server.

Let a bot reply to WhatsApp messagesWhat you get: Automatic replyNeeds a separate setup Appointment reminders and order notificationsWhat you get: Template messageNeeds a separate setup Create a template and get it approvedWhat you get: Approved templateBuilt into the app

If the customer writes first: for 24 hours you can reply with free-form text, images, buttons, location and other messages (service messages).
If you start the conversation: you can only write with a Meta-approved template: marketing, transaction notices (utility) or verification codes (authentication).
Meta Business Agent: Meta also has its own AI agent; it is billed separately ($2 per 1 million tokens). This page covers connecting your own bot.

Who it helps: businesses that want appointment reminders, order and shipping notifications or automatic answers to common questions, and the developers who set this up for them.

How do you get started with the WhatsApp Cloud API? How do you get an API key?

Create a Meta developer account and an app. developers.facebook.com/apps › Create App › "Connect with customers through WhatsApp" use case.
Select a business portfolio or create a new one in the flow. The messaging account (WhatsApp Business Account) is created under this portfolio.
Try it with the test number. The API Setup screen automatically gives you a test number and a temporary access token. Add your own phone as a recipient, send the hello_world template, then reply.
Add your real number. The number must belong to you, include the country and area code, and be able to receive SMS or calls. Registration asks for a two-step verification PIN and a display name.
Set up a permanent access token and a webhook. If you're using it for your own business, create the long-lived System User access token that Meta recommends. A single webhook URL is registered to the app for incoming messages.
Add a payment method. From Billing Hub. Without a payment method, your replies won't be delivered once the 1,000 free service messages for the month run out.

Is business verification required? How does the limit grow?

It isn't required to get started. A new portfolio can message 250 unique people outside the window in 24 hours. Business verification (or 2,000 high-quality template deliveries in 30 days) raises the limit to 2,000; after that, if quality is high and half the limit was used in the last 7 days, it rises automatically to 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited. Verification also raises the registered number limit from 2 to 20.

A middleman company (BSP, "Solution Partner") isn't required: you can use the Cloud API directly for your own business. Connecting other businesses through your own app (becoming a Tech Provider) requires business verification and App Review.

My number is registered on WhatsApp: can I move it, or use it alongside the app?

Direct registration

A number used on WhatsApp (the regular or the Business app) can't be registered to the Cloud API until the account there is deleted. The registered number keeps working for calls and SMS but can't be opened in the WhatsApp app.

Alongside the app (coexistence)

You can connect a WhatsApp Business app number to the API while still using it in the app; but only companies Meta recognizes as a Solution Partner or Tech Provider can offer this flow. The app must be version 2.24.17 or later; one-to-one chats from the last 6 months can be imported, groups are not imported, broadcast lists are turned off, and throughput on the same number is capped at 20 messages per second. Messages you send from the app stay free.

Display name

Required at registration. It goes through automatic review once you reach a higher messaging limit; if rejected, you fix it according to Meta's naming rules. It can be changed at most 10 times in 30 days; after approval, the number must be re-registered within 14 days.

Deleting a number

Only a portfolio admin can delete it, from WhatsApp Manager; a number that sent paid messages in the last 30 days can't be deleted. It can't be deleted via the API.

How do you build a WhatsApp chatbot? The flow with n8n or your own code

Customer writesThe message arrives via webhook at the WhatsApp Trigger in n8n or at your own server.

Bot prepares a replyAn AI or rule-based flow; hands off to an agent if needed.

Reply goes out via the APIFree-form text within 24 hours; an approved template outside it.

Only one webhook is registered per Meta app; switching between the test and live URL removes the old one.

Add a WhatsApp Trigger node in n8n; create a credential with the Meta app's App ID and App Secret and select the "Messages" event.
Pass the incoming text to an AI node; put the sample below in its system instruction.
Send the reply with the Send operation of the WhatsApp Business Cloud node. If the window is closed, use Send Template.
For an unsupported operation, use an HTTP Request node with the same credential.

