The safe way to send bulk messages on WhatsApp is software or a dashboard built on Meta’s official WhatsApp Business Platform (the Business API). Connecting the WhatsApp on your phone to an unofficial bulk messaging tool that sends messages automatically breaks WhatsApp’s terms and can get your number restricted or banned. For a list of a few hundred people, a broadcast list or the business broadcasts in the WhatsApp Business app may be enough; whichever route you choose, you need your recipients’ permission.
Below we compare the four routes by their limits, costs and risks. We cover the Business API’s templates, pricing and opt-in rules in detail in our WhatsApp Business API guide.
Four ways to send bulk messages on WhatsApp
| Route | Who receives it | Limit | Cost | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast list | People who saved your number | 256 contacts per list | Free | Low |
| Business broadcasts (WhatsApp Business app) | Customers who gave permission | As set by WhatsApp | Per delivered message after the free allowance | Low |
| Unofficial bulk messaging tools | Anyone, but your number is at risk | The tool says “unlimited” | Tool fee | High: restriction or ban |
| A dashboard on the WhatsApp Business Platform (Cloud API) | Opted-in contacts, with approved templates | From 250 people per 24 hours up to unlimited | Per delivered template message | Low, if you follow the rules |
Broadcast lists
According to WhatsApp’s help centre, you can create as many broadcast lists as you like, with up to 256 contacts in each. Each person receives the message as if you had sent it individually, but only people who have saved your number in their contacts get it. Broadcast lists are not supported on Windows, Mac or the web. They work for a local shop or a small customer group, not for campaigns to thousands of people.
Business broadcasts
Business broadcasts in the WhatsApp Business app let you send a message to selected contacts from within the app. They are paid once the free allowance is used up, and you are only charged for messages that are delivered; undelivered ones are refunded. WhatsApp requires the business to have all the permissions needed to message its customers and to respect requests to stop.
Why unofficial tools put your number at risk
Most tools sold online as “WhatsApp bulk messaging software” send messages by automating WhatsApp Web or the phone app. WhatsApp’s Terms of Service explicitly prohibit using the service for impermissible communications such as bulk messaging, auto-messaging and auto-dialing.
WhatsApp detects this kind of sending automatically. According to its help centre, accounts whose recent activity shows signs of spam, automated or bulk messaging can be restricted: a restricted account cannot start chats with people it has not messaged before, create new groups or use linked devices. Repeated violations can lead to a ban. If your business talks to customers from that number, a single campaign can cost you your customer service channel.
These tools have another problem: they do not record who consented to which message and when. In many countries, including Turkey, the sender has to be able to prove consent for commercial messages, so that record matters legally too.
How bulk sending works with the Business API
The Business API is WhatsApp’s official route for businesses. Bulk sending follows these steps:
- Account: you set up a Meta business portfolio and a WhatsApp Business account, and connect the number you will send from.
- Template: messages go out using a template approved by Meta. Campaigns fall under “marketing”, order and shipping updates under “utility”.
- Opted-in list: you only send to people who agreed to receive messages from you.
- Sending and tracking: the software queues messages within your limits and records delivery, reads and opt-outs.
The messaging limit is the number of unique people you can start conversations with in 24 hours. New accounts start at 250; after business verification it can rise to 2,000, and with high-quality sending it moves automatically to 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited. Messages that many people block or report as spam lower your number’s quality rating and stop the limit from increasing.
Under Meta’s pricing, you pay per delivered template message, with rates depending on the template category and the recipient’s country; your replies within the 24-hour window that opens when a customer messages you are free. Marketing templates are what mainly drive the cost of a bulk campaign.
Consent and opt-out
Most countries require prior consent for marketing messages. In Turkey, for example, commercial electronic messages need the recipient’s prior consent under Law No. 6563, and consents are registered in the national Message Management System (İYS). In practice, ask for consent before sending campaigns, offer an easy way to opt out in every message and remove anyone who replies “STOP” from your lists. Transactional updates such as order and shipping notices generally do not need marketing consent, but Meta still requires that people agreed to receive WhatsApp messages from you. We cover the Turkish rules in more detail in our Business API guide; this is not legal advice.
What to look for in bulk messaging software
- Official infrastructure: it should use Meta’s Cloud API, not automate your phone or WhatsApp Web.
- Template management: you should be able to create templates and submit them for Meta’s approval from within the software.
- Consent records: when and through which channel each person consented should be stored.
- Automatic opt-out: anyone who replies “STOP” should be removed from all lists without manual work.
- Reports: delivered, read and failed messages should be visible for every send.
- Shared inbox: replies to campaigns should land in an inbox several agents can use.
- Integration: order and shipping updates from your online shop should go out automatically.
- Data: it should be clear where your customer lists are stored and how they are protected.
How we do it with AntApp
We built AntApp for exactly these needs. AntApp is a WhatsApp Business console built with Next.js on Meta’s WhatsApp Cloud API. It offers bulk sending, contact and list management, order and webhook automation, a shared inbox, automatic opt-out protection for “STOP” replies and a WooCommerce plugin. A dashboard on official infrastructure like this is how you send in bulk without unofficial tools and without putting your number at risk.
Frequently asked questions
Is WhatsApp bulk messaging paid?
Broadcast lists are free. Business broadcasts in the WhatsApp Business app are paid after the free allowance, and the Business API charges for every delivered template message. With the Business API, your replies within 24 hours of a customer messaging you are free.
How many people can I message at once?
Up to 256 per broadcast list. With the Business API you start at 250 people per 24 hours, and the limit rises to 2,000, 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited as you keep sending high-quality messages.
What happens if my number gets restricted?
A restricted account can continue existing chats but cannot start new ones, create groups or use linked devices. The restriction lifts automatically when it expires; repeated violations can lead to a permanent ban.
Conclusion
For an occasional announcement to a few hundred people, a broadcast list or business broadcasts are enough. For regular campaigns, order notifications and lists of thousands, the right route is a dashboard built on the Business API: your number stays safe and your consent and opt-out records stay in order. You can see how AntApp works in our case study, or reach us through our web and mobile app development page for a custom WhatsApp integration.
