With over 2 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp has emerged as a powerful marketing tool, offering businesses a direct line to their customers. With all your customers being on the platform, WhatsApp marketing is no longer just an option, it’s a necessity for businesses aiming to engage effectively with their audience.
The right WhatsApp marketing software can transform how businesses communicate, offering personalized, instant, and efficient customer interactions. The key to leveraging WhatsApp effectively lies in choosing the right marketing tool that offers the official WhatsApp API for sending your marketing messages.
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Free Mobile App vs Bulk Senders vs Official API Tools
There are multiple ways you can do marketing on WhatsApp and it’s important to know all the different options you have to reach your customers. WhatsApp marketing software can be divided broadly in 3 types:
WhatsApp Business Mobile App
This is the free app provided directly by WhatsApp specifically for businesses. You can reach out to your customers at a limited capacity using this free app. While accessible, it’s limiting in terms of scalability and automation and is only suitable for small businesses with very minimal messaging needs.
Bulk WhatsApp Senders
These are unauthorized software tools that don’t use the official API. Instead they work in a sneaky way using Chrome extensions or desktop apps on top of WhatsApp Web. There’s a good chance of getting your number banned using these tools due to non-compliance with WhatsApp’s policies.
Word of caution – If you find any tool that does not mention WhatsApp API anywhere, ask you to scan a QR to use their tool and does not change anything per conversation, stay away from the tool.
WhatsApp provides their API to allow you to send messages in an authorized way (see the next point) and charge you for that. So using these bulk senders that bypass the API is something you should stay away from.
Official WhatsApp API Tools
The best choice for businesses that want to do WhatsApp marketing at scale, these tools are built on top of the official APIs. These tools use the official API to send messages and fully comply with WhatsApp’s guidelines and offer advanced features for your marketing.
These tools provide scalability, reliability, and a range of functionalities that are essential for professional and large-scale WhatsApp marketing campaigns.
Note that WhatsApp API is paid and WhatsApp charges a small per-conversation fees for the messages you send. But when you’re paying for the API, you can be 100% sure that your number will be safe using it (unless you SPAM).
In this article we’ve only covered the legitimate WhatsApp marketing software tools that using this WhatsApp API.
Best WhatsApp Marketing Software Tools
Let’s look at the top players in the market that provide WhatsApp marketing tools:
1. WANotifier
At WANotifier, we’re proud to top this list! Yes, we prepared this list, so we’re cheekily putting ourselves first 🤭. Just kidding, there’s a good reason for being here. WANotifier is an all-in-one WhatsApp marketing tool that has changed how WhatsApp marketing is done.
We’ve been the first software provider in the market to provide a free forever plan and also one of the first ones to charge 0% markup on top of WhatsApp API pricing.
Not just that, our tool comes packed with all features from running WhatsApp campaigns at scale, sending bulk messages, analytics dashboard, intuitive Inbox to advance automations to make your WhatsApp campaigns more effective and easier to manage.
Pricing
We offer a range of plans, including a free forever plan to fully test our system and reach out to your customers at smaller scale (1000 contacts). For more more features and contacts limit our plans start for Rs.999 per month for Indian customers and $49 per month for overseas customers, making our offering accessible for businesses of all sizes.
Pros
- Free forever plan that’s not provided by other providers in market.
- 0% markup charges on official API pricing.
- User-friendly interface with no coding required.
- Features like bulk messaging, automated responses, and detailed analytics.
- Free plan available for small businesses or those just starting out.
Cons
- Inbox not available in free plan.
- Advanced features are limited to higher-tier plans.
2. WATI.io
WATI (WhatsApp Team Inbox) is a user-friendly tool designed for businesses to manage WhatsApp communications. It integrates seamlessly with CRM systems like Zoho, WooCommerce, Shopify, and Hubspot.
Primarily more than just a CRM, WATI manages emails, sales leads, and customer relationships on a single platform, suitable for companies requiring inter-departmental communication and coordination.
Key features include list management, customer support, marketing automation, contact management, a self-service portal, live chat, performance metrics, and a virtual assistant.
Pricing
They provide 7-days free trial and their base plan starts at $49/month, which includes 5 live chat agents. However, additional features like WhatsApp Green tick, Shopify integration, and an account manager incur extra charges.
Pros
- User-friendly with easy onboarding and minimal setup.
- No-code chatbot builder for easy creation of WhatsApp chatbots.
- Effective support dashboard with agent management and ticket assignment capabilities.
Cons
- Limited customization options in lower-tier plans.
- Additional charges for key integrations and green tick verification.
- High tool cost and highest markup on API pricing in market.
3. AiSensy
AiSensy is an official WhatsApp Business API-based marketing platform designed to enhance customer engagement and boost sales through WhatsApp Marketing. It’s aimed at startups, small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses.
