Send WhatsApp Messages via REST API
Built for Developers.
Automate messages, images, files, groups and channels for your existing WhatsApp number via a simple REST API. Integrate in minutes. Pair your number and verify delivery before going live.
- Send text, images, files, voice & video messages
- Manage groups, channels & contacts
- QR code + pairing code session auth
- Free plan — no credit card required
100 requests/month free · Linked-device API · Not the official Meta Business Platform
Need a send WhatsApp message API free option? Read the WhatsApp text message API guide for the free tier and setup steps.
import requests
url = "https://whatsapp-messaging-bot.p.rapidapi.com/v1/sendText"
headers = {
"x-rapidapi-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
"x-rapidapi-host": "whatsapp-messaging-bot.p.rapidapi.com",
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
payload = {
"chatId": "1234567890",
"text": "Check this out: https://example.com",
"session": "YOUR_SESSION_NAME",
"linkPreview": True,
"linkPreviewHighQuality": True
}
response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)
print(response.json())import requests
url = "https://whatsapp-messaging-bot.p.rapidapi.com/v1/sendText"
headers = {
"x-rapidapi-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
"x-rapidapi-host": "whatsapp-messaging-bot.p.rapidapi.com",
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
payload = {
"chatId": "1234567890",
"text": "Check this out: https://example.com",
"session": "YOUR_SESSION_NAME",
"linkPreview": True,
"linkPreviewHighQuality": True
}
response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)
print(response.json())Everything You Need to Build on WhatsApp
A complete API surface covering messages, media, groups, channels, sessions, contacts, and presence — all accessible with a single HTTP request.
Text Messages
Send plain-text and emoji messages to any contact, group, or channel with full delivery status tracking.
Images & Media
Share photos, images, and visual content with optional captions. Full support for multidevice WhatsApp accounts.
File Attachments
Send PDFs, Word docs, spreadsheets, and any file type. Track delivery, read receipts, and message status.
Voice & Video
Deliver voice notes and video messages for richer customer experiences. Full webhook support for incoming messages.
Group Management
Create groups, add/remove participants, update names and settings. Session persistence across reconnections.
Channel Broadcasting
Create and manage WhatsApp Channels to broadcast to unlimited subscribers. Alternative to WhatsApp Cloud API.
Session Auth (QR + PIN)
Authenticate sessions with QR code scanning or 8-digit pairing code. Sandbox testing environment available.
Contact Lookup
Check if a number is on WhatsApp and retrieve contact profile data with read receipt confirmation.
Presence & Status
Set typing indicators, read receipts, and online/offline presence status in real-time.
Message Replies
Reply to specific messages with any content type, maintaining conversation threads like native WhatsApp.
Multi-Session
Manage multiple WhatsApp accounts simultaneously with session isolation and independent session management.
API Key Auth
Secure every request with per-key authentication, rate limiting, webhook validation, and enterprise security.
How the WhatsApp API Works
From subscribe to your first WhatsApp message in under 5 minutes — no server setup, no WhatsApp Business account needed.
Subscribe on RapidAPI
Choose a plan (free available — no credit card required). Get your API key instantly from the RapidAPI dashboard.
Authenticate WhatsApp
Create a session and scan the QR code with your WhatsApp app, or use a pairing code. Session stays active automatically.
Send Messages via REST
Call POST /v1/sendText (or any endpoint) with your chatId and text. Works from any language — Python, Node.js, PHP, Go, and more.
It's that simple. Start building with our API today.
