# WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)

WhatsApp is a social application that differs from traditional messaging channels. This document covers key concepts and terms commonly used in the process of using the WhatsApp Business Platform.

## What is WhatsApp?

As one of the world's most popular social applications, WhatsApp has over 2.4 billion active users. In other words, **31 out of every 100 people worldwide are using WhatsApp.**

Countries such as **India, Brazil, the United States, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Nigeria** are among the top countries with WhatsApp audiences.

## Types of WhatsApp Accounts

#### WhatsApp App

Known as "WhatsApp," it is a communication app used on smartphones, allowing individual users to chat with family and friends. WhatsApp has strict rules on personal accounts sending marketing messages. It is not advisable to use personal accounts for marketing purposes as they are prone to being blocked, potentially resulting in loss of accumulated customer assets.

#### WhatsApp Business App

Suitable for small businesses managing customer conversations personally, especially those that do not have extensive needs in business communications. It has many limitations, such as not allowing multiple logins simultaneously and a maximum limit of 256 active contacts.

#### WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)

Designed for medium and large enterprises, it provides programmatic access via API, hence often referred to as the "WhatsApp API Account." It allows businesses to create one or more WhatsApp Business Accounts, send messages in bulk, automate replies, or build WhatsApp chatbots.

All WhatsApp services provided by YCloud are based on the WhatsApp Business Account. You can create a WhatsApp Business Account through YCloud and engage closely with customers via APIs and ready-to-use tools.

<figure><img src="https://3466127247-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSIAnjLP6KQY5rvyuaq5K%2Fuploads%2Fdtrc6lcVbrx4VbifXxGa%2Fimage%20(417).png?alt=media&#x26;token=c8121bf1-d31c-42ed-9957-31e4c68fd175" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Differences among the three accounts</p></figcaption></figure>

## WhatsApp Business Policies

For creating a WhatsApp Business Account, refer to the [WhatsApp Business Policy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/commerce-policy/), which determines the types of businesses eligible.

## Advantages of WhatsApp Business Account

* **You can send messages to a user's WhatsApp account as long as you have their phone number;**
* Supports rich message formats, including images, videos, files, emojis, and text up to 1024 characters;
* Allows placing buttons in messages for clear direction;
* Provides real-time message status reports, including delivered, read, and failed;
* Fully open, with APIs for account management, template management, number management, and message sending/receiving, facilitating integration with internal systems;
* Opportunity to be recognized as a reputable business, i.e. [Green Tick Verification](https://helpdocs.ycloud.com/help-center/whatsapp-basics/green-tick-verification).

<figure><img src="https://3466127247-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSIAnjLP6KQY5rvyuaq5K%2Fuploads%2F7Jvv1oHccd5cIDjH9wQT%2Fimage%20(418).png?alt=media&#x26;token=79f16fe2-7d43-4557-9cab-58df23f35d1e" alt="" width="345"><figcaption><p>WhatsApp Business Account</p></figcaption></figure>

## What is BSP?

BSP (Business Service Provider) refers to WhatsApp's official partners. YCloud is an officially authorized BSP.

You need to create a WhatsApp Business Account through a BSP, interact with customers via interfaces provided by the BSP, or use additional functionalities offered by the BSP, such as automated replies, chatbots, shared inboxes, and integration with other business tools.

Without a BSP, your WhatsApp business account cannot engage in conversations with customers.

### Messages

WhatsApp supports two types of messages: [free-form messages](#messages) and [template messages](https://helpdocs.ycloud.com/help-center/whatsapp-basics/message-templates).

When using template messages, templates are mandatory and must be approved by WhatsApp team before sending to customers.

### Pricing

Charges are based on conversations, not individual messages, and the number of conversations a business can initiate within 24 hours is initially limited.

* Refer to [Pricing](https://helpdocs.ycloud.com/help-center/pricing-and-billing/whatsapp-conversation-billing-rules) for conversation pricing and how to open conversations.
* Refer to [Message Limits](https://helpdocs.ycloud.com/help-center/phone-numbers#xiao-xi-xian-e) for message limits and how to increase them.

## Watching the feature introduction video👇

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNd17m9bTqg>" %}


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