What you can do with the WhatsApp Calling integration
Let customers call your business on WhatsApp, and call them back, on the same number you already chat on. WhatsApp calling in Whautomate is powered by WhautoVoice, our sister voice platform, built on Meta's official WhatsApp Business Calling API.
Inbound WhatsApp calls are answered the way you choose: an AI voice bot that answers questions, takes a message or books an appointment; a queue; a specific person; or an IVR menu. Your team places outbound calls from a call button on the client record or in the inbox chat header, and every call is recorded, transcribed and summarised.
Chat and voice stay in one place. The customer's WhatsApp messages, bookings, invoices and calls sit on the same record, so whoever picks up already knows the context. Your WhatsApp number keeps working for messaging exactly as before.
Key features
Inbound WhatsApp calls
Customers tap the call icon in your WhatsApp chat. WhautoVoice routes the call to a voice bot, queue, person or IVR menu.
Outbound calls from the inbox
A call button on every client record and in the inbox chat header, so agents call straight from the conversation.
AI voice agent on WhatsApp
A voice bot answers calls 24/7: it can answer common questions, take a message or book an appointment.
Call permission requests
Ask customers for permission to call from the inbox or with an automation step, using an approved call permission request template.
Recordings and transcripts
Calls are recorded and transcribed, with an AI summary, so nothing said on a call is lost.
Choose your data region
Pick where numbers, call history and recordings are stored when you link WhautoVoice.
SIP under the hood
WhatsApp calls are delivered to WhautoVoice over SIP, a proven voice standard, while messaging stays on the Cloud API.
Calls on the timeline
Call events are logged in Whautomate next to messages, bookings and payments for a full customer history.
How WhatsApp calling works with Whautomate and WhautoVoice
- Your WhatsApp number is connected to Whautomate for messaging through the WhatsApp Business Platform.
- You link WhautoVoice under Integrations. You approve the link inside WhautoVoice; there is no API key to copy.
- Calling is switched on in WhautoVoice. Meta sends WhatsApp calls for your number to WhautoVoice, which answers, routes, records and transcribes them.
- Whautomate shows the calls on the contact and in the inbox, and gives agents a call button next to every chat.
WhatsApp Business Calling API: pricing and rules
Meta sets the pricing and permission rules for WhatsApp calling. In summary, as published by Meta at the time of writing:
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Customer calls you | Free: Meta does not charge for user-initiated calls. |
| You call the customer | Charged by Meta per 6-second pulse, based on the destination country, with volume tiers. |
| Permission | You must have the customer's permission before calling. The customer can grant it for 7 days or permanently. |
| Permission requests | Limited to one request per customer per 24 hours (with a weekly cap), and billed like a template message. |
| Unanswered calls | Repeated unanswered business calls can revoke permission, so call when the customer expects it. |
| Country coverage | Business-initiated calls are not available to some countries (including the US and Canada at the time of writing). Customers there can still call you. |
| Customer service window | A call also opens or refreshes the 24-hour window for free-form messages. |
Check Meta's WhatsApp calling documentation for the latest rate cards and country list. Estimate your messaging costs with the WhatsApp pricing calculator.
Who uses WhatsApp calling
- Clinics - patients call the number they already message; the voice bot books the appointment or takes a message after hours.
- Salons and studios - replace the landline with WhatsApp calls, and stop losing bookings to missed calls.
- Sales teams - ask for call permission in the chat, then call hot leads from the inbox with the whole conversation on screen.
- Support - escalate a tricky chat to a call in one tap, with the recording and summary saved on the ticket.
Powered by WhautoVoice
Start taking WhatsApp calls with WhautoVoice
WhautoVoice is the Whautomate team's voice platform for business: WhatsApp calling, AI voice agents, call routing, IVR, recordings and transcripts. Create your WhautoVoice account, then link it to Whautomate in a few clicks.
- Official WhatsApp Business Calling API
- AI voice bot, queues, IVR and direct-to-person routing
- Recordings, transcripts and AI call summaries
- Works alongside your existing Whautomate inbox and bookings
How to connect WhatsApp Calling to Whautomate
Connect WhatsApp
Connect your WhatsApp Business number in Whautomate under Integrations → WhatsApp.
Create a WhautoVoice account
Sign up at WhautoVoice and choose the region where calls and recordings are stored.
Link WhautoVoice
In Whautomate go to Integrations → WhautoVoice and approve the link inside WhautoVoice.
Turn on calling
Enable WhatsApp calling and set up routing (voice bot, queue, person or IVR) in WhautoVoice. The call button appears in your inbox.
Why teams pick the WhatsApp Calling integration
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Frequently asked questions
What is the WhatsApp Business Calling API?
It is Meta's official API that lets businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform receive and make voice calls on their WhatsApp number. Whautomate supports it through WhautoVoice, our sister voice platform.
Is WhatsApp calling free for businesses?
Calls that customers make to your business are free from Meta. Calls your business makes are charged by Meta per 6-second pulse based on the destination country. WhautoVoice plan pricing applies separately.
Do I need permission to call a customer on WhatsApp?
Yes. You must request and receive the customer's permission first. From Whautomate you can send a call permission request from the inbox or with an automation step; the customer can allow calls for 7 days or permanently.
Can an AI answer WhatsApp calls?
Yes. WhautoVoice can route inbound WhatsApp calls to a voice bot that answers questions, takes a message or books an appointment, and passes the call to a person when needed.
Can I call customers in the US on WhatsApp?
At the time of writing Meta does not allow business-initiated WhatsApp calls to some countries, including the US and Canada. Customers in those countries can still call your business.
Will my WhatsApp number keep working for messages?
Yes. Messaging continues through Whautomate as before; calling is added on top through WhautoVoice.
Where are call recordings stored?
In the WhautoVoice region you pick when linking. Numbers, call history and recordings stay in that region.
Does it support SIP?
Yes. WhatsApp calls are delivered to WhautoVoice over SIP.