How do I use WhatsApp Business for overseas buyer inquiries? App vs API and what it costs
Small sellers can start with the free WhatsApp Business App (catalog, labels, quick replies, greeting and away messages). Move to the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) only when you need multiple agents, automation or system integration. The API has billed per delivered template message since 2025-07-01, and messages from customers to you are free. From 2026-10-01, each business phone number gets 1,000 free service messages per month, then pays per message. When a customer starts a chat from a click-to-WhatsApp ad, a free entry point window of up to 7 days applies. You may only message people who have opted in; spam is prohibited.
- Applies to
- Chinese small-parcel exporters who already have overseas buyer leads and want to follow up, send quotes and photos on WhatsApp.
1. Which markets and customers suit WhatsApp
WhatsApp is widely used in Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and Africa. It works best for buyers you already have contact with: following up inquiries, confirming orders, sending shipping updates. It is not a cold-outreach tool.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | 54% of online adults (16+) used WhatsApp in the past 30 days (Q2 2025); 85.1% daily open rate on Android (Aug 2025) | (B, DataReportal) |
| Official monthly users | No citable official figure found in this research | See unknowns |
2. How to register
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business App | One person or a small team | Download from Google Play or the App Store; free; one phone number; set up a business profile (A, official page) |
| Business Platform (API) | Multiple agents, integrations | Set up through Meta's developer and business tools; needs business verification, a phone number and a payment method (A, developer docs) |
| Click-to-WhatsApp ads | Lead generation | Created in Meta's ad tools; see the Instagram and Facebook pages |
Prepare: a phone number that can receive a code, company name, website or social page; API users also need a payment method. From 2026-09-30, directly integrated businesses must have a payment method on file or Meta stops delivering service messages (A, official pricing notice).
Mainland China companies: we found no official mainland-specific onboarding page. Meta has a category called Solution Providers; verify any provider on Meta's own pages. This page names none. The platform is not directly accessible in mainland China; use it only by lawful means. We do not provide access methods.
3. Day-to-day operation
Business App features (A, official features page):
| Feature | Use |
|---|---|
| Catalog | Show products and prices in collections; share via link on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram; cart lets buyers send several items at once |
| Labels | Sort chats, e.g. "new inquiry", "quoted" |
| Quick replies | Save frequent answers |
| Greeting / away message | Auto-welcome; auto-reply outside business hours |
| Broadcast | Private 1:1 messages to many people, schedulable; only for eligible users in select countries |
| Linked devices | With Meta Verified, up to 10 devices or agents |
Channels: not described on the official features page; unverified (see unknowns).
Security: turn on two-step verification, never share verification codes, and beware people posing as official support.
4. Ads and message billing
- Click-to-WhatsApp ads: run in Meta's ad tools. When a user starts a chat from such an ad, a free entry point window of up to 7 days opens; marketing, utility, authentication and service messages are free inside it (A, pricing).
- API billing (per message since 2025-07-01): Meta does not charge for user-to-business messages; you pay for delivered messages. Categories: marketing, utility, authentication (templates) and service (free-form, only within the 24-hour customer service window) (A, same).
- Prices depend on the recipient's country. China (+86) falls under the "Rest of Asia Pacific" regional rate. The 2026-10-01 update raised that region's marketing rate. Exact amounts are in the official rate cards (CSV/PDF, 16 currencies); we do not copy numbers here, please download and check.
- Changes on 2026-10-01: service messages and utility messages sent in reply to users, previously free, become billable; each business number gets 1,000 free service messages a month. Service messages use the same per-market rate as utility and authentication, with no volume tiers (A, official notice).
- Utility and authentication messages have volume-based tiers; marketing does not.
- Meta Business Agent (AI replies) is billed by tokens: $2.00 per million, roughly 4 to 5 US cents per message (A, pricing page).
5. Offers and memberships (checked 2026-10-25)
| Item | What it is | Price / condition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business App | Catalog, labels, quick replies, etc. | Free; no price listed on official page | (A, features page) |
| User-initiated messages | Not charged | Free | (A, pricing) |
| 1,000 free service messages / month | Per business phone number; no rollover | From 2026-10-01; charged from the 1,001st | (A, pricing) |
| Free entry point window | Up to 7 days after a click-to-WhatsApp ad chat | Needs a Meta ad | (A, pricing) |
| Meta Verified (WhatsApp Business) | Impersonation protection, in-app support; Standard, Plus, Premium, Max plans | Price not listed on the help page; Meta assesses eligibility | (A, WhatsApp Help) |
| Meta One business bundles | Essential includes verified badge | From $14.99/month | (A, Meta) |
Credits or promotions: no official page found. Whatever your account dashboard shows is what applies.
6. What results to expect
There is no reliable public average for reply or conversion rates. Test it: log new chats per week, share answered within 24 hours, quotes sent and orders won, for 4 weeks. If most chats come from cold messages and replies are very low, stop; first earn consent via your website, social profiles or ads.
7. Red flags
Policy essentials (A, WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy):
- Contact only people who gave their number and opted in; honor opt-outs and blocks.
- Starting a conversation requires an approved template; after 24 hours from the user's last message, only templates may be sent.
- Blocks and reports lower your quality rating and can limit sending; serious or repeated violations can mean a permanent ban.
- Restricted categories include firearms, alcohol and tobacco, drugs and medical products, adult content, multi-level marketing.
- Do not ask for or share full card or account numbers.
Scam signs: "millions of buyer numbers" lists, bulk-adding or auto-blast software, "never banned" promises, requests for your verification code, account trading. These violate the policy and risk bans; we do not recommend them.
Unknowns
- Exact per-message price for China-recipient messages (official CSV/PDF not read).
- Official WhatsApp monthly users.
- Channels features and limits; Meta Verified (WhatsApp) price per plan.
- Country list and monthly limits for App broadcasts.
- Official onboarding for mainland China businesses; new-advertiser credits.
- The messaging policy page shows no publication date; recheck before relying on it.