Try Free NowUse Cases
Explore how businesses across industries use our WhatsApp API
Notifications & Alerts
Send real-time order, delivery, and system notifications to customers via WhatsApp
E-commerce & Orders
Order confirmations, shipping updates, invoices, and payment reminders directly to customers
Appointment Reminders
Automated appointment and booking reminders to reduce no-shows and improve attendance
Business Automation
Create WhatsApp bots and automated workflows for lead generation and customer engagement
Customer Support
Two-way messaging for support teams to handle customer inquiries in real-time
Security & OTP
Send secure one-time passwords and verification codes for authentication and security
Code Examples
Real-world examples to get you started quickly
import requests
url = "https://whatsapp-messaging-bot.p.rapidapi.com/v1/sendText"
headers = {
"x-rapidapi-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
"x-rapidapi-host": "whatsapp-messaging-bot.p.rapidapi.com",
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
payload = {
"chatId": "1234567890",
"text": "Check this out: https://example.com",
"session": "YOUR_SESSION_NAME",
"linkPreview": True,
"linkPreviewHighQuality": True
}
response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)
print(response.json())Verify Your Workflow Before Going Live
Connect your number, test delivery, and check the operational requirements for your integration.
Complete the quickstart
Use the generated session name, pair WhatsApp, and confirm a delivered message.
Follow the setup steps →Monitor your own session
Subscribe to session.status and message.ack. Backend reachability alone does not guarantee delivery.
Set up webhooks →Understand linked-device risks
This is an unofficial linked-device API. Review number restrictions and choose a workflow that can tolerate them.
Read the risk guidance →WhatsApp API Pricing — Free, Pro, Ultra & Mega Plans
Start free, scale as you grow. All plans include full API access to channels, groups, and sessions.
Requests
Features
Rate Limit
1,000 requests per hour
Bandwidth Platform Fee
10,240 MB / Month + $0.001 per 1MB
Requests
Features
Rate Limit
10 requests per second
Bandwidth Platform Fee
10,240 MB / Month + $0.001 per 1MB
Requests
Features
Rate Limit
20 requests per second
Bandwidth Platform Fee
10,240 MB / Month + $0.001 per 1MB
Requests
Features
Rate Limit
25 requests per second
Bandwidth Platform Fee
10,240 MB / Month + $0.001 per 1MB
Prices shown are billed via RapidAPI Marketplace. Overage charges apply where noted.
Choose a plan for your API usage
Requests include session setup, status checks, contact checks and sends. A successful send response means accepted; delivery is confirmed separately by webhook. For example, 3,000 requests on Pro cost $24.99 before any bandwidth charges; Ultra includes them for $14.99. Review usage in RapidAPI before enabling production traffic. Existing subscribers may have legacy plan limits.
Connect a number and verify your first delivery →WhatsApp API FAQ — Common Questions Answered
Find answers to common questions about our REST API
It is a REST API by Retention Stack that lets you send and receive WhatsApp messages programmatically. Manage sessions, send text/images/files, create groups, and build automated WhatsApp workflows. No local setup required - it's entirely cloud-based.
No! The WhatsApp Messaging API is a cloud-based service. Simply subscribe on RapidAPI, get your API key, and make HTTP requests. No local server or infrastructure needed.
Create a session, then get the QR code via /v1/{session}/auth/qr. Scan it with your WhatsApp camera to authenticate. Alternatively, use pairing codes for 8-digit authentication without scanning.
Text, images, files (PDFs, documents), videos, voice messages, location data, contact cards, and reactions. You can also reply to existing messages and send to individuals, groups, or channels.
Basic: 1,000 requests/hour, 100 requests/month. Pro: 10 requests/second, 1,000 requests/month. Ultra: 20 requests/second, 10,000 requests/month. Mega: 25 requests/second, 1,000,000 requests/month. Basic has a monthly hard limit. Paid plans have request overage charges. Check your subscribed plan for legacy limits.
Yes. Create multiple sessions based on your plan: Basic allows 1 session, Pro allows 3, Ultra allows 10, and Mega allows unlimited sessions.
Groups are for multi-way conversations where everyone can message. Channels are broadcast-only where only the owner sends messages to subscribers.
Free plan: Documentation only. Paid plans include email support with 24-hour response time. Contact support@retentionstack.agency or visit RapidAPI for assistance.
Still have questions?
Our support team is here to help. Contact us or check out our documentation.
Contact SupportStart Sending WhatsApp Messages
in Under 5 Minutes.
Subscribe on RapidAPI, grab your key, and make your first API call — all in under five minutes. No server setup, no WhatsApp Business account required.