WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business are two messaging apps from the same company, but they serve different purposes. WhatsApp is used for personal messaging while WhatsApp Business enables businesses to communicate with customers. There are some key differences between the two apps that can help you identify which version someone is using.
Interface and Features
The core messaging interface is similar between WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, allowing text messages, voice calls, video calls, photos, documents and more. However, WhatsApp Business has some additional features tailored for businesses.
Here are some of the key differences in features between the two apps:
| WhatsApp Business | |
|---|---|
| Designed for personal messaging | Designed for business messaging |
| Allows status updates | No status updates |
| Shows when you’re online/typing | Does not show online status |
| No tools for auto-responses or away messages | Tools for quick replies, auto-responses, away messages |
| No business profiles | Business profiles and messaging statistics |
| No label or tag to identify businesses | “Business Account” label under name |
As you can see, WhatsApp Business has additional tools tailored for commercial messaging, like quick replies, status messages and business profiles. These features are aimed at allowing businesses to communicate efficiently with customers at scale.
Account Type and Verification
The process of setting up a WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business account is different, as is the level of verification.
WhatsApp accounts can be set up simply by providing your phone number and verifying it. WhatsApp does not require any additional identity verification.
WhatsApp Business accounts require a bit more verification. After entering your phone number, you need to verify the phone number and provide additional information about your business, including:
- Business name
- Business category
- Address
- Description of business
This added verification shows users that a WhatsApp Business account is used by an actual business. You can’t simply set up a business account the way you would a standard personal account.
Business Profile Info
When chatting with a WhatsApp Business account, you’ll see some additional business profile information compared to a standard WhatsApp profile.
Here are some of the key profile differences:
| WhatsApp Business | |
|---|---|
| Profile photo | Business profile photo |
| Display name and “About” status | Business name, description, email, address, website |
| No label or badge | “Business Account” label under name |
The business details like description, address and website are required during the verification process when setting up a WhatsApp Business account. This gives customers more details and confidence they are messaging an actual business.
Communicating with Businesses
When communicating with businesses, there are some signs you can look for to determine if they are using WhatsApp or WhatsApp business:
- See the “Business Account” label under their name
- View the expanded business profile details
- Receive quick replies or away auto-responses
- Get notifications that messages are “Sent by a Business Account”
If you see any of those indicators when chatting to an account, it means they are on WhatsApp Business rather than the standard personal WhatsApp. The extra business tools and features give it away compared to regular WhatsApp.
Business Tools and API Access
WhatsApp Business provides businesses with additional tools and integrations that are not available on the personal WhatsApp version. Here are some of the key business tools:
- Quick replies – pre-written messages to easily respond to common questions.
- Away messages – lets customers know when you’re unavailable.
- Business profiles – detailed info like description, email and location.
- Messaging statistics – view metrics on messages sent and received.
- Desktop app – use WhatsApp on your computer.
- API access – integrate with business software like CRM systems.
These features optimize WhatsApp Business for allowing businesses to communicate at scale and integrate messaging with their internal systems. The WhatsApp Business API allows deeper integration with third-party business software as well.
Using WhatsApp Business as a Customer
For customers messaging businesses, the experience of using WhatsApp Business has some differences compared to regular WhatsApp:
- See more detailed business profiles
- Receive quick replies and away auto-responses
- Businesses may message more formally
- Get notifications when messaging business accounts
- No online/typing indicators from businesses
- Can’t see status updates from businesses
The interface is still familiar, but businesses on WhatsApp Business may communicate a bit more formally. You trade away some personal features like online statuses for a streamlined business communication experience.
Cost and Availability
WhatsApp is free to download from the App Store and Google Play. WhatsApp Business is also free to download and use.
Here are the requirements for each app:
| WhatsApp Business | |
|---|---|
| Requires a phone number | Requires a phone number |
| Must be 16+ years old | Must have an established business |
| Available worldwide | Available in certain countries only |
While WhatsApp is available globally, WhatsApp Business is only available in certain countries at this time. Both apps are otherwise free to use once installed.
Privacy and Security
WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business use the same security and encryption protocols to protect user privacy:
- End-to-end encryption secures messages and calls.
- Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security.
- Groups are protected by encryption.
- Backups are encrypted.
- Accounts can be locked with a PIN.
Messages, calls and files exchanged between users and businesses on WhatsApp are secured and private. Neither WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business have access to your encrypted conversations.
Using WhatsApp Business as a Business
For businesses, WhatsApp Business provides a streamlined app optimized for commercial messaging at scale. Benefits include:
- Communicate with customers via messaging, calls or video.
- Quickly respond using pre-written quick replies.
- Customized away messages when you can’t respond.
- Business profiles to showcase your brand.
- Tools to manage and analyze message metrics.
- Automated notifications to customers.
- Ability to integrate with business software.
WhatsApp Business facilitates more effective engagement with customers for all types of businesses, big or small. It allows providing quick responses at scale and gives businesses data on their messaging performance.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business look similar, there are quite a few differences under the hood:
- WhatsApp is for personal use, WhatsApp Business is for businesses.
- Business accounts have more verification and business profile details.
- WhatsApp Business has extra tools for quick replies, auto-messages, metrics.
- Customers may see “Business Account” label and expanded profiles.
- WhatsApp Business not available globally yet.
- Both use the same security and encryption protocols.
Look for the business tools, labels, profiles and notifications when determining if someone is using WhatsApp Business or regular WhatsApp. While aimed at different audiences, both provide secure encrypted messaging and calling.