Your WhatsApp Business number options
| Number | How you verify | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your existing mobile | SMS code | Getting started today | Private and business chats on one number unless you switch it to Business |
| A new SIM or eSIM | SMS code | Clean split between private and business | Customers must learn the new number |
| Office landline | Phone call with the code | Number already on your website, van and invoices | The app still runs on a smartphone that someone keeps charged |
| Virtual or VoIP number | SMS or call, if the provider supports it | No extra SIM, a local number in another country | Some VoIP numbers are refused by WhatsApp; you depend on the provider staying in business |
How to get a WhatsApp Business number in 5 steps
- Choose the number from the table above. If customers already know a number, keep that one.
- Install the free WhatsApp Business app on a smartphone (Android or iPhone).
- Enter the number with its country code. For a landline or a number without SMS, wait for the timer and choose Call me.
- Enter the 6-digit code. Never share this code with anyone who asks for it.
- Fill in the business profile: name, category, address, opening hours and website.
Already using the number in regular WhatsApp? The Business app can take it over on the same phone and keep your chats. Full setup tips: create a business WhatsApp account.
Virtual numbers for WhatsApp Business: free or paid?
Many apps and telecom providers sell a virtual number for WhatsApp Business. It can work well, as long as the number can receive the SMS or call during registration, and again later if WhatsApp asks you to verify. Check three things before you pay:
- Ownership. Is the number yours, or is it rented and can it be given to someone else when you stop paying? If you lose the number, you lose the WhatsApp account and customers message a stranger.
- Verification. Can the provider receive SMS or forward calls to you? Some VoIP ranges are blocked by WhatsApp.
- Free numbers. Free online numbers are shared and public. Anyone can read the code and take over the account, so never use them for a business.
Can you hide the number and show only your business name?
Not fully. Customers who save your contact see your business name, and the Business profile shows your name, logo and description. Customers who have not saved you still see the number. The number itself is the account.
Who answers the business number?
Getting a number is the easy part. In most small businesses the owner becomes the switchboard: the question arrives on the business number, but the answer is with the mechanic, the technician or the office.
| Approach | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Linked devices (up to 4) | Small office where everyone may see everything | Every chat and every customer number is visible |
| Business API platform | Teams with 5+ agents chatting at once | Monthly fees, Meta verification, often a new number |
| InBetween forwarding | Owner plus people doing the work | One coworker per conversation; up to 20 on Pro+ |
InBetween connects your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business number by QR code or pairing code, like WhatsApp Web. Each customer message goes automatically to one coworker as "Customer 1", "Customer 2", with the number hidden by default. Photos, voice notes, locations and documents come along, and the reply goes back from your business number. It uses linked-device technology, not the official Business API, and the app dashboard is currently in Dutch. More on the trade-offs: WhatsApp Business with multiple users.
Forward customer messages automatically. Replies go back from your number.
Try free for 30 daysFrequently asked questions
Can I use WhatsApp Business without a phone number?
No. Every WhatsApp account is tied to a phone number that can receive an SMS or a call. A landline or a virtual number counts, but there is no account without a number.
Can I use WhatsApp Business on a landline number?
Yes. During registration let the SMS timer run out and choose Call me. WhatsApp calls the landline and reads out the code.
Is a virtual number for WhatsApp Business safe?
A paid number that is registered to you and can receive verification codes is fine. Avoid free public numbers: anyone can read the code and take over the account.
How much does it cost?
New accounts get 30 days of Pro+ free without a card. After that you can stay on free Basic (25 customer messages per month), or choose Pro at €87 per month (2,000 messages) or Pro+ at €142 per month (unlimited). Cancel monthly.