WhatsApp coexistence: keep the Business app and use the API
Use the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business API on the same number. How coexistence works, what syncs, Meta’s limits and how to connect with Hello.
WhatsApp coexistence lets a business use the same phone number in the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business API (Meta’s Cloud API) at the same time. You keep the app on your phone, and messages sent from the app and through the API share one conversation history.
Many businesses start with the WhatsApp Business app: a single phone, used by the owner or a small team. As the business grows, it needs capabilities that only the API provides, such as message templates, bulk sending, a shared team inbox and integration with other systems. Moving to the API used to mean removing the number from the app. With coexistence, that is no longer necessary. Many WhatsApp API providers still do not support it. Hello does.
What coexistence provides
- The same number and profile. No new number, no migration and no change for your customers.
- Continued use of the app. You can keep replying from the WhatsApp Business app on your phone.
- API capabilities on top. Send approved templates, run campaigns, send notifications from your own systems and handle replies from a shared inbox.
- A single conversation history. Replies sent from the phone appear in Hello alongside team and API messages.
- Your existing data. Contacts and up to six months of chat history can be imported when you connect.
How to connect a WhatsApp Business app number to Hello
- Create a Hello account and open Accounts → Add account.
- Select Login with Facebook to start Meta’s Embedded Signup, and sign in with the Facebook account that manages your business.
- When asked which number to use, choose to connect your existing WhatsApp Business app number and enter it.
- Confirm the connection on your phone, following the instructions WhatsApp shows in the WhatsApp Business app.
- Choose whether to share your chat history. You can decline and still use coexistence.
The number then appears in Hello, and you can create templates and send messages. No separate phone number registration or PIN is required, because the number is already active in the app.
Keep the WhatsApp Business app open on your phone while the initial sync runs. Contacts and chat history can take some time to appear.
What syncs between the app and Hello
| Synced to Hello | |
|---|---|
| New messages from customers | Yes, as they arrive |
| Replies sent from the phone app | Yes |
| Messages sent from Hello or the API | Yes, and customers see them in the same chat |
| Contacts | Yes, once, when you connect |
| Past one-to-one chats | Up to six months, if you choose to share chat history |
| Group chats | No, the WhatsApp Business API does not support groups |
Limits set by Meta
These rules come from Meta and apply to every provider that supports coexistence:
- App version. The WhatsApp Business app must be version 2.24.17 or later.
- Phone activity. The app on your phone must remain in use. If it is inactive for about 14 days, the connection can be removed and you will need to reconnect.
- Throughput. A coexistence number has a fixed throughput of up to 20 messages per second. This is sufficient for most businesses but lower than a dedicated API number can reach.
- Disabled app features. For one-to-one chats, disappearing messages, view-once messages and live location are turned off. Broadcast lists become read-only; use template campaigns instead.
- Companion apps. WhatsApp for Windows and WearOS are unlinked. The phone app remains available alongside Hello.
Meta updates these rules periodically. The current list is in Meta’s coexistence documentation.
When to use coexistence
Coexistence suits businesses whose WhatsApp number is already known to customers, such as shops, service providers, clinics, schools and agencies, and that want to add automation and a team without giving up the app. For a new number with very high sending volumes, a dedicated API number (also supported by Hello) can be the better choice. For a broader comparison, see WhatsApp Business app vs API.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new phone number to use the WhatsApp Business API?
No. With coexistence you connect the number you already use in the WhatsApp Business app. Customers continue to message the same number, and you continue to use the app on your phone.
Will my customers notice a change?
No. The number and business profile stay the same. Messages sent from Hello and from your phone appear in the same chat on the customer’s side.
Can I still reply from my phone after connecting?
Yes. Replies sent from the WhatsApp Business app also appear in Hello’s inbox, so your team sees the complete conversation.
What happens to my existing chats?
During setup, WhatsApp asks whether to share your chat history. If you agree, up to six months of one-to-one chats are synced to Hello, together with your contacts.
Is there an extra charge for coexistence?
Coexistence is a WhatsApp feature, not a paid add-on. Messages sent through the API are charged by Meta according to its pricing, billed directly to your WhatsApp Business Account, and Hello is covered by your Hello plan. Replies sent from the app on your phone work as before.
Can I stop using coexistence later?
Yes. Disconnecting the number from the API leaves the WhatsApp Business app working as it did before.