If you want to use WhatsApp to support your marketing and sales activities, you first need to know the pros and cons of different types of WhatsApp available in the market.
We’ve covered that and more in this guide! Before diving into the details, let’s start with a quick comparison of the differences between these platforms.
The table below outlines the differences between each type.
Types of WhatsApp | WhatsApp Messenger | WhatsApp Web | WhatsApp Business App | WhatsApp Business API |
Suitable for which business size | Personal use | Personal use on laptops or desktops | For Small and Medium Businesses | For medium and large businesses |
Usage | 1 on 1 messaging or group chats | 1 on 1 messaging or group chats | Small scale customer service & marketing | Bulk messaging, customer service and marketing campaigns |
Platform | App or browser | App just for laptops and desktops | App or browser | Official service provider |
No. of users | 1 user per mobile number | 1 user per mobile number | 1 user per mobile number | Unlimited users and devices |
Features/ Functionalities | No business tools | No business tools | Business profile Product catalog Broadcast messages (only to 256 contacts at a time) Automated messages (limited) Set welcome & away messages and quick replies No green tick for official account | Business profile Product catalog Broadcast messages (Depending upon tier) Automated messages (chatbots) Upto 80 paisa/conversation for a 24 hour window Green tick for official account possible |
How to get add contacts | Contacts are synced from the phone with WhatsApp | Scan a QR from your Whatsapp phone and all your conversations gets synced instantly in the app | Contacts are synced from the phone with WhatsApp | Contacts are uploaded to the official API provider platform |
Pricing | Free | Free | Free | Paid |
Let’s look at each type in detail now. We’ll kick things off with WhatsApp Messenger — the most popular version of WhatsApp out there.
WhatsApp Messenger is the go-to choice for personal use, allowing you to engage in one-on-one messaging or group chats effortlessly. To get started, you need to create a personal WhatsApp account using your mobile phone number.
The simplicity of having one user per mobile number makes it easy to connect with friends and family.
This version of WhatsApp doesn’t come with any business tools but is streamlined for your everyday communication needs. Your contacts seamlessly sync from your phone to WhatsApp, making it easy to stay connected with those in your contact list.
Best of all, WhatsApp Messenger is entirely free, making it an accessible and cost-effective choice for staying in touch with your contacts.
Note: This version of WhatsApp doesn’t isn’t aimed at businesses. Therefore, you wouldn’t find features such as business profile, automation, bulk messaging or product catalog in the app. The WhatsApp Business app has all those features and more.
The WhatsApp Web app is a convenient extension of the regular WhatsApp experience, designed for users who prefer to access their messages from a computer. You can access it on your web browser, facilitating easy management of your chats and media files from your desktop or laptop.
It mirrors the conversations on your mobile, ensuring a seamless transition between devices.
Setting up WhatsApp Web is easy. Open the app on your computer, scan the QR code displayed on the screen using your phone’s WhatsApp, and voilà, your conversations are synced. This means you can send and receive messages, images and documents directly from your computer.
The Web app can be handy when you need to share long messages, manage multiple conversations simultaneously with ease, or you are someone who just wants to have a larger screen to manage your WhatsApp interactions.
The WhatsApp Business app is tailor-made for small and medium businesses, making it a versatile platform for customer service and marketing. Whether you use the app on your mobile device or desktop, the app offers a great user experience.
With the limitation of one user per mobile number, it lets business owners or managers handle their marketing operations smoothly.
This version includes business-specific features such as the option to add a dedicated business profile, allowing you to showcase important information about your business. The inclusion of a product catalog makes the customers’ browsing experience seamless. It does it by providing them with the necessary information about your products without having to look elsewhere.
While you can broadcast WhatsApp messages, keep in mind that there’s a cap of 256 contacts, thereby making it ideal for more targeted communication.
Set ‘welcome’ and ‘away’ messages, along with quick replies for common inquiries. This way you can answer FAQs promptly, without having to wait for someone from your team to manually intervene every time you receive a query.
You can sync contacts from your phone to the Business app just like the regular version. In case you already use WhatsApp Messenger for your business and want to switch read: How to change WhatsApp to the business account, so you don’t lose any data.
The best part? It’s FREE, making it an accessible tool if you’re on a tight budget.
Pro Tip: You can even run click-to-WhatsApp ads directly from the WhatsApp Business App.
Disclaimer: Your account cannot get green-tick verified on the WhatsApp Business app. For that, you need to set up a WhatsApp Business account and get WhatsApp Business API from an official WhatsApp API provider like Telecrm.
WhatsApp Business API steps up the game for medium and large businesses, offering a robust platform for bulk messaging, customer service and marketing campaigns.
It has no cap on the number of users and devices, ensuring seamless collaboration among your internal teams. Along with the default features found in the Business app, it also contains additional features to meet the demands of modern businesses.
