What is the difference between the Whats App and WhatsApp Business?
The key difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business is their purpose. WhatsApp is for personal communication, offering messaging, calls, and media sharing. WhatsApp Business is designed for businesses and has additional features like business profiles.
WhatsApp Business consists of the free WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business API. The main difference is that the WhatsApp Business App is developed by Meta, whereas the WhatsApp Business API is an interface designed for third-party software, such as Superchat.
If you're wondering which option is better suited for your business, you're in the right place. We'll start by outlining the pros and cons of the WhatsApp Business App and then compare it to the WhatsApp Business API.
WhatsApp Business App Advantages
The main advantage of the WhatsApp Business App is that it is free and specifically designed for businesses. It offers additional features not available in the standard WhatsApp App. Here’s an overview of its benefits:
1. Price
The WhatsApp Business App is free.
2. Business Profile
You can create a business profile with essential information to make a positive first impression on your customers. Your business profile serves as the face of your company.
3. Mobile Shopping Catalog
Showcase your products and services in a mobile shopping catalog, where similar items can be grouped into collections to simplify the shopping experience for your customers.
4. Custom Shopping Catalogs
You can create custom shopping catalogs featuring selected products and services to share with customers. These catalogs can be sent as links on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
5. Automated Greeting Messages
Set up automated greeting messages to facilitate the start of conversations and use away messages to respond to inquiries even when you’re unavailable.
WhatsApp Business App Disadvantages
While the WhatsApp Business App has numerous advantages, it also has its drawbacks. Here’s an overview of its limitations:
1. Not Privacy-Compliant
The biggest downside is the lack of privacy compliance. Despite end-to-end encryption, the WhatsApp Business App and standard WhatsApp App are not GDPR-compliant, making them unsuitable for business communication. The primary issue is the handling of metadata.
2. Limited to 5 Employees
The app allows one smartphone and up to four additional devices to be connected to the WhatsApp Business number. Consequently, only five employees can use the app simultaneously, and it lacks team features like notes and task assignments.
3. Limited Functionality
The WhatsApp Business App is designed for small businesses, which means its functionality is restricted. It does not support integrations, complex automations, or other advanced features.
4. No Newsletters
Newsletters are not available, only broadcasts. Broadcasts work similarly to newsletters but can only be sent to contacts who have saved your business as a contact. Additionally, broadcasts are limited to 256 recipients, which is insufficient for many businesses.
Interim Conclusion: Pros and Cons
The WhatsApp Business App is a smart solution for small businesses, such as bakeries, as it offers significantly more features than the standard WhatsApp App. However, privacy concerns warrant caution, especially in Germany, where data protection authorities are highly active.
The disadvantages of the WhatsApp Business App are simultaneously the strengths of the WhatsApp Business API, which can be implemented in a privacy-compliant manner and offers significantly more advanced features. Several third-party providers have developed communication software based on the WhatsApp Business API.
Therefore, it is crucial to compare the features and prices of individual providers in detail. In our buyer’s guide, we review 8 popular WhatsApp tools based on the WhatsApp Business API.
WhatsApp Business API Advantages
The following highlights, using Superchat as an example, what is possible with the WhatsApp Business API.
1. Privacy Compliance
Superchat ensures GDPR-compliant communication. With server-side encryption and clear privacy policies, businesses can guarantee that customer data remains confidential and secure. Additionally, Superchat supports legally compliant opt-in procedures for message distribution, such as on WhatsApp.
2. Team Collaboration
Superchat offers features for efficient team collaboration:
- No Employee Limit: The WhatsApp Business API does not restrict access to just five employees. For example, the Superchat Professional Plan includes access for 10 employees.
- Employee Assignment: Chats can be directly assigned to the appropriate team members.
- Notes: Internal notes allow team members to document important information about a customer case for colleagues.
- Contact Management: All contacts are stored centrally and can be tagged or supplemented with additional information.
- Open/Resolved Section: The status of inquiries can be easily tracked, helping the team prioritize and complete tasks.
