Product updates
2021
23 Nov 2021: Button messages
2 Nov 2021: Playbooks Launch
20 Sept 2021: The end of Chatbase
9 Sept 2021: Data Export API
9 August 2021: Thread data export
22 June 2021: You know best!
21 June 2021: Sample content for templates
17 June 2021: Important security improvements
8 June 2021: Community Playbooks
18 March 2021: Improved billing transparency
17 March 2021: Share the amazing work you do
8 March 2021: Contextual replies and profile settings that suit you
22 Feb 2021: Button automation
18 Feb 2021: Updates to the fallback channel
17 Feb 2021: Contacts and labels data added to BQ
10 Feb 2021: Temporary limitations while we do a Search infrastructure upgrade
5 Feb 2021: Snappier and easier-to-use modals
3 Feb 2021: Add media to templates
27 Jan 2021: Add media or stickers to custom replies
21 Dec 2020: A last big release to celebrate the year
2 Dec 2020: Delete a template, get more insights and send stickers via the API
17 Nov 2020: Delete a user message
23 October 2020: Insights
19 October 2020: Hidden numbers by default
8 September 2020: Contact Profile
11 August 2020: Learn in Turn
3 August 2020: Add a list to your Exact match automations
30 July 2020: Manage your message template spend
15 July 2020: Data storage and rejection reasons
10 July 2020: WhatsApp profile and Login
2022
21 Nov 2022: A new look user interface!
18 Nov 2022: Build with feedback
13 Oct 2022: Reminders are in Beta!
11 Oct 2022: Building blocks
10 Oct 2022: New Turn.io Developer Docs
19 Sept 2022: More fields available in the Data Export API
15 Sept 2022: Shorter messages are better
13 Sept: Changes to the contact details API endpoint
7 Sept 2022: Stack improvements
1 Sept 2022: Learn to Build with Stacks.
19 Aug 2022: Better human support with Message Collections
18 Aug 2022: Deprecating Goals
17 Aug 2022: Build for your audience
16 Aug: Pick a date range
28 July 2022: Custom voice notes
14 July 2022: Get Stacking! Build more complex services.
4 July 2022: Faster insights
29 Jun 2022: Reminders are live!
8 Jun 2022: Track your conversations
3 May 2022: Reach out with Reminders
21 Apr 2022: Payments made easy!
3 Apr 2022: Follow up at an exact local time
20 Mar 2022: Small changes, big wins!
8 Mar 2022: Security enhancements
16 Feb 2022: Add resources to Playbooks and export Contacts
26 Jan 2022: Try out emojis in buttons, but no more 'templates' in sandboxes
5 Jan 2022: Use buttons in threads
2023
12 Dec 2023: Never start from scratch
2 Aug 2023: PUT and PATCH functions now available within stacks
26 Jul 2023: Uninterrupted conversations
19 Jul 2023: More freedom and flexibility with code blocks
14 Jul 2023: Get your stack results in BigQuery
12 Jul 2023: Start a journey from within another journey
8 Jul 23: Your name, your number
4 Jul 2023: Better chat and insights performance
30 June 2023: Stacks logging API (beta)
27 Jun 203: Visualised connections
19 Jun 2023: Add notes on the Canvas
14 Jun 2023: Speed up conversation assignment
26 May 2023: Microsoft Single Sign-on
15 May 2023: The latest Canvas improvements
24 Apr 2023: Logging in Stacks
20 Apr 2023: The no-code Canvas is live!
28 Mar 2023: Important changes to template categories
30 Mar 2023: Integrate with Huggingface.co
23 Mar 2023: Answer conversations on mobile
20 Mar 2023: Act on the user's last interaction
17 Mar 2023: Scan the list for unassigned chats
10 Mar 2023: Template with buttons in stacks
9 March 2023: More data in BigQuery!
16 Feb 2023: More possibilities for scheduling stacks
13 Feb 2023: Automatically mark messages as DONE
3 Feb 2023: Search with quick picks or date&time filters
17 Jan 2023: Add hyperlinks to Playbooks
11 Jan 2023: Export specific responses from Stacks
23 Aug 2023: Block a user
