Unlock the power of WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp vs SMS vs Email
Boost Engagement by Picking the Right Messaging Strategy
| Feature / Channel | SMS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Message Type | Text, images, files, buttons, catalogs | Text-only | Text, images, HTML, attachments |
| Delivery Confirmation | ✅ Read & delivery receipts | ✅ Delivery only | ❌ No guaranteed read tracking |
| Interactivity | ✅ High – Buttons, replies, menus | ❌ Low – Limited to text | ✅ Medium – Clicks, replies |
| Branding | ✅ Verified business profile, logo, CTA | ❌ Sender ID only | ✅ Custom sender name & design |
| Reach | ✅ Global with WhatsApp users | ✅ Global (even without internet) | ✅ Global |
| Cost per Message | 💰 Medium (template-based pricing via Meta) | 💰 Low to Medium (per SMS, varies by region) | 💰 Very Low (ESP-based or free with limits) |
| Template Approval | ✅ Required (via WhatsApp Business API) | ✅ Required (via DLT) | ❌ Not required |
| Spam Resistance | ✅ High – end-to-end encrypted, opt-in | ❌ Low – often blocked or ignored | ❌ Low – often lands in spam/junk |
| User Engagement | 🔥 Very High (open rates >90%) | 👍 Moderate (open rates ~20–30%) | 👎 Low (open rates ~10–15%) |
| Best Use Case | Order alerts, OTP, support, campaigns | OTP, alerts, basic reminders | Newsletters, promotions, invoices |
| Integration Readiness | ✅ Easy API & automation with Chat ON Desk | ✅ Easy via gateways | ✅ Easy with SMTP or marketing tools |
Real-World Use Cases That Drive Results
See how WhatsApp outperforms SMS in key business scenarios
CRM & Lead Management Sync
Automatically capture and sync leads from WhatsApp into your CRM. Assign leads to sales reps and track follow-ups without manual entry.
Order & Payment Notifications
Trigger real-time WhatsApp alerts for order confirmations, shipping updates, and payment receipts—fully automated from your e-commerce or ERP system.
Behavior-Based Campaign Triggers
Send personalized messages based on user actions—like cart visits, link clicks, or inactivity—by connecting WhatsApp to your analytics or marketing tools.
Great Insights
Great Insights
Product Launch Announcements
Notify your customers instantly about new product drops or services. Use images, buttons, and CTAs to drive immediate traffic and sales.
Offers, Discounts & Flash Sales
Send time-sensitive promotions or coupon codes directly to your audience’s WhatsApp—ensuring high visibility and quick action.
Event & Webinar Reminders
Promote upcoming webinars, workshops, or in-store events. Send reminders with direct RSVP links and location details via WhatsApp.
Unified Inbox – Manage WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Email, SMS, and more from a single dashboard.
Seamless Agent Handoff – Automatically assign conversations to available agents or departments.
Bot + Human Hybrid Support – Let chatbots handle FAQs and auto-replies, then escalate complex queries to live agents.
CRM & Helpdesk Integration – Sync customer data and tickets with your CRM for personalized support at scale.
Real-Time Response Tracking – Monitor response times and resolution rates across all channels.
Lead Generation & Qualification
Engage visitors instantly with a conversational flow, collect contact info, ask qualifying questions, and assign hot leads to sales teams.
Appointment Scheduling
Allow users to book, confirm, or reschedule appointments directly in chat. The bot syncs with your calendar and sends reminders.
Service & Billing Inquiries
Automate replies to common queries like bill status, payment due dates, or subscription plans—reducing support workload.
Great Insights
WhatsApp Business App vs WhatsApp API
Features
Personal
WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp Business API
via Chat ON Desk
Multi-Agent Inbox
High-Volume Broadcasting
Automated Workflows & Triggers
Rich Media & Templates
24/7 Chatbot & AI Support
CRM & Platform Integrations
Official WhatsApp Business API
Get Started in 3 Simple Steps
Onboarding Timeline & Milestones
Create Your Chat ON Desk Account
Sign up on Chat ON Desk and access your WhatsApp API dashboard.
