In Turkey, most customers who want to reach a business message it on WhatsApp first: to ask about prices, book an appointment or place an order. That is why many businesses, from small boutiques to clinics, use WhatsApp Business instead of personal WhatsApp.
In this guide we explain what WhatsApp Business is, how it differs from regular WhatsApp, whether it is free, how to set it up, its most useful features and when you need the WhatsApp Business API.
Short answer: WhatsApp Business is Meta’s free WhatsApp app for businesses. Compared with regular WhatsApp it adds a business profile, a product catalog, quick replies, automatic greeting and away messages, and chat labels, and it can be used with a landline number. The app is free; the paid options are the WhatsApp Business API, Meta Verified and ads. For several agents on one number and for automation you need the API or a CRM.
What is WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp Business is a free WhatsApp app that Meta developed for small and medium-sized businesses. It looks and works very much like regular WhatsApp; the difference is the business tools that make messaging with customers easier: a business profile, a product catalog, quick replies, automatic greeting and away messages, and chat labels.
It is downloaded as a separate app for Android and iPhone. You can use both regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on the same phone with different numbers.
The difference between WhatsApp Business and regular WhatsApp
| WhatsApp Business | ||
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Personal use | Businesses |
| Business profile (address, opening hours, website, category) | No | Yes |
| Product and service catalog | No | Yes |
| Quick replies | No | Yes |
| Automatic greeting and away message | No | Yes |
| Chat labels | Limited | Yes |
| Use with a landline number | No | Yes (verified by a phone call) |
| Price | Free | Free |
Is WhatsApp Business free?
The app is free. You pay nothing to download it, use it or message customers. There are three paid things, and all of them are optional:
- WhatsApp Business API: For high-volume messaging, automation and software integration. Meta charges per message for API messages, depending on the message type and country. Current rates are listed on Meta’s pricing page and change from time to time.
- Meta Verified: A monthly subscription, offered in some countries, that gives you a verified badge and extra support.
- Ads: Facebook and Instagram ads that open a WhatsApp chat when clicked, as well as ads in the Status section of WhatsApp.
How to set up WhatsApp Business
- Download the WhatsApp Business app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Enter your business number. It can be a mobile number or a landline; for a landline, the verification code comes by voice call.
- If the number is currently used on regular WhatsApp, the app offers to move your chat history. Once you switch, that number no longer works on regular WhatsApp.
- Enter your business name, category and profile photo (your logo).
- Complete your profile, catalog and automated messages under Settings → Business tools.
To use it on a computer, go to web.whatsapp.com in your browser and scan the QR code from the Linked devices menu on your phone. In addition to your phone, up to 4 devices (a computer, a tablet or a second phone) can be linked.
The most useful WhatsApp Business features
1. Business profile
Your address, opening hours, website, email and a short description. Customers see the basic information here before they message you. A fully completed profile builds trust.
2. Catalog
You can add your products or services with photos, prices and descriptions. When a customer asks “What are your prices?”, you share the catalog instead of sending photos one by one.
3. Quick replies
You set up shortcuts for frequently asked questions. For example, typing /address brings up your address and a location link, and typing /price brings up your price list. For businesses answering dozens of similar questions a day, this saves a lot of time.
4. Greeting and away messages
Customers who message you for the first time receive an automatic greeting. Messages that arrive outside business hours get an automatic reply such as “We’re closed right now; we’ll get back to you at 09:00 tomorrow morning.” Customers don’t feel ignored.
5. Labels
You organize chats with labels such as “New customer”, “Awaiting payment” or “Order ready”. For small businesses, this works as simple sales tracking.
6. Short link and QR code
The app gives you your own wa.me link and QR code. You put them on your website, Instagram profile, business card or shop window, and customers can message you with a single tap.
7. Bulk messages (broadcast lists)
You can send the same message to several people at once. However, the message only reaches people who have saved your number in their contacts. Sending unwanted messages to large numbers of people can get your number restricted by WhatsApp. Also, in Turkey, Law No. 6563 requires prior consent from the recipient for commercial messages.
What is the WhatsApp Business API and when do you need it?
The WhatsApp Business app is designed to be used on a single phone by a few people. As your business grows, needs like these appear:
- Many agents messaging from the same number at the same time
- Sending notifications or campaign messages to thousands of people with approved templates
- Sending order, appointment and shipping notifications automatically
- Connecting WhatsApp to a CRM, an e-commerce site or a booking system
- Setting up AI-powered automatic replies
For these, you use the WhatsApp Business API (WhatsApp Business Platform). The API has no app of its own; it is used through software or a CRM and is charged per message. Meta has also recently started allowing the same number to be used in both the app and the API.
If you want to manage WhatsApp conversations as a team, follow up on customers from ads and never miss a message, connecting WhatsApp to a CRM is the most practical solution. We explain what that means in our What is CRM guide. Sodo CRM, which we developed ourselves, connects your WhatsApp line with a QR code and lets your team message together from the same number.
6 tips for using WhatsApp Business more effectively
- The first 5 minutes rule: The faster you reply to a customer’s first message, the higher the chance of a sale. Make sure greeting and away messages are always on outside business hours.
- Use your logo as the profile photo, not a personal photo.
- Keep your catalog up to date. A product whose price has changed means an argument with a customer.
- Reply in writing instead of with voice messages. Customers are not always in a position to listen to audio.
- Connect your ads to WhatsApp. Instagram and Facebook ads with a “Send WhatsApp message” objective bring customers who are reluctant to fill in forms straight into a chat.
- Don’t lose your conversations. Make sure the history isn’t lost when a phone is replaced or an employee leaves: turn on backups, and if your team has grown, move to a CRM.
Frequently asked questions
What is WhatsApp Business used for?
It helps businesses message their customers on WhatsApp in a more organized and professional way: it offers a business profile, catalog, quick replies, automated messages and labels.
How do you switch from regular WhatsApp to WhatsApp Business?
Download WhatsApp Business and enter the same number. The app offers to move your chat history. After the switch, that number can no longer be used on regular WhatsApp.
Can WhatsApp Business be used on two phones?
Yes. In addition to the main phone, a second phone, a tablet or a computer can be connected with the linked devices feature. If many agents need to message at the same time, the API or a CRM is a better fit.
Do you need a separate number for WhatsApp Business?
It is not required, but it is recommended. To keep personal and business conversations apart, you can use a separate line or the business’s landline.
Can WhatsApp Business be used on a computer?
Yes. You use it at web.whatsapp.com or in the WhatsApp app for Windows and Mac by scanning a QR code from the Linked devices menu on your phone.
Can the WhatsApp Business API be used in Turkey?
Yes. Businesses in Turkey can use the API directly through Meta or via a solution partner. Fees vary by message type.
Summary
WhatsApp Business is a free app that every business messaging its customers on WhatsApp should use. With a business profile, catalog, quick replies and automated messages, it saves time and helps you look more professional. When your message volume and your team grow, the next step is the API and a CRM.
If you want to gather your WhatsApp customers in one place and connect your ads to WhatsApp, get in touch.
Official source: WhatsApp Help Center: About WhatsApp Business. Information checked on 16 October 2026.
