For years, moving a number to the WhatsApp Business API meant giving up the WhatsApp Business app on that number. WhatsApp coexistence changes that. It lets a number that already runs on the WhatsApp Business app also connect to the Cloud API, so you can keep chatting from your phone while your team and automations work through the API.
How WhatsApp coexistence works
- Your number stays on the WhatsApp Business app on your phone.
- During setup through an onboarding flow, you scan or confirm a code in the app to link it to the Cloud API.
- You can choose to share recent chat history and contacts with the API side.
- Messages you send from the app are mirrored to the API side, so your platform sees the full conversation.
What you gain
- Keep your existing number, chats and contacts.
- Keep replying from the app on your phone when you want to.
- Add API features: broadcasts at scale, a shared team inbox, automations and integrations.
- Messages you send from the Business app stay free, while API messages follow Meta's API pricing.
Limitations of coexistence
Coexistence is a compromise. Meta's partners document these common limits:
| Area | With coexistence | With a full move to the API |
|---|---|---|
| Some app features | Features such as broadcast lists, disappearing messages and view-once media are switched off in the app | Not applicable, the app is not used |
| Sending speed | Lower throughput, partners report around 20 messages per second | Higher throughput, partners report up to 80 messages per second |
| Groups and calls | Not handled by the API side | Not part of the API |
| Keeping it active | The app must stay installed and be opened regularly, partners advise at least every two weeks | No app needed |
| Availability | Not available in every country or for every account | Widely available |
Who coexistence suits
- Small businesses whose owner still likes to reply from the phone.
- Businesses that want to try API features without changing how they work today.
- Teams that need broadcasts and automation but have years of chats on the app.
When a full move to the API is better
- You send large campaigns and need the higher sending speed.
- Several people reply, and you want every chat in one shared inbox.
- You do not want to depend on a phone staying active.
- You want the cleanest setup for automations and integrations.
How to decide
Ask how you will use WhatsApp a year from now. If one person replies and campaigns are small, coexistence is a gentle start. If a team replies and campaigns are large, a full move to the API gives you a cleaner, faster setup. Either way, your number stays the same. Read how to move your WhatsApp number for the full process.
What you need before you start
- A number that runs on the WhatsApp Business app. Coexistence does not work with the personal WhatsApp app.
- The latest version of the WhatsApp Business app on your phone.
- A Meta Business account (business portfolio) that will own the API connection.
- A platform that supports coexistence onboarding, which uses Meta's guided signup flow.
- Access to the phone during setup, because you confirm the link from the app.
How chat history and contacts sync
During onboarding, the app asks whether you want to share your chats with the API side. If you agree, recent one-to-one chat history is copied over, and partners report this covers up to the last six months. Your contacts can be shared too, so your team sees names instead of bare numbers. After setup, new messages appear on both sides: a reply you type on the phone shows up in your platform, and a reply your team sends from the platform shows up in the app.
Common mistakes with coexistence
- Uninstalling the app or forgetting to open it. The link depends on the app staying installed and active.
- Expecting broadcast lists on the phone. They are switched off. Send campaigns through the API instead.
- Sending big campaigns at full speed. Coexistence has lower throughput, so large sends take longer.
- Two people answering the same chat. Agree who replies from the phone and who replies from the inbox, or assign chats in your platform.
- Assuming everything stays free. App messages stay free, but templates and replies sent through the API follow Meta's API pricing.
Moving from coexistence to a full API setup later
Coexistence is not a one-way door. Many businesses start with it and move the number fully to the API once a team handles most chats. The number stays the same. The difference is that the WhatsApp Business app stops working on that number once the full move is complete, and you get the higher sending speed and a setup that does not depend on a phone. Plan the move for a quiet day and tell your team in advance.
Coexistence vs app vs full API
| Business app only | Coexistence | Full API | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reply from the phone app | Yes | Yes | No |
| Shared team inbox | No | Yes | Yes |
| Broadcasts to unsaved contacts | No | Yes, through the API | Yes |
| Automations and AI agents | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| Sending speed | Phone only | Lower | Highest |
Frequently asked questions
What is WhatsApp coexistence?
It lets a number on the WhatsApp Business app also connect to the WhatsApp Cloud API, so you can use both on the same number at the same time.
Do I lose my chats with coexistence?
No. Your chats stay in the app, and you can choose to share recent chat history with the API side during setup.
Are messages from the app still free with coexistence?
Yes. Messages sent from the WhatsApp Business app stay free. Messages sent through the API follow Meta's API pricing.
What are the main limits of coexistence?
Some app features such as broadcast lists and disappearing messages are switched off, sending speed is lower than a full API setup, and the app must stay installed and active.
Can I use coexistence with a personal WhatsApp number?
No. Coexistence works with numbers on the WhatsApp Business app. A personal WhatsApp number would first need to move to the WhatsApp Business app.
What happens if I stop opening the WhatsApp Business app?
Partners advise opening the app at least every two weeks. If the app stays inactive for too long, the coexistence link can be disconnected.