Do I need a Meta business portfolio to use the WhatsApp API?
Updated 7 October 2026
If you build on the API yourself, yes. You need a business portfolio, a WhatsApp business account, a business phone number and access tokens. If you are not a developer, a Business Solution Provider can set it up.
- Building directly needs four things: a business portfolio, a WhatsApp business account, a business phone number and access tokens (OAuth).
- Businesses working with a Business Solution Provider create the account through the embedded signup flow.
- Developers create an account by following Meta's developer docs.
- WhatsApp suggests a provider if you are not a developer or want WhatsApp linked to an inbox, support software or a bot platform.
Get the API without building it
Menuthere connects the WhatsApp Business API on your own number and submits the message templates its automatic messages need to Meta for you, so you do not build any of it yourself.
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Sources (3)
- About the platform, Meta for Developers, read 7 October 2026
- Create a WhatsApp Business account, WhatsApp Help Center, read 30 September 2026
- Business Solution Providers, WhatsApp Help Center, read 30 September 2026