Verify the webhook URL in the Meta app: respond to Meta's GET request with 200 and the hub.challenge value.
From the incoming POST, take the message text and the sender's number; store the message ID so you don't process the same message twice.
Send the reply to the Graph API's /<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages endpoint.

Sending a text message (sample request)

› curl -X POST https://graph.facebook.com/<VERSION>/<PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages -H "Authorization: Bearer <ACCESS_TOKEN>" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"messaging_product":"whatsapp","to":"90XXXXXXXXXX","type":"text","text":{"body":"Hello, how can I help you?"}}'

Bot system instruction (sample)"You are the WhatsApp assistant for [Business name], a dental clinic. Only answer questions about the clinic's services, opening hours, address and appointments. For questions outside these topics, say "I can't help with that." If asked about a health condition, medication, diagnosis, a payment dispute or a refund, don't answer; write "I'm transferring you to a member of our team" and hand the conversation to a human. Introduce yourself as an AI assistant. Don't make up prices or dates; if you don't know, transfer to a human. Keep replies short, polite and in English."This text is a sample; adapt it to your business. Limiting topics and handing off to a human also keeps you in line with WhatsApp's rules.

How do you get a template approved?

You create it in WhatsApp Manager › Message Templates or via the API and choose a category: marketing, utility, authentication.
Review can take up to 24 hours. A template can't be sent until it is approved.
Utility must relate to a specific transaction (e.g. "Your appointment on {{1}} is tomorrow at {{2}}"). Discounts, promotions and "come back" content count as marketing.
If you choose utility but write marketing content, the template isn't rejected; it is approved as marketing and billed at the higher rate. Approved templates can also be switched to marketing later with one day's notice. You have 60 days to appeal.

Is the WhatsApp API paid? Message rates for Turkey (October 2026)

Yes, it's paid, but there is no subscription: Meta charges only for messages you send that are delivered, based on the message category and the recipient's country code. Messages from customers are free. The rates below apply when the recipient is a number in Turkey (+90).

Category	Used for	Turkey rate (per message)
Marketing (template)	Promotions, discounts, product recommendations, cart reminders	$0.0109
Utility (template)	Appointment reminders, order and shipping notifications	$0.0009 (tiered discounts after 100,000 a month)
Authentication (template)	One-time verification codes	$0.0009
Service (no template)	Replies within 24 hours after the customer writes	First 1,000 a month per number free, then $0.0009
Meta Business Agent	Replies from Meta's own AI agent	$2 per 1 million tokens (~4-5 cents per message, according to Meta)

What changed on October 1, 2026?

Service messages are paid again: each business number gets 1,000 free service messages a month, with no rollover; charges start from the 1,001st.
Utility templates sent within an open window after the customer writes are now paid too (they had been free since July 2025).
Without a payment method, service messages aren't delivered once the free tier runs out.

Customer service window (24 hours)

Free entry point window from ads (up to 7 days)

Diagram: each time the customer writes, the 24-hour window restarts; during that time you can write without a template. When you reply within the window to someone who came from a click-to-WhatsApp ad, a free entry point window opens, and during it all messages except Meta Business Agent are free.

Two official pages give different lengths for the free entry point window: the developer pricing page says "up to 7 days", the business.whatsapp.com pricing page says "3 days (72 hours)". That same marketing page also says service messages are still free; the current rule is on the developer page. Check the actual billed amount in WhatsApp Manager › Insights.

The billing currency is chosen when the messaging account is created and can't be changed later (Meta has a migration API). TRY is not among the 16 currencies; from Turkey, USD or EUR is usually chosen. The pricing page doesn't mention VAT (KDV) or tax; check that on the invoice in Billing Hub and with your accountant. Prices may change on the first day of each quarter.

Official pricing page last checked on October 28, 2026.

Using it from Turkey, and Turkish language

Messages to numbers in TurkeyYes	Turkey is listed as a separate market on the rate card.
Turkish messages and templatesYes	Templates are created with a language code; you write the message text in Turkish.
Billing in Turkish liraNo	TRY is not among the 16 currencies.
Turkish docs and dashboardUnclear	Developer docs are in English; a Turkish language option for the dashboard is not stated in the official sources.

AI bot rules on WhatsApp: the general-purpose assistant ban and human handoff

Section 4.7, added to Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform terms on January 15, 2026, treats anyone offering a general-purpose AI assistant (a bot that chats about anything) as the product's primary function as an "AI Provider" and bans them from the platform. Use where AI is an ancillary function supporting the business's own service is outside this ban: a clinic's booking bot, a store's order bot and so on.

Allowed

A bot that answers about the business's own products and services
Answering appointment, order and shipping questions with AI
Fine-tuning a model with platform data for your own use only

Not allowed

Offering a service on WhatsApp whose main product is general-purpose AI chat
Training or improving other AI models with WhatsApp data
Fully automated support with no way to reach a human

Human handoff is mandatory: if you use automation, you must offer a fast and clear handoff path: transfer to an agent within the chat, phone, email, web support, a store, or a support form.
Opt-in is mandatory: you can only message people who gave you their number and agreed to receive messages from you. Making sure your opt-in method complies with the law is your responsibility.
Turkey exception: Meta lists Turkey (+90) among the markets where it is legally required to allow general-purpose AI providers (October 15, 2026). This applies only to "AI Providers"; the rule for business bots doesn't change.

Source: Meta Terms for WhatsApp Business Platform, 4.7 (last updated September 23, 2026); WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy; Meta "AI Providers" pricing policy. This is not legal advice.

Are auto-messaging tools that link WhatsApp Web by QR code safe?

Programs and libraries that link WhatsApp Web by QR code and send automated or bulk messages from a regular account are not the official API. WhatsApp's Terms prohibit bulk messaging, automated messaging and unauthorized commercial (non-personal) use. The WhatsApp Help Center also states that linking an account to unofficial versions violates the terms and that the account may be temporarily or permanently banned.

If your business number is shut down, you lose your customer conversations and the reputation tied to the number. For automation, use the official Cloud API or a tool built on it.

İYS and KVKK: do you need consent for promotional messages on WhatsApp?

Law No. 6563

In Turkey, under Law No. 6563 (the e-commerce law), commercial electronic messages may only be sent with the recipient's prior consent (Art. 6). The law's list of channels is open-ended: "means such as telephone, … short message service". Usage and maintenance messages about goods or services the recipient bought don't need separate consent; messages to tradespeople and merchants may be sent without consent.

İYS registration

İYS (Turkey's commercial message consent registry) holds consents for the call, message and email channels; İYS's official pages don't mention WhatsApp separately. Whether a separate İYS registration is needed for WhatsApp promotional messages is not clear in the official sources: collect consent in writing or electronically in a provable way, and check with İYS and your lawyer.

Meta's rule

Regardless of the law, WhatsApp policy requires prior opt-in for every message and recommends collecting consent separately by message type (order updates, promotions).

KVKK transfers abroad

Messages are processed on Meta's infrastructure; under the WhatsApp data processing terms, sub-processors may be in other countries. Under Art. 9 of KVKK (Turkey's Personal Data Protection Law), transfers abroad require an adequacy decision or appropriate safeguards (e.g. standard contractual clauses, notified to the KVKK Board within 5 business days of signing). Mention the WhatsApp channel in your privacy notice.

Source: Law No. 6563 Art. 2 and 6, Law No. 6698 (KVKK) Art. 9 (mevzuat.gov.tr), iys.org.tr FAQ, WhatsApp Business Data Processing Terms. This section is not legal advice.

