How to Send WhatsApp Messages via API in 2025 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Sending WhatsApp messages programmatically is one of the most powerful ways to automate customer communication. In this guide, you'll learn exactly how to send WhatsApp messages via REST API using WAPDeskPro — with working code examples in Python, PHP, and Node.js.

What You Need

• A WhatsApp account (regular or business)
• A WAPDeskPro account (free to start)
• Any programming language that supports HTTP requests

Step 1: Create Your Free Account

Step 2: Connect Your WhatsApp Number

Step 3: Get Your API Token

Step 4: Get Your Phone ID

Every connected WhatsApp number has a unique phone_id. You can find it in your dashboard next to each phone, or call:

GET https://wapdeskpro.com/api/phones
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN

Step 5: Send Your First Message

Now you're ready to send messages. Here's how to do it in different languages:

Using cURL

curl -X POST https://wapdeskpro.com/api/send \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "phone_id": "ph_abc123",
    "to": "919876543210",
    "message": "Hello! This is my first WhatsApp API message 🎉"
  }'

Using Python

import requests

API_TOKEN = "YOUR_API_TOKEN"
PHONE_ID  = "ph_abc123"

response = requests.post(
    "https://wapdeskpro.com/api/send",
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_TOKEN}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    },
    json={
        "phone_id": PHONE_ID,
        "to": "919876543210",
        "message": "Hello from Python! 🐍"
    }
)

print(response.json())
# {'success': True, 'message_id': '3EB0C...', 'status': 'sent'}

Using PHP

<?php
$token   = 'YOUR_API_TOKEN';
$phoneId = 'ph_abc123';

$data = [
    'phone_id' => $phoneId,
    'to'       => '919876543210',
    'message'  => 'Hello from PHP! 🐘'
];

$ch = curl_init('https://wapdeskpro.com/api/send');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($data));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'Authorization: Bearer ' . $token,
    'Content-Type: application/json'
]);

$result = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);
echo $result;

Using Node.js

const axios = require('axios');

const API_TOKEN = 'YOUR_API_TOKEN';
const PHONE_ID  = 'ph_abc123';

async function sendWhatsApp() {
  const response = await axios.post(
    'https://wapdeskpro.com/api/send',
    {
      phone_id: PHONE_ID,
      to: '919876543210',
      message: 'Hello from Node.js! 🟢'
    },
    {
      headers: {
        Authorization: `Bearer ${API_TOKEN}`,
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
      }
    }
  );
  console.log(response.data);
}

sendWhatsApp();

Sending Images, Videos and Documents

To send media, use the respective endpoints. The media must be at a publicly accessible URL:

Send Image with Caption

curl -X POST https://wapdeskpro.com/api/send-image \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "phone_id": "ph_abc123",
    "to": "919876543210",
    "url": "https://example.com/product.jpg",
    "caption": "Check out our new product! 🛍️"
  }'

Sending Bulk Messages

To send the same message to multiple recipients at once, use the bulk endpoint. WAPDeskPro automatically adds a delay between messages to prevent WhatsApp flagging:

import requests

contacts = [
    "919876543210",
    "918765432109",
    "917654321098"
    # add as many as needed on Pro plan
]

response = requests.post(
    "https://wapdeskpro.com/api/bulk-send",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_TOKEN}"},
    json={
        "phone_id": "ph_abc123",
        "numbers": contacts,
        "message": "🎉 Our sale starts NOW! Visit wapdeskpro.com",
        "delay": 3000  # 3 seconds between each message
    }
)
print(response.json())

Receiving Incoming Messages (Webhook)

To receive messages sent to your WhatsApp number, set up a webhook:

curl -X POST https://wapdeskpro.com/api/webhook/set \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "phone_id": "ph_abc123",
    "webhook_url": "https://yourserver.com/whatsapp-hook"
  }'

WAPDeskPro will send a POST request to your URL for every incoming message with this payload:

{
  "event": "message.received",
  "from": "919876543210",
  "message": {
    "type": "text",
    "text": "Hello, I need help!",
    "timestamp": 1713254400
  }
}

Tips to Avoid WhatsApp Bans

• Only message people who have opted in to receive messages
• Use a delay of 2–5 seconds between bulk messages
• Personalize messages — avoid copy-paste identical blasts
• Don't send promotional content to cold contacts
• Use a phone number dedicated to API use, not your personal number