A WhatsApp AI assistant for your business

How it works

Your WhatsApp Business number is connected to Meta’s official WhatsApp Business Platform (the Cloud API). When a customer writes, Meta sends the message to your AI receptionist, which writes a reply from your business information with your AI account and sends it back from your number. You see every conversation and can reply yourself at any time.

What Meta allows

Since 15 January 2026, Meta does not allow general-purpose AI chatbots on the WhatsApp Business Platform, meaning assistants that answer anything for anyone as their main product. AI assistants that serve a business’s own customers are allowed: answering questions about your business, bookings, orders and support, and handing over to a person.

Our AI receptionist is built for that second kind. It answers only from your business information and refuses unrelated requests. Keep your information focused on your business and check Meta’s current policies before you start.

The 24-hour customer service window

When a customer writes to you, a 24-hour window opens in which you may send free-form replies. The assistant replies within seconds, well inside the window. If you want to reply yourself, do it within 24 hours of the customer’s last message. After that, WhatsApp only allows pre-approved message templates, which our receptionist does not send.

What it costs

Meta charges per message since 1 July 2025. Replies inside the customer service window are service messages. Each business number gets 1,000 free service messages a month, and since 1 October 2026 Meta charges for service messages beyond that allowance, at its rate for your customers’ country. Meta bills you directly; we add nothing per message. Check Meta’s pricing page for current rates.

Your AI provider charges separately for writing the answers, usually a fraction of a cent each with a small model.

Setting it up

1. Create a Meta Business account and an app with the WhatsApp product in Meta for Developers.
2. Add and verify your business phone number, and note its Phone number ID.
3. Create a permanent access token for a system user, and copy your app secret.
4. Add these in Connections under WhatsApp Business and test the connection.
5. In Meta’s app dashboard, set the callback URL and verify token we show you, and subscribe to messages.
6. In the AI receptionist, open WhatsApp and missed calls and tick Answer WhatsApp messages with this assistant.

Every click is described in the connections guide.

Sources

• Meta: pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform
• Meta: WhatsApp Business Solution terms