WhatsApp Business Calling API: Pricing, use cases & FAQs

It’s a new feature from Meta that lets businesses using the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) make and receive voice calls over WhatsApp.

Personal accounts support voice by default. WhatsApp Business API accounts never did — until now. While calls are free on the WhatsApp app, WhatsApp Business Calling API incurs charges by the minute. Rates vary by region for incoming and outgoing calls. Customers are not charged for these calls.

Click on Settings > Channels > Select your WhatsApp Business account > Select WhatsApp Calls.

Turn on the Enable WhatsApp Call toggle to allow your team to make and receive calls.

Turn on the Allow contacts to call you toggle to show customers the call icon and allow them to call you any time.

Currently in beta across:

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and Uruguay. More countries may be added by Meta.

You can call any WhatsApp user, as long as they grant you permission to initiate a call.

To protect users’ privacy, Meta requires businesses to request permission before calling a customer. A call permission request can only be sent during active conversations, when an existing marketing, utility, authentication, service or free entry point conversation is open.

Meta restricts businesses to one call request per day, and up to two in 7 days. Once approved, you have 72 hours to initiate the call. The 7-day limit resets once a call successfully connects.

Enable this permission on respond.io to allow customers to call you. Then, provide a clickable deep link or call button that customers can use to initiate a call directly from their WhatsApp App.

No, you can only call WhatsApp users.

Yes. You’ll continue using your existing number, including your verified business profile and green tick if you have one. This gives you instant credibility.

Yes. Respond.io supports multiple users with a shared omnichannel team inbox, CRM integrations, AI and automation.

Your team will be able to switch between WhatsApp chats and calls seamlessly with all customer context at their fingertips. You’ll also be able to access detailed reports and analytics to pinpoint areas of improvement and make data-driven decisions.

While some WhatsApp Business Solution providers may have different pricing structures for calls, respond.io does not charge additional setup or usage fees. Pay only for the calls you make on WhatsApp Business Calling API.

WhatsApp Business Calling API is a VoIP.

It’s cost-effective, easier to scale and keeps voice and chat in one conversation thread. No more switching platforms — just clean and clear customer conversations in one place.

Yes, WhatsApp Business Calling API allows you to reach customers globally.

Currently, the WhatsApp API supports voice calls only. Video call capabilities may be introduced in the future.

Yes. While on a call, businesses can still share multimedia content via the chat interface for better communication.

The API does not natively support call recording. However, businesses can use third-party tools integrated with their CRM to enable this feature. If you want to record calls, ensure that you notify customers and get their permission first.

If a contact calls you but you don’t pick it up, you will need to send another business-initiated call request.

If you’re running a lean team with low chat volumes, the WhatsApp Business App may be all you need — it supports voice calls and is free to use.

But if you're managing a high volume of conversations, the WhatsApp API is a smart upgrade. It lets you continue voice and chat seamlessly, scale your team and unlock powerful tools from your conversation management software.

On respond.io, enjoy an omnichannel team inbox, integrations with your CRM and other software, automation and AI, WhatsApp broadcasts, click to WhatsApp ads, detailed analytics and more.