Want your app to message customers on WhatsApp, like order updates, booking reminders or confirmations? There's no one-click WhatsApp integration in the marketplace today, but you can still set it up through a WhatsApp Business provider.
Before you start
WhatsApp only allows businesses to send messages through Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. You can use it directly, or through a provider that offers WhatsApp messaging. Set up and verify your account with them first. They have their own approval steps, rules and per-message pricing, and you pay them directly.
Two WhatsApp rules surprise people:
- Customers must opt in before you message them.
- Messages you start (for example, a reminder sent when the customer hasn't messaged you recently) usually have to use a message template that WhatsApp has approved in advance. Check your provider's docs for the exact rules.
Step 1: Add your provider's keys
Open your app in the editor and go to the Env Vars tab. Add the keys your provider gives you and mark each one as secret. Never paste keys into the chat, and don't add a VITE_ prefix.
Step 2: Ask the AI to build the sending
Create a server-side endpoint that sends a WhatsApp message through [provider] using my environment variables. Never call [provider] from browser code. Then send a test message to my own WhatsApp number. If you can't do part of this, say so honestly.
When the test works, describe when your app should send messages, for example: When an order ships, send the customer a WhatsApp message with the tracking link.
Verify it works
Test on your own number first, not on a customer. If nothing arrives, check that your keys are entered correctly, that your number has opted in, and that you're using an approved template where WhatsApp requires one.
Costs
Asking the AI to build this is a normal builder turn and uses credits. Your WhatsApp provider charges you separately for each message.
Alternatives
If a regular text message is enough, see Connecting Sendblue for iMessage, RCS, and SMS.