Key features include the ability to broadcast promotional messages to up to 100,000 users, install AI-based WhatsApp Chatbots, and enable multiple live human-agent-based customer support on WhatsApp. It also supports a range of integrations and offers a smart analytics dashboard.
Pricing
AiSensy offers a 14-days free trial and its pricing starts at $20 per month. An optional setup fee may apply. The pricing structure is designed to be accessible, with various support options available across both free and paid versions, including phone, live chat, email, and video tutorials.
Pros
- User-friendly interface that requires minimal technical skills.
- Offers AI-based WhatsApp Chatbot for round-the-clock customer engagement.
- Supports a wide range of integrations, enhancing its utility across different business applications.
Cons
- Extra markup on API pricing.
- No mobile apps available for chatting with customers.
- Higher pricing for advanced features.
4. Interakt
Interakt serves as a WhatsApp-based CRM tailored for e-commerce and business use, particularly for D2C brands. It facilitates a variety of WhatsApp marketing features like automated notifications, catalogs, bulk promotional campaigns, and analytics.
Interakt’s key selling point is its combination of WhatsApp CRM and a shared team inbox, allowing for both customer support and marketing activities.
Pricing
Interakt’s base monthly plan begins at INR 999 + taxes per month. However, this plan lacks advanced marketing campaign features like custom filters and user segmentation, which might lead businesses to opt for higher-tier plans. Essential features such as chat automation and WhatsApp chatbot are available only in the top-tier plans.
Pros
- Offers seamless integration with Shopify for e-commerce.
- Provides essential WhatsApp automation for customer outreach.
- User-friendly interface with basic WhatsApp automation features for customer engagement.
Cons
- Some users find the dashboard complex and the broadcast campaign setup challenging.
- Lacks some advanced segmentation capabilities.
5. Respond.io
Respond.io offers a robust platform for businesses looking to manage customer interactions across various channels, including WhatsApp, email, and social media. It’s designed to streamline customer service management by providing a unified interface for handling multiple channels.
This makes it particularly useful for businesses seeking to improve their customer engagement and response times. The platform’s ease of use and quick setup are notable, allowing businesses to get up and running with minimal effort.
Pricing
Respond.io offers diverse pricing plans, including a Team Plan ($99/month or $79/month annually), a Business Plan ($299/month or $249/month annually), and a customizable Enterprise Plan. The platform also provides an optional 30-days onboarding program for an additional $500, catering to different business sizes and needs.
Pros
- Multi-channel support including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and more.
- Intuitive interface with CRM integration.
- Robust automation and workflow features.
Cons
- Separate optional cost of $500 for onboarding.
- Can be pricey for the full range of features.
6. DoubleTick.io
DoubleTick.io is a newer entrant in the market but has quickly made a name for itself with its straightforward and effective WhatsApp marketing solutions. They provide WhatsApp masterclass for businesses that are new to WhatsApp marketing and APIs. They provide clean interface, chat bot automation, analytics and full product catalog management.
Pricing
They do not offer any free trials or free plans and their base plan starts at INR 2000 per month billed annually. They also provide higher priced plans that come with more set of features.
Pros
- Easy to set up and get started.
- Good for basic WhatsApp marketing needs.
- Clean and simple to use interface.
Cons
- Lacks some of the advanced features of more established platforms.
- Limited integrations compared to competitors.
- No monthly payment option.
7. Infobip
Infobip is a comprehensive platform offering a suite of communication tools, including WhatsApp, email, SMS, and push notification features. It’s well-suited for businesses looking for a complete solution in these areas. Users appreciate its stability and comprehensive features, which make it a reliable choice for various marketing and communication needs.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on the scale and requirements of the business, but user reviews suggest that the cost can be slightly high, especially for smaller businesses or those without a dedicated development team.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of communication channels beyond WhatsApp.
- Highly scalable for large businesses and enterprises.
- Strong global presence with reliable support.
Cons
- Pricing can be on the higher side for small businesses.
- The platform can be complex to navigate for new users.
To Wrap it Up
Choosing the right WhatsApp marketing tool is crucial for leveraging the full potential of WhatsApp as a marketing channel. Each tool offers unique features and pricing, catering to different business needs. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, there’s a tool out there that fits your requirements.
We’d invite you to give WANotifier a try, it’s FREE! With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it stands out as a top choice, especially for those new to WhatsApp marketing.
Remember, the effectiveness of your WhatsApp marketing strategy heavily relies on the tool you choose, so consider your options carefully to find the best fit for your business needs. With the right tool in hand, you’re well on your way to unlocking the full potential of WhatsApp as a powerful marketing channel.
