# Messaging Guide (OTT Channels)

> **Source**: [SMS-Magic](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels)
>
> <p>Know Everything about WhatsApp, Facebook &amp; LINE Channel</p>

## Browse Collection

1. [How to Activate WhatsApp Business Account?](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/EoJ27L8CIKQ-how-to-activate-whatsapp-business-account.md) (Article)
2. [Understanding LINE Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/PwJPomHbV2U-understanding-line-messaging.md) (Article)
3. [Facebook Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/FJufaU6vH70-facebook-messaging.md) (Article)
4. [Use of Facebook Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/J7I7wQIR234-use-of-facebook-messaging.md) (Article)
5. [Understanding Facebook Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/hYsmf7yj9eU-understanding-facebook-messaging.md) (Article)
6. [Supported Messages Types on Facebook](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/RiMHwXzD0bk-supported-messages-types-on-facebook.md) (Article)
7. [Interactive, Automated & Bulk Messaging on Facebook](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/Gnbw9nMi12Q-interactive-automated-bulk-messaging-on-facebook.md) (Article)
8. [Instagram Overview](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/QWog3Fnvhz8-instagram-overview.md) (Article)
9. [RCS Overview](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/rcs-overview.md) (Article)
10. [WhatsApp Channel Overview](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/KQkVMV4xcvE-whatsapp-channel-overview.md) (Article)
11. [Enable RCS in SMS Magic](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/3tTFqD42gjI-enable-rcs-in-sms-magic.md) (Article)
12. [Getting the Sender ID configured with SMS-Magic Account](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/l6O563LcCw0-getting-the-sender-id-configured-with-sms-magic-account.md) (Article)
13. [Enable Instagram in SMS Magic](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/sk13Ui06qDA-enable-instagram-in-sms-magic.md) (Article)
14. [WhatsApp Cloud API - Overview](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/xFHjYbKcAWA-whatsapp-cloud-api-overview.md) (Article)
15. [Enabling the LINE Messaging API](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/DU8xSzE4VJw-enabling-the-line-messaging-api.md) (Article)
16. [WhatsApp Cloud API - Setup](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/BMoPP0zQ3Ps-whatsapp-cloud-api-setup.md) (Article)
17. [Reaching out to customers on LINE](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/3P00a99j5ak-reaching-out-to-customers-on-line.md) (Article)
18. [Messaging Limits](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/sc3MFV86zUM-messaging-limits.md) (Article)
19. [LINE Tagged Sender IDs, Templates, and Messages](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/yGYSuVmW5xI-line-tagged-sender-ids-templates-and-messages.md) (Article)
20. [Creating a LINE Official Account](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/a5QZdEcnqZI-creating-a-line-official-account.md) (Article)
21. [Supported Message Types](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/1fFabd7Mt0Q-supported-message-types.md) (Article)
22. [LINE Official Account Premium ID](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/h231t6Ifn1M-line-official-account-premium-id.md) (Article)
23. [Get started with WhatsApp Number](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/sDYb0lWy924-get-started-with-whatsapp-number.md) (Article)
24. [Interactive, Automated Bulk Messaging via LINE Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/DJkr3uEY5Ik-interactive-automated-bulk-messaging-via-line-messaging.md) (Article)
25. [Quality Rating and Status](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/1abYKxxhoj0-quality-rating-and-status.md) (Article)
26. [Creating LINE Templates in the SMS-Magic Converse app](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/J4zQTi42G58-creating-line-templates-in-the-sms-magic-converse-app.md) (Article)
27. [Compliance with WhatsApp Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/nlmZNbe9SU4-compliance-with-whatsapp-messaging.md) (Article)
28. [Compliance with LINE Messaging](https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/MMl3Uz5iWUo-compliance-with-line-messaging.md) (Article)

---

# ARTICLE: WhatsApp Cloud API - Overview

## METADATA

- id: bL2thxZQTcq1mBdU4HFcfQ
- type: article
- source: SMS-Magic
- content_url: https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels/xFHjYbKcAWA-whatsapp-cloud-api-overview

- collection_url: https://docs.sms-magic.com/3gRa19kt0b4-messaging-guide-ott-channels

## CONTENT

## **What is WhatsApp Cloud API**

WhatsApp Cloud API represents the cloud-hosted iteration of the WhatsApp API, also recognized as the WhatsApp Business Platform. Unlike the previous On-premises API, which was hosted on Business Solutions Provider (BSP) servers or a company's private server, the Cloud API is now situated on Meta's cloud servers.

Acknowledging the limitation of the On-premises API, such as time-consuming application processes, delayed API updates for businesses, and associated high costs, Meta decided to introduce the WhatsApp Cloud API. This cloud-based alternative aims to provide a swifter and more cost-effective avenue for businesses to access the WhatsApp API. 

### Key Features of WhatsApp Cloud API:

1. Facilitates businesses and developers in tailoring WhatsApp experiences, enabling quick and easy customer responses, thus reducing onboarding time.
2. Offers a budget-friendly hosting solution.
3. Provides immediate access to new WhatsApp features upon releases

### WhatsApp Cloud API Pricing

WhatsApp Cloud API charges are based on conversation. WhatsApp's conversation-based pricing is categorized into two segments: business-initiated conversations and user-initiated conversations, also known as service conversations.

Service conversations are initiated by customers, and businesses are billed for user-initiated conversation fees when responding within the 24-hour messaging window.

Business-initiated conversations, occurring outside the 24-hour messaging window, require businesses to employ a message template to commence the conversation.

WhatsApp extends a monthly allocation of 1,000 free conversations to businesses, applicable to both service conversations and business-initiated conversations. However, effective June 1, 2023, this free allocation will be limited exclusively to service conversations. 

[Check conversation based pricing guideline](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing).