Guide
WhatsApp Business app or API: which one do you need?
The app is made for one person on one phone. The API is how a team runs WhatsApp: a shared inbox, campaigns and automations. Here is the difference in plain words, and how to keep both on the same number.
Checked 6 October 2026 against Meta’s and WhatsApp’s own pages (sources at the end).
Guide
The app is made for one person on one phone. The API is how a team runs WhatsApp: a shared inbox, campaigns and automations. Here is the difference in plain words, and how to keep both on the same number.
Checked 6 October 2026 against Meta’s and WhatsApp’s own pages (sources at the end).
Side by side
The difference, in five lines.
Which one fits
It comes down to who replies.
Who replies to customers?
Do you message many customers at once?
Do you want replies and follow-ups to run on their own?
Coexistence
Keep both on one number.
Meta lets a business use the WhatsApp Business app and the API on the same number, with chats in both places. Squarebox is adding it.
- No new number, and the app keeps working
- Every chat shows in the app and in the team inbox
- Replies you type on your phone appear in the inbox
- Up to six months of past chats come in when you connect
How it works
- In Squarebox, choose to connect the number you use on the WhatsApp Business app.
- Follow WhatsApp’s prompts on your phone, including a verification code.
- Your past chats come into the inbox, and new ones show in both places.
Team inbox · Priya S.
Do you have eggless cakes today?
Do you have eggless cakes today?
Yes! Fresh at 4 pm 🎂
Sent from WhatsApp app
Typed on the phone, shown here too
Do you have eggless cakes today?
Yes! Fresh at 4 pm 🎂
What to know
- The app must be version 2.24.17 or newer.
- Up to six months of past chats come in; it can take several minutes, depending on how much history there is.
- Groups and calls stay on your phone. Disappearing messages, view-once messages and live location are switched off in the app, and its broadcast lists become read-only.
- The app stays free to use for one-to-one chats; messages sent through the API are charged as usual.
- A shared number can send up to 20 messages a second.
- You can disconnect from the app: Settings › Account › Business Platform.
Start today on our trial number. You’ll be able to keep your app when this launches.
Questions
Common questions.
Yes, Meta allows it; it is called coexistence. On Squarebox it is coming soon: you will connect the number you use on the app and keep using the app, with chats in both places.
No. With Squarebox you pay a plan from ₹2,499 a month, billed quarterly, and messages from your wallet: marketing ₹1.05 and utility ₹0.16 each, before 18% GST. The WhatsApp Business app is free to use for one-to-one chats.
Not if you’re happy to move your current one, but today a number on the API stops working on the WhatsApp Business app. If you want to keep the app as it is, connect a different number for now; keeping both on one number is coming soon.
Up to 256 contacts per broadcast list, and only people who have saved your number receive it.
Groups and calls. Disappearing messages, view-once messages and live location are switched off in the app, and its broadcast lists become read-only, so broadcasts go out as campaigns instead.
The trial starts at once, on our shared trial number. Connecting your own number takes Meta’s checks on your business and display name, usually a few working days.
Sources
Start with the inbox today.
14 days on free credit, no card. Try the inbox and replies on our trial number.
Start with the inbox today.
14 days on free credit, no card. Try the inbox and replies on our trial number.