3. Centralized Inbox for Multiple Channels
With Superchat’s centralized inbox, businesses can consolidate all communication channels – such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger – into a single platform. This enables teams to handle customer inquiries efficiently without switching between different applications.
4. WhatsApp Newsletters
Superchat enables the sending of WhatsApp newsletters. Businesses can create contact-based target groups to deliver personalized content. The intuitive user interface simplifies the process, making it easy and efficient, while legally compliant opt-ins ensure data privacy.
5. Integrations
Superchat offers numerous integrations and can be seamlessly connected to existing tools like CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, or accounting software. These connections allow for centralized synchronization of customer information and the creation of automated workflows that save time and enhance the customer experience.
6. Automations
Superchat offers numerous automations that can handle various tasks, allowing you to focus on your core business.
- Reviews: Automated review requests help businesses collect customer feedback and enhance their online reputation.
- Chatbots: Chatbots enable the automation of simple customer inquiries and form submissions.
- Lead Qualification: Automatic lead filtering and segmentation ensure that qualified leads are routed directly to the appropriate team members.
7. AI Chatbot
The AI chatbot from Superchat enables businesses to automate their customer communication. Powered by ChatGPT technology and company data, the chatbot can respond to customer inquiries 24/7 while continuously learning to improve its service.
Setup requires no programming skills and can be completed in just a few minutes. Businesses maintain full control by being able to intervene in conversations at any time. Special emphasis is placed on data protection, with all data stored on servers in Germany.
WhatsApp Business API Disadvantages
It’s considerably harder to pinpoint disadvantages with the WhatsApp Business API, but there are still two potential drawbacks.
1. Not Free
Unlike the WhatsApp Business App, the WhatsApp Business API is not free. Costs are incurred for using communication software like Superchat, along with additional Meta fees for messages sent. For example, Superchat’s Basic Plan starts at €89 per month, while Meta fees range from £0.0159 to £0.0382, depending on the type of conversation (marketing, utility, or authentication).
However, the cost of Superchat is manageable when compared to the high development costs of creating custom software with the WhatsApp Business API.
Additionally, many customers have shared that the newsletter feature alone is worth the investment. The open rates for WhatsApp newsletters (approximately 85–95%) are significantly higher than email newsletters (around 20–30%), making a successful newsletter capable of covering the entire Superchat fee. As such, Superchat fees are an investment in marketing, rather than a pure cost factor.
2. Extensive Functionality
Another potential drawback of the WhatsApp Business API is its extensive functionality. Features such as chatbots, integrations, and newsletters can initially seem overwhelming. Therefore, it’s important to start with the most essential features rather than trying to implement everything at once. Most businesses begin with a web chat and a universal inbox, allowing team members to handle messages from multiple channels.
Additional features like newsletters and automations (e.g., forms, appointment scheduling, review invitations) can be added gradually. When setting up automations, it’s crucial to keep them as simple as possible, as complex automations are more prone to errors and harder to debug.
Superchat offers an intuitive user interface and numerous templates to get started right away. Additionally, all customers benefit from free onboarding tailored to their industry. For advanced features such as integrations, automations, and AI chatbots, we provide customized consultations to help you maximize the potential of the WhatsApp Business API and automate your customer communication.
Although setting up these features requires an initial time investment, automating repetitive tasks can save several work hours daily—such as scheduling appointments or collecting data via WhatsApp. If you want to see how businesses in your industry are already using Superchat, check out our success stories.
Conclusion: The WhatsApp Business Difference
The WhatsApp Business App offers significantly more features than the standard WhatsApp App, making it an ideal solution for small local businesses with a limited customer base (e.g., bakeries). Unfortunately, its lack of data protection compliance limits its suitability for business communication.
For slightly larger businesses, not only is data protection an issue, but also the app’s limited functionality and contact restrictions. For professional WhatsApp marketing, there’s no alternative to the WhatsApp Business API. The examples presented show how businesses can use the WhatsApp Business API and Superchat to automate customer communication, improve customer satisfaction, and increase revenue.
If you want to use the WhatsApp Business API professionally, book a free initial consultation with one of our WhatsApp experts today.