22 Nov 2023: The new Inbox
30 Aug 2023: A series of Trust and Safety Playbooks
12 Sep 2023: Templates on the Canvas
18 Oct 2023: Interruption-free conversations on Turn
19 Dec 2023: Triggers in Build
13 Sep 2023: A dedicated Unassigned collection
5 Sep 2023: Hide personal information
16 Oct 2023: A reimagined Turn Helpdesk
18 Oct 2023: More joy on the Canvas!
16 Jan 2023: Voice note transcriptions
3 Aug 2023: Suggested replies
18 Oct 2023: An improved billing system
2024
2 Dec 2024: Making chat sorting even better
05 Nov 2024: Seamless handover between a human and a bot
28 Oct 2024: Journey interaction timeouts
28 Oct 2024: More roles and better permissions
18 Oct 2024: Customise your operator capacity
16 Oct 2024: Channel API
11 Oct 2024: Multiple AI assistants
9 Oct 2024: WhatsApp shortcuts
9 Oct 2024: Automatic closure of inactive chats
7 Oct 2024: Export Message Status Data from the REST API
26 Sep 2024: Introducing staging for Journeys
23 Sep 2024: AI translations in the Inbox
10 Sep 2024: Journey Rest API
29 Aug 2024: Send reminders to Segments
20 Aug 2024: A version history for Journeys
15 Aug 2024: Faster and more reliable
17 Jul 2024: Close and unassign a conversation
17 Jun 2024: More subscription details
14 Jun 2024: Deleting a contact
13 Jun 2024: Simulator improvements
12 Jun 2024: More than one trigger option
12 Jun 2024: Retiring the Turn NLU integration
7 Jun 2024: Manage custom fields via People Settings
28 May 2024: More informative chat previews
24 May 2024: Allow Reminders to start a journey
24 May 2024: Start a chat with People
20 May 2024: People
20 May 2024: Routing automatically distributes chats
20 May 2024: Journey logs
9 May 2024: Data and variables in journeys
7 May 2024: Get journey specific Sentry errors
19 Apr 2024: Start a journey from the inbox
10 Apr 2024: Duplicate or delete journeys in bulk
9 Apr 2024: React to messages
4 Apr 2024: Reactions
2 Apr 2024: Backwards incompatible change on Flow Results API
27 Mar 2024: First-time visitors
25 Mar 2024: Handling late responses
22 Mar 2024: Basic operator insights
19 Mar 2024: Pin your favourite collections
14 Mar 2024: Get 10% discount
26 Feb 2024: "First Message Received At" profile field
20 Feb 2024: Mentions
16 Feb 2024: Give us feedback
13 Feb 2024: More filtering options in triggers
6 Feb 2024: Improve team work with notes
6 Feb 2024: Update profile fields block
30 Jan 2024: Convert Threads to Journeys
29 Jan 2024: Warning emails when conversation credits are low
24 Jan 2024: Pin your favourite profile fields
24 Jan 2024: Journeys are the way forward
16 Jan 2024: Branch the journey
9 Jan 2024: The conversation is yours
5 Sep 2025: Interrupting triggers
1 Sep 2025: More modular Journeys
29 Aug 2025: Wait for it...
15 Aug 2025: Inbox availability for all
22 Jul 2025: Friendlier Journey card names
12 Jul 2025: Improved copying and pasting in Journeys
Calling Beta is here: add Voice to your WhatsApp Conversations
23 Apr 2025: Upgraded Inbox — Faster, Clearer, Better!
28 Feb 2025: Introducing Journey Insights
20 Feb 2025: The Journeys API now automatically publishes journeys on creation
19 Feb 2025: Unlocking the power of AI for your chat service
18 Feb 2025: Turn.io is now available in Portuguese
7 Jan 2025: Build Journeys faster with keyboard shortcuts
FAQs
What is Turn.io?
What is a Business Service Provider (BSP)?
Can I use Turn.io in my country?
How are conversations charged?
How to setup subscription billing
Subscription statuses explained
Can I use WhatsApp Groups on the API?
Can I get a free trial?
What support do I get with my subscription?
What happens to my phone number If I offboard or leave after trial?
Is it possible to set-up WhatsApp on my phone using my turn.io number?
Get started!
