WhatsApp Groups API — WABA Group Messaging for Business
The WhatsApp Groups API lets verified businesses create invite-only group conversations with up to 8 participants for multi-party support and account management. Requires OBA status and 100k daily messaging tier.
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The WhatsApp Groups API (available through the Cloud API) lets businesses programmatically create, manage, and message small, invite-only group conversations — ideal for focused team collaboration, multi-party case resolution, and high-touch customer service.
💡 ChatDaddy can help you unlock the WhatsApp Groups API. Create your ChatDaddy account to get started.
What Is the WhatsApp Groups API?
Unlike standard 1-on-1 WhatsApp messaging, the Groups API creates private, invite-only group conversations between your business and a small set of participants. Think of it as a dedicated chat room — great for account managers coordinating with multiple stakeholders, or support agents managing a multi-party case resolution.
Key Features & Limits
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Max participants per group | 8 (including your business number) |
| Max groups per business number | 10,000 |
| Message types supported | Text, media, text-based templates, media-based templates |
| 24-hour service window | Any member's message refreshes the window for the whole group |
Eligibility Requirements
The WhatsApp Groups API is not available to all WABA accounts. You must meet both of the following:
1. Official Business Account (OBA)
Your WhatsApp Business Account must be verified as an Official Business Account (OBA) with Meta. This is the green tick verification that confirms your business identity on WhatsApp.
- Not yet an OBA? ChatDaddy can guide you through the Meta OBA application process. Start by connecting your WABA to ChatDaddy, then reach out via the in-app chat widget once you're inside.
2. High Messaging Volume
Your account must have a messaging limit of at least 100,000 business-initiated conversations in a rolling 24-hour period. This is a Tier 4+ account on Meta's messaging tiers.
⚠️ If your account does not yet meet the 100,000 daily conversation threshold, the Groups API will not be available. Focus on growing your messaging volume through compliant outreach first.
How It Works
Step 1 — Create a group invite template
Before creating groups, your business must create a group invite link template in the WhatsApp Template Library. This template is what you send to participants to invite them into the group.
Step 2 — Send the invite link
Your business sends the group invite template to each participant via the standard Cloud API. The participant receives a link and taps it to join the group.
Step 3 — Participant joins → webhook fires
Once a participant accepts the invite and joins, Meta fires a group_participants_update webhook to your system. Use this webhook to:
- Log the group in your CRM
- Tag the contact with the active group ID
- Trigger any onboarding automation
Step 4 — Message the group
Once participants are in, your business can send messages to the entire group using the standard Messages API endpoint — text, media, or approved templates.
Step 5 — 24-hour window refreshes automatically
Any message sent by any group member (not just your business) resets the 24-hour customer service window for the whole group. This means active group conversations stay open as long as participants are engaged.
Use Cases
- Account management — Keep a key account's decision-makers, your account manager, and a technical contact in one group for fast coordination.
- Multi-party case resolution — Pull a client, their IT team, and your support rep into a group to resolve a technical issue without long email threads.
- High-touch onboarding — Create a dedicated onboarding group for a new enterprise client and their team during the first 30 days.
- Internal escalations — Loop in a senior agent alongside the customer when a case needs immediate escalation.
Get Started with WhatsApp Groups via ChatDaddy
To use the WhatsApp Groups API, you need:
- ✅ An active WABA connected through a BSP (like ChatDaddy)
- ✅ Official Business Account (OBA) status — green tick on WhatsApp
- ✅ Messaging tier of at least 100,000 conversations/day
ChatDaddy is a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP) and can support you through the entire process:
- Apply for OBA (green tick) verification with Meta
- Scale your messaging tiers toward the 100,000/day threshold
- Integrate the Groups API into your existing ChatDaddy workflows
📩 Ready to explore WhatsApp Groups for your business? Open your ChatDaddy account and use the in-app chat widget to reach our team — mention "WhatsApp Groups API" and we'll assess your eligibility and walk you through next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any WABA account use the Groups API? No. You need OBA status (green tick) and a messaging limit of at least 100,000 business-initiated conversations per 24 hours. Most accounts start below this threshold.
How do I get OBA (green tick) verified? OBA verification is applied for through Meta directly and typically requires a well-established brand presence. ChatDaddy can help you prepare and submit the application.
What's the difference between a WhatsApp group and the Groups API? A regular WhatsApp group is created manually in the app. The Groups API lets your business create and manage groups programmatically at scale — up to 10,000 groups per number — with CRM integration via webhooks.
Does ChatDaddy support the WhatsApp Groups API today? ChatDaddy is actively exploring Groups API integration. Open your account and reach out via the in-app chat widget to discuss your use case — we'll share the current roadmap and timeline.
What happens if the customer service window closes in a group? Once the 24-hour window closes with no activity, you can re-open it by sending an approved template message to the group, just like a standard 1-on-1 WABA conversation.