The WhatsApp API
with real power.
Send and receive WhatsApp at scale. AI agents, serverless Functions, broadcasts, and rich interactive messages — behind one API. Onboard clients in minutes with partner invitations.
No credit card required. Connect your WhatsApp Business account in under 5 minutes.
const result = await zavu.messages.send({
to: '+14155551234',
channel: 'whatsapp',
text: 'Your order #1234 has shipped!',
})
console.log(result.message.status)
// queuedWhat is the WhatsApp API
The WhatsApp API (officially WhatsApp Business Platform) lets apps send and receive WhatsApp messages programmatically. You connect through an official Business Solution Provider like Zavu, get a verified business number, send template messages to start conversations, then free-form messages within a 24h customer service window. Pricing is per conversation (free for the first 1,000/mo, then by category and country). Zavu adds AI agents, serverless Functions, multi-channel fallback, and SDKs in 5 languages on top.
Why Zavu
The whole WhatsApp platform, one API.
Everything in the docs — messaging, AI, automation — behind a single key.
One API, every channel
WhatsApp with automatic fallback to SMS, Email, Telegram, and Voice.
Built-in AI agents
RAG knowledge bases, tools, and flows. Every inbound answered automatically.
Serverless Functions
Run your logic on Zavu Cloud, bound to WhatsApp events. No servers.
Broadcasts at scale
Send approved templates to thousands with per-contact variables.
Rich & interactive
Buttons, lists, CTA URLs, media, templates, reactions, typing indicators.
Smart routing
ML routing plus fallback cut messaging cost 30-80% automatically.
The platform
Send anything WhatsApp supports.
Text, media, and interactive messages — the same send() call, one field changes.
import Zavudev from '@zavudev/sdk'
const zavu = new Zavudev({ apiKey: process.env.ZAVUDEV_API_KEY })
// Text
await zavu.messages.send({
to: '+14155551234',
channel: 'whatsapp',
text: 'Your order #1234 has shipped!',
})
// Image with caption
await zavu.messages.send({
to: '+14155551234',
channel: 'whatsapp',
messageType: 'image',
text: 'Your receipt',
content: { mediaUrl: 'https://example.com/receipt.png' },
})
// Interactive buttons
await zavu.messages.send({
to: '+14155551234',
channel: 'whatsapp',
messageType: 'buttons',
text: 'How can we help you today?',
content: {
buttons: [
{ id: 'sales', title: 'Sales' },
{ id: 'support', title: 'Support' },
],
},
})Message types
Supported Message Types
Send rich, engaging content to your customers.
Text
Simple text messages with links and formatting
Image
Photos and graphics with captions
Video
Video content up to 16MB
Document
PDFs, spreadsheets, and other files
Audio
Voice messages and audio files
Location
Share locations and addresses
Contacts
Share contact cards
Interactive
Buttons, lists, and quick replies
Scale
Onboard clients in minutes, not meetings.
Partner invitations let each client connect their own WhatsApp with Meta's embedded signup. The sender lands in your project automatically — no back-and-forth.
// Onboard a client onto your project
const invite = await zavu.invitations.create({
clientName: 'Acme Corp',
clientEmail: 'owner@acme.com',
allowedPhoneCountries: ['US', 'MX'],
expiresInDays: 14,
})
// Share the link — they connect their own WhatsApp
console.log(invite.url)
// https://dashboard.zavu.dev/invite/abc123xyz
// When they finish, a sender appears in your project.Create an invitation
One API call returns a shareable link, scoped to the client and the countries you allow.
Client connects WhatsApp
They complete Meta's embedded signup — or link by QR with WhatsApp Alternative.
Sender auto-created
The connected number appears as a sender in your project, ready to send.
Separate billing per client
Spin up sub-accounts with their own API keys and spending caps — bill each client cleanly.
Perfect for agencies and platforms managing WhatsApp for many businesses.
Get started
How to get the WhatsApp API in 5 steps
Total time: 5 minutes for the Zavu setup, 1-3 business days for Meta verification.
- 1
Create your Zavu account
Sign up at dashboard.zavu.dev and verify your email. No credit card needed.
- 2
Connect WhatsApp Business
Click Connect WhatsApp and complete Meta's embedded signup with your Business Manager. We're an official Solution Provider, so the flow takes minutes.
- 3
Verify your business with Meta
Upload tax ID and proof of address. Meta typically approves in 1-3 business days.
- 4
Get your API key
Copy the live API key from Settings -> API Keys. Use the test key during integration.
- 5
Send your first message
Run a one-line curl or use a Zavu SDK (Node, Python, Ruby, Go, Java) to send a WhatsApp message in production.
Pricing
WhatsApp API pricing — transparent, no markup
You pay Meta's conversation fee + Zavu's platform fee. We never markup Meta.
| Conversation type | Meta fee (Mexico) | Zavu fee |
|---|---|---|
| Service (user-initiated, 24h window) | Free | Included in plan |
| Utility (transactional template) | $0.0357 USD / ~$0.65 MXN | Included in plan |
| Authentication (OTP template) | $0.0317 USD / ~$0.58 MXN | Included in plan |
| Marketing template | $0.0436 USD / ~$0.80 MXN | Included in plan |
Mexico template rates updated 2026. Free service conversations (1,000/mo) included by Meta. Zavu plans start at $0/mo with 2,000 messages.
vs. the rest
Zavu vs Twilio vs 360dialog vs Brevo
Quick comparison of the most popular WhatsApp API providers.
| Feature | Zavu | Twilio | 360dialog | Brevo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 5 min | Days | Days | Hours |
| AI agents built-in | Yes | No | No | No |
| Client onboarding (invites) | Built-in | No | No | No |
| Free messages/mo | 2,000 | 0 | 0 | 300 emails only |
| Multi-channel fallback | Yes (SMS, Email) | Manual | WhatsApp only | Manual |
| Markup on Meta fees | None | Yes | Flat hosting fee | Yes |
Use cases
Use Cases
Customer Support
Provide instant support with rich media and quick replies.
Order Updates
Send shipping notifications with tracking links and images.
Appointment Reminders
Reduce no-shows with interactive confirmation buttons.
Marketing Campaigns
Send promotional messages with product catalogs.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Meta approval to use the WhatsApp API?
You need a Meta Business account, but Zavu handles the technical integration. We're an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider, so you can start sending messages in minutes, not weeks.
Can I onboard my own clients?
Yes. Partner invitations give each client a link to connect their own WhatsApp Business account. The sender is created in your project automatically, and sub-accounts keep billing separate per client.
What's the difference between session and template messages?
Session messages are free-form messages you can send within 24 hours of the customer's last message. Template messages are pre-approved messages you can send anytime to initiate conversations.
How much does it cost?
Start free with 2,000 messages/mo. Paid plans from $25/mo with up to 1M messages. WhatsApp replies within 24h are included in your plan at no extra cost. Template messages are billed by Meta based on country and category — we don't markup.
How do I handle incoming messages?
Set up a webhook URL and we'll forward all incoming messages in real-time. You can also use our built-in AI agents to automatically respond to customer messages.
Start Sending WhatsApp Messages Today
Connect your WhatsApp Business account in minutes. No approval delays, no complex setup.