# WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP service owned by Facebook. As of February 2019, WhatsApp has over 1.5 billion active users in over 180 countries.
{% hint style="warning" %}
WhatsApp **does not allow** companies to connect directly to their API or create business accounts on their own. To create a WhatsApp Business API account you'll need to apply through a WhatsApp Partner.
{% endhint %}
Once a WhatsApp Partner has approved and provisioned your WhatsApp Business API account with a phone number you may connect it to the Bonomi platform and manage WhatsApp messages just like any other channel.
## WhatsApp Providers
We are integrated with the following WhatsApp Channel Providers.
| Provider | Use Case | Pricing Model | Billing Cycle | Min Monthly Charge | Session^ Messages Included | API Account Application |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ | -------------- | ------------- | ------------------ | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [360Dialog](https://docs.respond.io/messaging-channels/whatsapp-1/messagepipe-whatsapp) | Production | Per Month | Monthly | $50 | Unlimited | [Sign Up](https://hi.switchy.io/1RAo) |
| [Twilio](https://docs.respond.io/messaging-channels/whatsapp-1/twilio-whatsapp) | Production | Per Message | Monthly | < $1 | None | [Sign Up](https://www.twilio.com/whatsapp/pricing/us) |
| [MessageBird](https://docs.respond.io/messaging-channels/whatsapp-1/messagebird-whatsapp) | Production | Message Bundle | Annually | $50 | 15,000\* | [Sign Up](https://www.messagebird.com/whatsapp-pricing/) |
| [Vonage](https://docs.respond.io/messaging-channels/whatsapp-1/nexmo-whatsapp) | Production | Active Users | Enterprise | Enterprise | N/A | [Sign Up](https://www.vonage.com/communications-apis/messages/features/whatsapp/) |
| [Chat API](https://docs.respond.io/messaging-channels/whatsapp-1/whatsapp) | Testing Only | Per Month | Monthly | $39 | N/A | [Sign Up](https://chat-api.com/en/?lang=EN) |
^ WhatsApp API has a Session Messaging Window of 24 hrs. Companies must reply to customers within 24 hrs to send a Session Message. Otherwise, a Template Message must be used.
\*MessageBirds cheapest plan includes 15,000 Session Messages, the subscription is billed annually.
## Messaging Window
WhatsApp API has a messaging window or 24 hours which you are allowed to reply to customers with any content. After 24 hours, you will need to send a Template Message in order to send a reply to the customer.
The 24 hours messaging window is applicable to the following providers :
* 360 Dialog
* Twilio
* MessageBird
* Vonage
[Learn more](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/message-templates/creation/) on WhatsApp Message Templates.
{% hint style="danger" %}
ChatAPI is not an official WhatsApp API partner and therefore, we only recommend it as a temporary solution until your WhatsApp Business API account is approved. Any further usage will risk your WhatsApp number being banned.
{% endhint %}
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