Connect Facebook Business via Embedded Signup
Link your Facebook Business Manager, verify your business, and select your WhatsApp number—all within our guided Meta flow.
Number Verified & Ready to Use
Once your number is verified, it gets instantly connected—start sending WhatsApp messages right away.
FAQs
Everything You Need to Know About Using Chat ON Desk with WhatsApp
The App is single-user, smartphone-only. The API (via Chat ON Desk) supports multi-agent inboxes, high-volume broadcasts, automation, and integrations.
Typically 1–3 business days after submitting your Display Name Certificate.
No—Chat ON Desk is fully managed. You only need to point your webhooks to our endpoints.
Yes—our out-of-the-box connectors cover Shopify, Magento, Bitrix24, Zoho, HubSpot, and more. We also provide SDKs and webhooks for custom integrations.
The phone number tier of your WhatsApp API account will determine your messaging limit – the number of Contacts an account can message. There are five tiers a phone number inside a WABA can reach, including:
● Unverified Trial Tier: Send messages to 50 unique Contacts in a rolling 24-hour period & have up to 2 numbers
● Tier 1: Send messages to 1K unique Contacts in a rolling 24-hour period & have up to 25 numbers
● Tier 2: Send messages to 10K unique Contacts in a rolling 24-hour period
● Tier 3: Send messages to 100K unique Contacts in a rolling 24-hour period
● Tier 4: Send messages to unlimited unique Contacts in a rolling 24-hour period
Please note that the messaging limits only apply to business-initiated messages called Message Templates.
All Unicode languages—including RTL scripts (Arabic, Hebrew), Indic scripts (Hindi, Tamil), and CJK languages.
You pay per message template approval and per incremental message. Volume discounts kick in at 10,000+ messages/month.
Delivery, open, click-through rates; message funnel drop-offs; agent performance dashboards.
WhatsApp does not allow businesses using WhatsApp API to send messages without approval. To prevent spam and ensure businesses reply to incoming messages quickly, WhatsApp imposes a messaging limitation called Session Messaging
Session Messaging allows you to reply to incoming messages within a 24-hour window. Once the 24-hour window closes, you can no longer send Session Messages. There is no need for any prior approval before sending a Session Message, provided that it abides by WhatsApp Business Policy and WhatsApp Commerce Policy.
After 24 hours from last incoming message, businesses are only allowed to reply with Message Templates. Message Templates are pre-approved messages used to reopen the 24-hour Messaging Window or start a new conversation. Policy and WhatsApp Commerce Policy.
A phone number lives under a WABA, which is managed through Facebook Business Manager. Facebook Business Manager is also where you manage other Facebook assets. Each WABA can have up to 25 numbers, depending on the phone number tier. Each Chat ON Desk account supports integration with a single phone number.
Real stories from real users
Discover how we're making a difference
Why Choose Chat ON Desk for Whatsapp API Integration?
Powerful Tools to Connect, Convert, and Support—Without the Chaos.
Full-Stack Managed Setup
No infrastructure needed—onboarding, number registration, webhooks, and integration are fully handled by us
Pre-Built CRM Connectors
Works out‑of‑the‑box with platforms like Shopify, Magento, Bitrix24, Zoho, HubSpot, etc. For custom systems, we offer flexible SDKs and webhooks
Multi-Agent Shared Inbox
Seamless collaboration—assign chats, switch agents, and track history—all in one unified interface
Broadcasts & Campaigns
Send approved template broadcasts including offers, reminders, alerts—and get performance analytics.
24/7 Automated Chatbot Support
Continuously respond to FAQs, resolve basic requests, and escalate complex issues to agents.
Rich Omnichannel Experience
Manage WhatsApp alongside Facebook, Instagram, Email, Telegram, SMS, and more—consolidated in one powerful dashboard for unified customer engagement.