WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business are two separate, free apps from the same company. WhatsApp is for personal chats. WhatsApp Business looks and works the same, but adds tools for talking to customers: a business profile, a catalog, automatic replies and labels to sort chats.
| What | WhatsApp Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Personal chats | Talking to customers |
| Price | Free | Free; some extras are paid |
| Business profile | No | Address, hours, email and website |
| Catalog | No | Products and services, with photos and prices |
| Automatic replies | No | Greeting and away messages, quick replies |
| Labels for chats | No | Yes, up to 20 |
| Link with a ready message | No | Yes, plus a QR code |
| Linked devices | Up to 4 | Up to 4, or up to 10 with Meta Verified |
| Verified badge | No | With Meta Verified, a paid plan |
Is WhatsApp Business free?
Yes. The app is free to download and use, with no charge for messages or calls. What costs money is optional: business broadcasts (one message to many customers, paid per delivered message, in some countries), a Meta Verified subscription for the verified badge (see Meta Verified on WhatsApp), and click-to-WhatsApp ads.
Can you use WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on one phone?
Yes, both apps can be on the same phone, but each needs its own number: one number can't be on both apps at the same time. Many people keep their personal number on WhatsApp and put a second number, for example a dual-SIM or a landline, on WhatsApp Business. The Business app accepts landlines: choose Call me to get the code by voice call.
How to switch to WhatsApp Business without losing your chats
- 01Back up your chats in WhatsApp: Settings › Chats › Chat backup.
- 02Save any contacts you only keep inside WhatsApp to your phone's contacts. The Business app doesn't bring them over.
- 03Install WhatsApp Business. It finds the number you use on WhatsApp: tap it to use the same number.
- 04Allow it to use your chat history and media, verify the number with the code, and fill in your business profile.
You can move back the same way: back up, reinstall WhatsApp with the same number and restore. Your catalog doesn't come with you, and if you had a verified badge, it's removed.
Which one should you use?
- WhatsApp: personal chats and family groups.
- WhatsApp Business: a small business that answers customers itself, from one phone and a few linked devices. See WhatsApp auto replies and WhatsApp broadcast lists for what it can automate.
- The WhatsApp Business API: a business that gets more messages than one phone can handle, wants a team or a bot to answer, or needs WhatsApp connected to other tools. See WhatsApp Business API.
MuChat connects to the WhatsApp Business API and answers WhatsApp messages straight away with keyword replies, flows and AI, while your team handles the rest in one inbox. When Meta allows it, your number can stay on the WhatsApp Business app too. See WhatsApp chatbot.
Answer every WhatsApp message
MuChat replies to WhatsApp messages straight away and sends template broadcasts to the people who opted in. The Free plan needs no card.