Foundations
Chat for Impact
Key Concepts
Differences between the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business Platform
What you need to know about your WhatsApp number
Onboarding
Get a WhatsApp line on turn.io
What is a Facebook Business Manager Account?
What is Business Verification?
Your Business Verification checklist
Business Verification Troubleshooting
Display name guidelines
Display-name approval troubleshooting
Onboarding a Government Entity
Your WABA application checklist
How can I get the blue checkmark (Official Business Account)?
Try Turn.io using a Sandbox
How to use Turn.io
Introduction
Inbox
A short tour of the Inbox
Contact Profile
Personal Information Privacy
The Reply Box
Calling
Routing
Team roles
Search and Collections
Labels
Content and Message Templates
Creating Templates
Message template rules
Template categories
Template with Media
Template Approval Issues
Template Issues During Delivery
Understanding WhatsApp’s Per-User Marketing Template Message Limit
Paused Message Templates
Journeys
Conversation Design Best Practices
Get started with journeys
Triggers
Cards and Messages types
WhatsApp Flows in Journeys
Journeys Data
Journey Logs
Staging and Version History
Save important responses to the contact profile or as downloadable results
Journey Insights
Journeys in Code mode
How to migrate journeys between accounts
Keyboard shortcuts for Journeys
AI
Intro to AI in Turn.io
Integrate with an AI provider
Train your assistant
AI in the Inbox
AI in Journeys
Start from a Playbook
Cost of AI
Data Handling and Privacy
Reminders
WhatsApp's quality rating and messaging limits
Examples of how to upgrade to the next tier
How to send or schedule a reminder?
How many people can I send Reminders to?
Contact search examples
Best practice to send GREAT reminders!
Understanding Reminders' statuses and stats
Reminders starting a Journey
People
Insights and Tracking
Insights
Message billing
How to top up your 'available amount' for conversations?
Measuring video engagement on Journeys
Set up a data connection to BigQuery
Understand your BigQuery data and queries
Refining Raw Turn Data in BigQuery
Example queries for your data
Automation | Legacy feature
How to set up basic automations
The available trigger types in Automations
The available action types
How to set up advanced automations
How to set up multiple language automation
How to set up a follow-up timer
Automation tips & tricks
Triggers explained: Message received STARTS WITH...
Triggers explained: Message received EXACTLY matches...
Triggers explained: Message received does NOT exactly match...
Triggers explained: Message received is a BUTTON PRESSED...
Triggers explained: Message received is from a specific COUNTRY...
Triggers explained: Message received is AUTOMATICALLY labelled...
Triggers explained: Message received from a specific CONTACT PROFILE......
How to send stickers in automation
How to set up a sequential content delivery experience using Automation and Custom Profile Fields
How to send 'Welcome back' message to returning users
Use a follow up timer based on local time
Threads | Legacy feature
Launching your service
Launching at Scale? Here’s a checklist
Why the world loves WhatsApp
How to Plan for Growth on WhatsApp
Print and digital QR Code templates
Great ways of marketing your chat service
Use a ‘wa.me’ link and QR code to market your service
Get user consent in a WhatsApp conversation
Manage your online presence by updating your WhatsApp profile
Create good chat service content
Chat for Impact Community hub
Varying interpretations of emoji
Changing behaviour is difficult. Here's some help!
For developers
Turn.io API documentation
Why use Turn.io's Interface instead of API only?
Integrations
How to Create API Tokens
New to webhooks?
Why are you receiving webhook failure alerts?
Webhook Troubleshooting
Custom Integrations
How to set up a RapidPro integration
Upload and send a sticker via the API
How to mark messages as read
Getting data from the Contacts API endpoint
API calls returns 200 status for messages outside the Conversation Windows
Where do I find my credentials for the Message Template API?
How do I create message templates via the API?
Replacing the Contact Export API
Getting Suggested Replies with ChatGPT
Upload media to Turn in order to use in code-based journeys
How secure is my data?
What's an "On Behalf Of" (OBO) request?
Implications of moving to the WhatsApp Cloud API
Securing Data Localization in the Desired Region During Bigquery Integration
How can I export data from Turn?
Journey integration for Email sends
Table of Contents
- All Resources
- Get started!