Some of these features include:
Multiple device access
Broadcast WhatsApp messages
Customer segmentation
Targeted campaigns
Automation
Customized broadcast messages
Tracking message volume
Productivity reports
When it comes to messaging capabilities, the API allows for bulk messaging; the quantity varies depending on the chosen tier. See the image below to get a better understanding of the available tiers.
With automated messages, powered by chatbots, you can take your customer interaction to the next level. However, it’s important to note that these automated messages can cost up to 80 paise per conversation within a 24-hour window.
Unlike the free options, the API is a PAID service offering a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking advanced tools and features to enhance their communication on WhatsApp. It also provides the coveted GREEN TICK for your official account(s), adding a level of authenticity to your business presence.
Pro Tip: You can even send WhatsApp OTP with the help of API if you get it from Telecrm: An official API provider.
Also Read: What is WhatsApp automation?
With so many options available, how do you choose the right type of WhatsApp for your business?
For that, you need to evaluate certain metrics. Let’s see what those are.
It would be best if you tracked how many leads or customers are engaging with your business on WhatsApp daily.
Small businesses: If the amount of leads you interact with in a day is low, say 10-20, you can either use the normal WhatsApp or give WhatsApp Business a try.
Medium-sized businesses: If your business is getting around 50 leads a day on WhatsApp, it’s better to start using WhatsApp Business as it will help you automate messages (such as ‘welcome’ and ‘away’ messages.)
Large enterprises: When your business starts getting more than 50 leads or customer messages a day, it is time to switch to WhatsApp Business API. It can help you manage hundreds of leads rather smoothly, with the help of a chatbot and automated messages.
If only one person in your team is managing your WhatsApp chats, you can either use WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business, depending on your preference. However, both platforms have a limitation: they cannot be used by more than one user.
In case more than one team member is using your WhatsApp account to chat with leads or customers, it’s time to switch to WhatsApp Business API. Through API, your WhatsApp Business account can be accessed by multiple users.
All you have to do is purchase the API user licence from a WhatsApp tech partner like Telecrm and set up your API account. Once your account is up and running, your entire team will be able to access the same WhatsApp account simultaneously to engage with your leads and customers.
Note: You need to consider both the size of your team and the lead or customer messages your business receives in a day to decide which type of WhatsApp will be ideal for your business.
Let’s quickly see what the pros and cons of both the types of WhatsApp that are specifically designed for business: WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API
Pros: Easy to use, suitable for smaller businesses
Cons: Limited advanced features
Pros: Efficient customer communication and categorization
Cons: Limited automation capabilities
Pros: Display products and services within the app
Cons: This may not be sufficient for extensive product catalogs
Pros: Basic automation features
Cons: Limited scalability for larger enterprises
Small and medium-sized businesses
Businesses with straightforward communication needs
Pros: Comes with automation and integration capabilities
Cons: Requires technical expertise for setup
Pros: Supports multimedia content in messages
Cons: Smaller businesses may find the app a little complicated
Pros: Streamlined notifications with pre-approved templates
Cons: Template approval process (takes up to 24 hours)
Pros: Efficient communication with multiple customers
Cons: Requires careful management for compliance
Large enterprises with complex communication needs
Businesses looking for advanced automation and integration
Also Read: What is WhatsApp Marketing?
In the end, you need to know all your options before you choose what is good enough for you and what is not. So for a recap of what we have discussed in this blog-
Designed for personal use
Simple setup with one user per mobile number
Contacts sync seamlessly from your phone to WhatsApp,
An extension of the regular WhatsApp experience for users who prefer accessing messages on a device with a larger screen
Easy and convenient setup by scanning a QR code with your phone’s WhatsApp
Ideal for sharing long messages and managing multiple conversations simultaneously
Ideal for smaller businesses
Simple, user-friendly interface
Suitable for businesses with basic communication needs
Ideal for larger enterprises
Offers advanced automation and integration capabilities
Better suited for businesses with a need for scalability and extensive communication features
Note: WhatsApp Messenger is not aimed at businesses and lacks business-oriented features. For business needs, the WhatsApp Business app or WhatsApp Business API is recommended.
The choice between WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Business API will come down to the size and complexity of your business operations. For smaller businesses with straightforward communication needs, WhatsApp Business is the ideal choice. While larger enterprises seeking advanced automation and integration capabilities should opt for WhatsApp Business API.
The coveted GREEN TICK badge is an exclusive feature available only to WhatsApp Business API accounts, and you have to obtain API from an official provider like Telecrm (India’s best WhatsApp CRM).
Bottom line: No matter what line of business you are in, be sure to pick the right type of WhatsApp based on your business size and needs. With the right version, you can elevate your marketing and communication operations seamlessly.
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© Copyright 2025 Telecrm.in - All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy • T&C
David Myth says:
Thanks for the article! Will check out these business apps.