How to get the WhatsApp Business API in India: step-by-step setup (2026)

Short answer: To get the WhatsApp Business API in India, you need four things: a Meta business portfolio (formerly Business Manager), a phone number that is not active on the WhatsApp app, a display name that matches your business, and a provider such as Adwix Connect to connect it. You sign in with Facebook, verify the number by OTP, add a payment method in Meta, and you can start replying the same day. Business verification is optional to start, but you need it to message more people and to apply for the blue tick.

Last updated: 15 November 2026.

What do you need before you start?

Keep these ready before you open the signup screen. Most delays happen because one of them is missing.

Item	What it means	Common mistake
Meta business portfolio	Your business account in Meta (business.facebook.com). You can create it during signup.	Creating a second portfolio when one already runs your ads.
A phone number	Mobile or landline that can receive an OTP by SMS or voice call.	Using a number still active on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app.
Display name	The name customers see. It should match your business or brand.	Generic names like “Best Travel Deals” that get rejected.
Website	A live site that shows the same business name.	A site with a different name or no contact details.
Payment method	A card added in Meta to pay per-message charges.	Skipping it, which blocks template messages later.

Can I use my existing WhatsApp number?

Yes, but not on both at once. A number can run on the WhatsApp Business app or on the API, not both. If your number is already on the app, you have two choices.

• Move it to the API. Delete the WhatsApp account on that number from the app first (Settings, Account, Delete account). Chat history on the phone does not move to the API.
• Use a new number for the API. Keep the old number on the app for personal or existing chats and use the new one for ads, broadcasts and your team inbox.

Not sure you need the API at all? Read WhatsApp Business app vs API first.

How to get the WhatsApp Business API: step by step

These steps use Adwix Connect, which uses Meta’s own Embedded Signup. The screens are Meta’s, so they look the same with most providers.

1. Create your provider account

Sign up on Adwix Connect with your work email. Open the WhatsApp setup section and click the button to connect a number.

2. Log in with Facebook

A Meta window opens. Log in with the Facebook profile that is an admin on your business portfolio. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, Meta lets you create one here.

3. Create or choose your WhatsApp Business Account

Pick the business portfolio, then create a new WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) inside it. Add your business category, website and timezone.

4. Add the number and verify the OTP

Enter the phone number and choose SMS or voice call. Type in the code. If the OTP doesn’t arrive, check that the number is not still registered on the WhatsApp app.

5. Set the display name

Enter the name customers will see. Meta reviews it. Use your real business name, written the way it appears on your website and signboard.

6. Add a payment method in Meta

In WhatsApp Manager, open payment settings and add a card. Meta bills per delivered message. Customer messages to you are free. See the full rate card in WhatsApp Business API pricing in India.

7. Create your first template

You need an approved template to start a conversation or to message someone after 24 hours. Start with a simple utility template, such as an enquiry confirmation. Our guide on templates that get approved walks through it.

8. Connect your lead sources

Link your Facebook and Instagram ads so enquiries land in the shared inbox, and set an instant auto-reply. The first reply decides a lot. We explain why in the first reply wins.

How long does setup take?

The steps above usually take under an hour if your details are ready. You can reply to customers as soon as the number is verified. Display name review and business verification run in the background and can take longer, depending on Meta’s review queue and how well your documents match your business name.

Do I need Meta business verification?

Not on day one. You can connect a number and start messaging without it. Verification matters when you want to:

• raise the number of new people you can message in 24 hours (your messaging limit),
• apply for the blue tick (Official Business Account), and
• run larger broadcasts without hitting limits.

For verification, Meta asks for documents that show your legal business name and address, such as a GST certificate or utility bill. The name on the documents must match the name in your portfolio. How limits and quality work is covered in checking your account health, and the badge in how to get the WhatsApp tick.

What does the WhatsApp Business API cost?

There are two parts: Meta’s per-message charge and your provider’s plan. Meta charges about ₹0.86 per marketing message and ₹0.115 per utility, authentication or service message, plus 18% GST. Chats that start from a Click-to-WhatsApp ad are free for 72 hours if you reply within 24 hours. Adwix Connect plans start at ₹999 a month.

Mistakes that slow setup down

• Logging in with a Facebook profile that is not an admin on the business portfolio.
• Trying to verify a number that is still on the WhatsApp app.
• A display name that doesn’t match the website or documents.
• No payment method, so template messages fail.
• Sending marketing templates to people who never opted in. This lowers your quality rating and can break consent rules. Read DPDP Act and WhatsApp consent.

Frequently asked questions

Is the WhatsApp Business API free in India?

Signing up is free and messages customers send you are free. Meta charges for messages you send: about ₹0.86 per marketing message and ₹0.115 per utility, authentication or service message, plus GST. Providers charge a monthly plan on top.

Can I get the WhatsApp Business API without a website?

A live website that shows your business name makes approval and verification much smoother. Without one, display name approval and business verification are harder to pass.

Can I use the WhatsApp Business API on my phone?

The API has no official phone app of its own. You use it through your provider’s dashboard on a computer or in a browser, where your whole team can reply from one number.

How many people can I message on the WhatsApp Business API?

New accounts start with a limit on how many new people they can message in 24 hours. The limit rises as you verify your business and keep a good quality rating. Replies to people who message you first are not capped this way.

Want us to set it up with you? Book a free 30-minute call and we’ll connect your number and first templates on the call.