Why the world loves WhatsApp

Pippa Updated by Pippa

WhatsApp, a cross-platform messaging app founded in 2009 and acquired by Facebook (now Meta Platforms) in 2014, has experienced significant growth over the years. As of January 2025, WhatsApp boasts over 2.95 billion monthly active users across more than 180 countries, with projections indicating this number will reach 3.14 billion by the end of 2025.

In 2023, users exchanged approximately 140 billion messages daily on WhatsApp, highlighting its role as a primary communication tool for billions worldwide.

Recognizing its vast user base, WhatsApp has become an attractive platform for businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aiming to engage with their audiences. The introduction of the free WhatsApp Business app in early 2018 provided small businesses with tools to communicate effectively with customers. Features like quick replies for frequently asked questions enabled real-time interactions, enhancing customer engagement.

Building on this, in August 2018, WhatsApp launched the WhatsApp Business API to cater to medium and large businesses. This API offers a fast, secure, and reliable way for organizations to reach customers and communities globally. It supports many features familiar to regular WhatsApp users but includes specific rules of engagement to ensure a positive end-user experience.

Recent updates to the WhatsApp Business Platform have further enhanced its appeal to organizations:

  • Free Service Conversations: Starting November 1, 2024, service conversations became free, allowing businesses to respond to unlimited inbound customer inquiries without incurring charges, provided the customer initiates the conversation.
  • Per-Template Message Pricing: Beginning April 1, 2025, WhatsApp transitioned to a per-template message pricing model, replacing the previous conversation-based pricing. This change simplifies the cost structure for businesses.

Chat for impact

At Turn.io, we are committed to leveraging technology for social good. Recognizing the immense potential of the WhatsApp API, we actively advocate for using Chat for Impact. Our goal is to empower social-impact organizations to harness this powerful tool to drive positive action and foster meaningful engagement with their communities.

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