- Foundations
- Differences between the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business Platform
Differences between the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business Platform
Updated
by Raquel
Find out what the WhatsApp Business Platform is and why it’s become a valuable customer-engagement tool.
By now, you’re convinced to use WhatsApp as a communication channel, but you still need to determine which application within the WhatsApp eco-system is most suitable for your organisation.
Let’s start by looking at some of the differences between the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business Platform:
WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business Platform | |
Target market | A standalone app for small businesses with local audiences. | Best suited to large organisations that want to communicate at a global scale. |
Account setup | Purchase a new sim card and download the app to get started. | You’ll need the assistance of a business service provider (BSP) like Turn to help with integration and set-up. |
Costs | The app is free to use. | Some types of messages are free; others come at a price. |
Permitted content | You can message any of your contacts whenever it suits you. | You can only respond within 24 hours if a user gets in touch with you. Alternatively, you can send paid-for, highly structured message templates. |
Team | Only one person or agent can access the app. | An unlimited number of agents can access the Platform. |
Accessibility | Use the service via a dedicated app. | Use a user interface such as Turn.io to chat. |
Calls | App can make voice and video calls. | Voice and video calls are in Beta |
Automation | Use quick replies for frequently asked questions. | Use automation to manage replies at scale. |
Contacts | Built-in phone book. | No built-in customer relationship management (CRM), but integration with external systems possible. |
In short, if you’re a small business engaging with around 1,000 unique users per month and need a simple way to set up a few basic responses and use features like quick replies, you can get going by downloading the free WhatsApp Business app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
However, if you’re a large organisation with a potential global audience – and you require more sophisticated automation functionality or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions to serve your end-users – the API is a better fit.
What is an API?
Once you’ve established that the WhatsApp Business Plathorm offers the perfect chat solution for your organisation, you might still be wondering what an API actually is.
Let’s explain the concept of an “Application Programming Interface” (API) by using a simple comparison:
Imagine for a moment that you're staying at a hotel. An API can be compared to the reception desk. The staff at reception makes it easy for you, the hotel guest, to tap into a variety of services – from getting your clothes ironed and your calls put through to your room to ordering breakfast. You don’t have to worry about what goes on behind the scenes. You simply pick up the phone or walk to the desk, and the staff acts as the “interface” that connects you to all the other hotel services.
In the same way, an API allows applications to communicate with each other, exchange information, and shield users from all the complexities that go on behind the scenes.

The WhatsApp Business Platform
When it comes to the business of chatting for impact, we’re specifically interested in the WhatsApp Business Platform, as it’s a fast, secure, reliable way for organisations to reach a global audience.
The WhatsApp Business Platform supports many of the features you’ve been using on WhatsApp all along, including the fact that your messages and other information are secured from falling into the wrong hands. The key difference is that the application can be deployed on a server, providing a local API that allows you to send and receive messages programmatically. The API can also integrate with your existing systems.
It’s important to note that WhatsApp offers no user interface for the WhatsApp Business API. You cannot download an app like you can for the personal or business solution, and neither is the API open and available to all organisations. You can only access the API via official business solution providers (BSPs) such as Turn.io.
The API is subject to a set of rules, which we will explore in subsequent articles. For now, the key points to remember are:
- You can only access the Platform via official business solution providers (BSPs) such as Turn.io.
- The application process takes time but provides the benefit that users can trust your business profile on WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp doesn’t allow marketing and promotional notifications. If you’re used to push-based communication strategies, you’ll need to re-wire your thinking to design a pull-based service. With this type of service, the end-user is in charge of the conversation.
- An unlimited number of people and devices can access your account via the Platform. This means that a whole team can work together to give your users the best experience possible.
- You can integrate the Platform with your internal systems. You can connect your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools to it, or integrate it with your preferred analytics tools.
- There are different message types that can be utilised with the API. Some message types are free, while you’ll need to pay for others.
Help is at hand
Turn.io provides access to the WhatsApp Business Platform, giving social-impact organisations the building tools they need to amplify the remarkable work they do.
The Turn.io product is a web-based application that provides both a user interface for non-technical team members and API endpoints for developers. We love this technology because it allows our clients to automate repetitive tasks and free up their creativity to focus on the tasks machines cannot do: solving challenging problems that require empathy. 💛