WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business API in India — at Meta's rates, not ours
BrookTel connects your business to the official WhatsApp Business Platform. The difference from most Indian resellers: Meta bills message delivery directly to your own Meta Business account. We do not sit in the middle of your conversation costs and add a margin.
The pricing model, stated plainly
Most WhatsApp API vendors in India bundle two very different things into one invoice: their software, and your message delivery. When those are bundled, you cannot see what margin is being taken on each message you send.
BrookTel separates them, permanently:
- No per-message markup on WhatsApp — Meta's rate is your rate
- Your WhatsApp Business Account stays yours; you are not renting a number on our account
- Your conversation-cost billing is visible in your own Meta dashboard, not just ours
- WhatsApp delivery is not free — Meta charges for it. We are just not adding to it
| What you pay for | Who bills you | How it scales |
|---|---|---|
| BrookTel platform — inbox, templates, automation, campaigns, API | BrookTel, monthly | Flat plan price |
| WhatsApp message delivery | Meta, directly to your Meta Business account | Meta's published rates |
| SMS delivery (optional) | BrookTel prepaid wallet, per message | Volume-based rate |
What the platform actually gives you
- Team inbox — shared conversation view with tags, status, unread state and internal notes
- Template management — create, submit for Meta approval, and track status without leaving the dashboard
- Campaigns — segment your contacts and send approved template messages at scale
- Automation — trigger replies and follow-ups from incoming messages and events
- Rich messages — media, voice notes and interactive button/list messages
- WhatsApp REST API and webhooks for your own integrations
- Analytics — delivery, read and reply rates per template and campaign
Getting connected
Display-name review and template approval are controlled by Meta, not by BrookTel. Templates are usually reviewed quickly; a rejected template can be edited and resubmitted from the dashboard.
- Create a BrookTel account and complete KYC.
- Have a Meta Business Manager account, or create one — this stays under your ownership.
- Choose a phone number that is not currently active on the consumer WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app.
- Connect through embedded signup, which registers the number against your WhatsApp Business Account.
- Add a payment method in Meta Business Manager — this is what Meta bills delivery against.
- Submit your first message templates for approval, then start sending.
Where Indian teams use WhatsApp over SMS
| Use case | Why WhatsApp wins |
|---|---|
| Customer support | Two-way threaded conversation, not a one-way blast |
| Order and delivery updates | Rich media, images, tracking buttons |
| Abandoned-cart recovery | Interactive buttons drive a click, not a copy-paste |
| Appointment reminders | Reply-to-reschedule in the same thread |
| Payment collection | Send a payment link with context and follow up in-thread |
| Lead qualification | Automation handles the first questions before a human joins |
Frequently asked questions
Is WhatsApp Business API free?
No. Meta charges for message delivery, and those charges are billed directly to your own Meta Business account. What BrookTel charges is the platform subscription — the inbox, templates, automation, campaigns and API. We do not add a markup on Meta's message rates.
What is the difference between the WhatsApp Business app and the Business API?
The free WhatsApp Business app is a phone app for a single user with manual sending. The Business API is infrastructure: multiple agents on one number, automation, campaigns to segmented lists, and programmatic sending from your own systems. The app cannot do any of that.
Do I need my own Meta Business account?
Yes, and that is a feature. Your WhatsApp Business Account and phone number remain under your ownership, your billing is visible to you in Meta's dashboard, and you are not locked into BrookTel to keep access to your own number.
Can I use my existing WhatsApp number?
Only if you first delete it from the consumer WhatsApp app or WhatsApp Business app. A number cannot be active on both the app and the API. Most teams onboard a fresh business number to avoid disrupting an in-use one.
How do I get the green tick verification?
The green tick is Meta's official business account badge and it is granted at Meta's discretion, based largely on how notable your brand is in third-party press coverage. It is not something a provider can sell or guarantee. You apply through Business Manager once your account is in good standing.
Why was my WhatsApp template rejected?
The usual causes are promotional content submitted under a utility or authentication category, placeholder variables at the very start or end of the message, unclear variable context, or wording that reads as spam. You can edit and resubmit from the dashboard.
Can I send WhatsApp messages to anyone?
You can send an approved template message to a user who has given your business consent. Free-form replies are only allowed inside the customer service window that opens when a user messages you. This is Meta policy and applies to every provider.