- Hrishi Uralath
- 5 min read
WhatsApp Coexistence Explained: Use the App and API on the Same Number.
Meta’s WhatsApp Coexistence update is a big deal for small and growing businesses. Here’s everything you need to know, without the fluff.
What Is WhatsApp Coexistence?
Until early 2025, if you wanted to use the WhatsApp Business API (for automation, bulk messaging, chatbots, etc.), you had to delete your existing WhatsApp Business App account and start fresh. That meant losing your chat history, contacts, and the number your customers already knew.
WhatsApp Coexistence changes all of that.
It’s a Meta update that lets you connect your existing WhatsApp Business App number to the WhatsApp Business API, so both work at the same time, on the same number. No deletion. No new number. No starting over.
Your team can keep chatting manually on the app while the API handles automation, broadcasts, and CRM integrations in the background.
Key Benefits at a Glance
No disruption to your current setup. Your existing chats, contacts, groups, and communities stay safe. You can even sync up to 6 months of chat history when you connect.
One number, two powerful tools. Your customers won’t notice a thing. Same number, same trust.
App conversations are free. Only API-initiated messages (like promotional broadcasts) are charged based on Meta’s pricing. Replies to customer messages are free on both ends.
Access to API features on your existing number. Automate follow-ups, run Click to WhatsApp ad campaigns, set up chatbots, integrate your CRM, and manage multiple agents, all without switching numbers.
What You Need to Get Started
- An active WhatsApp Business App account (version 2.24.17 or later)
- A WhatsApp API provider (like Cravin Technologies) that supports Coexistence
- Your business must be in a supported country (not available in Nigeria and South Africa)
What Changes After You Connect?
A few WhatsApp Business App features do get disabled once you connect to the API. These are limitations set by Meta, not your API provider:
- Broadcast Lists stop working in the app (but you can still broadcast via the API)
- Disappearing messages are turned off for one-on-one chats
- Live location sharing is disabled in individual chats
- Message edit/revoke no longer works in 1:1 chats
These are minor trade-offs compared to what you gain. And your app is still fully usable for regular conversations.
Who Should Use WhatsApp Coexistence?
This is a great fit for:
- Small businesses that rely on the WhatsApp Business App daily but want to start scaling with automation
- Teams where some members prefer the app and others need the API dashboard
- Businesses running Click to WhatsApp ads and wanting leads to appear directly in their app
- Any business that doesn’t want to lose their existing WhatsApp number or history
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