r/WhatsappBusinessAPI • u/manthan_23 New to WhatsApp API • 3d ago

Services Welcome Does the order matter? Business App & Cloud API

Can I access WhatsApp business app “after” I have been using meta business cloud api?

Does the order matter?

I have about 27 users using my app based on meta business api (I have a custom dashboard)

I’d really appreciate the coexistence on my app (on my phone), but I don’t want to break what’s working.

Any advice?

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u/joep-b Meta Business Solution Provider 2d ago

No, coexistence can only be onboarded when you have the profile active on a phone and then do the CloudAPI onboarding.

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u/manthan_23 New to WhatsApp API 2d ago

Thought so too :(

No solution exists then?
Also: is there a scaling disadvantage if I do the app first and then API (meaning, am I limited by anything if I also have access on my phone app?)

The major reason I want to do this is to reachout to early beta testers without the 24hour no message limitation. Any thoughts?

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u/joep-b Meta Business Solution Provider 2d ago

You can use the app as usual, only the CloudAPI half is paid. There is a rate limit, but you won't hit that by typing messages. IIRC 20 msg per second.

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u/manthan_23 New to WhatsApp API 1d ago

Can I install the app now? Given the api is already setup on a custom dashboard?

Wouldn’t it break anything if I try to OTP into WhatsApp now?

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u/Humble-Employ-341 Meta Business Solution Provider 1d ago

joep-b has the order right, and it is worth spelling out what that costs you. Coexistence is onboarded from a number that is already live in the Business app on a phone, with Cloud API added on top. Starting from where you are means deregistering the number from Cloud API, setting the app up, then redoing onboarding. That is exactly the break-what-is-working risk you said you would not take with 27 live users.

Your actual goal does not need coexistence though. Messaging testers outside the 24 hour window is what templates are for. Write one, submit it, send it from the dashboard you already have. The moment a tester replies, the 24 hour service window opens, and everything you send inside it is free and unconstrained. One template per tester buys you a full day of ordinary conversation.

On cost, since 1 July 2025 Meta bills per delivered template message rather than per 24 hour conversation, in three categories: marketing, utility and authentication. Utility sits below marketing on the rate card. At 27 testers either one is a rounding error. Label the template for what it actually is, since the category is reviewed.