Common problems and fixes

What's happening	What to do
My template became marketing	If the content includes a discount, promotion or general call to action, Meta counts it as marketing. Tie it to a specific transaction (order number, appointment date) and request a review within 60 days if needed.
Template rejected	Rejections are reported by email and a WhatsApp Manager alert. Fix the category and resubmit, or request a review; common rejection reasons are on Meta's Template review page.
Number already registered on WhatsApp	For direct registration, first delete the WhatsApp account on that number. If you don't want to give up the app, use a Solution Partner or Tech Provider that offers coexistence.
Replies don't go through after 24 hours	The window has closed; you can only write with an approved template. The window reopens when the customer writes again.
I can't message more than 250 people a day	The limit is at the portfolio level and counts only messages outside the window. Complete business verification or reach 2,000 deliveries with high-quality templates.
Service replies stop after 1,000 messages	Add a payment method in Billing Hub; since October 1, 2026, delivery stops after the free tier on accounts with no payment method.
Webhook gets mixed up between test and live	Only one webhook is registered per app; changing the URL overwrites the previous one. Use a separate Meta app for testing.

No-code alternatives

If you want your team to answer WhatsApp messages without writing code, you can use an inbox tool that connects WhatsApp in the background through this same official API. Meta's message fees still apply separately with them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the WhatsApp Business API?

Meta's official API that connects a business number to software. Incoming messages reach your server; a bot or an agent replies, and reminders and notifications are sent with approved templates.

Is the WhatsApp API paid?

Yes, it's paid per message; there is no subscription. In Turkey, as of October 2026, marketing costs $0.0109 and utility, authentication and service messages cost $0.0009. Each number gets 1,000 free service messages a month; messages from customers are free.

In what currency are WhatsApp API fees paid?

The billing currency is chosen when the account is created and can't be changed later. TRY isn't on the list; there are 16 currencies such as USD and EUR. VAT status isn't stated on the pricing page.

How do you get a WhatsApp API key?

You create an app with the WhatsApp use case at developers.facebook.com; the API Setup screen gives you a test number and a temporary access token. For live use, a system user token is created.

Can you build a chatbot with the WhatsApp Cloud API?

Yes. The incoming message reaches n8n or your own code via webhook, AI prepares the reply, and the reply is sent through the API within 24 hours. The bot must stay on the business's topics and offer a handoff to a human.

Are AI bots banned on WhatsApp?

A helper bot for a business's own service isn't banned. Since January 15, 2026, services whose main product is general-purpose AI chat can't use the platform; Turkey is among Meta's exception markets for this rule.

Can I move my WhatsApp-registered number to the API?

For direct registration you first need to delete the WhatsApp account on the number. Connecting while continuing to use the Business app (coexistence) is only possible through Meta's Solution Partner or Tech Provider companies.

How many people can I message per day?

A new account can message 250 unique people outside the window in 24 hours. Business verification raises it to 2,000, then based on quality to 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited. Replies to conversations the customer started don't count toward this limit.

Are WhatsApp auto-messaging programs safe?

Programs that link WhatsApp Web by QR code are not official. WhatsApp's Terms prohibit bulk and automated messaging; accounts linked to unofficial versions may be banned.

Do WhatsApp promotional messages require İYS?

In Turkey, Law No. 6563 requires prior consent for commercial electronic messages. Whether İYS (Turkey's commercial message consent registry) requires a separate registration for WhatsApp is not clear in the official sources; collect consent in a provable way and consult your lawyer. This is not legal advice.

How long does template approval take?

According to Meta's docs, review can take up to 24 hours. A template marked utility whose content is marketing gets approved as marketing.

Related guides

Sources

Not clear in the official sources: Whether WhatsApp messages need a separate İYS registration · VAT and tax status of the Turkey rates · length of the free entry point window (7 days vs 72 hours, two official pages) · coexistence for direct use · a Turkish language option for the dashboard. Each is covered in its section along with what you can do.