By QuickMessage Team · Last updated November 3, 2026
Quick answer
A WhatsApp broadcast sends the same message to many people, and each person receives it as a private chat. In the WhatsApp Business app, a broadcast list holds up to 256 contacts, and only people who have saved your number receive it. To reach more customers, businesses use the WhatsApp Business API, which sends Meta-approved template messages to customers who have opted in, within your account's daily messaging limit, and gives you delivery and read reports.
This guide explains both ways to broadcast on WhatsApp, the rules you must follow, how to schedule a broadcast and the habits that keep your number safe.
Broadcast list in the app vs broadcast on the API
| WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business API | |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts per broadcast | Up to 256 per list | Set by your messaging limit: from 250 up to unlimited unique customers in 24 hours |
| Who receives it | Only people who saved your number | Customers who opted in, whether or not they saved your number |
| Message format | Any text or media | A Meta-approved template, with your customer's name and other details filled in |
| Buttons | No | Yes: quick replies, website links and call buttons |
| Reports | Basic ticks per chat | Delivered, read and failed reports per campaign |
| Scheduling | Send manually | Schedule from a campaign tool |
| Cost | Free | Per delivered message, by category |
How to send a broadcast in the WhatsApp Business app
- Open the app, tap the menu and choose New broadcast.
- Select up to 256 contacts and create the list.
- Type your message, add media if you want, and send.
Replies come back as normal one-to-one chats. Customers who have not saved your number will not receive the message, so app broadcasts work best for small lists of regular customers.
How a broadcast works on the WhatsApp Business API
- Collect opt-in. Customers must agree to receive messages from your business. See our guide to WhatsApp opt-in.
- Create a template and submit it for approval in the right category. See marketing vs utility vs authentication templates.
- Upload or segment your contacts, for example by city, last purchase or interest.
- Send now or schedule the campaign for the best time.
- Track results and reply to customers from a shared inbox.
How many customers you can reach in 24 hours depends on your messaging limit, which starts at 250 and grows to 2,000, 10,000, 100,000 and unlimited as you send good-quality messages.
What a broadcast costs on the API
Meta charges per delivered message. Offers and announcements are marketing messages; updates about a customer's own order or account are utility messages. On QuickMessage, the rates for Indian numbers are:
- Marketing: ₹0.96 per message
- Utility and authentication: ₹0.18 per message
So a 5,000-customer offer broadcast costs about ₹4,800 in message charges, excluding GST and your plan. See pricing for plans.
Why some broadcast messages are not delivered
- Marketing limits per person: Meta limits how many marketing messages one person receives from businesses. Messages above that limit are not delivered (error 131049). See error 131049.
- Opt-outs: customers who stopped marketing messages from you will not receive them (error 131050).
- Numbers not on WhatsApp or with an outdated app.
For every reason and fix, see WhatsApp message not delivered.
Broadcast best practices
- Message only people who opted in. Blocks and reports lower your quality rating and can limit your number.
- Segment your list. Send each offer to the customers most likely to want it.
- Keep it short and personal. Use the customer's name and one clear call to action.
- Do not send too often. Frequent offers lead to blocks and opt-outs.
- Give an easy way to stop, such as a "Stop offers" quick reply button.
- Reply fast. Broadcasts bring replies; have your team ready in a shared inbox.
Broadcast with QuickMessage
QuickMessage gives you the official WhatsApp Business API with campaign management to send and schedule approved templates to segmented lists, delivered, read and clicked reports, and a shared team inbox for the replies. Our team helps you get your templates approved. For high-volume sending, see our bulk WhatsApp sender.
Frequently asked questions
How many contacts can I add to a WhatsApp broadcast list?
Up to 256 contacts per broadcast list in the WhatsApp app, and only contacts who saved your number receive the message. On the WhatsApp Business API, the number of customers you can message in 24 hours depends on your messaging limit, from 250 up to unlimited.
Why did some contacts not receive my broadcast?
In the app, contacts who have not saved your number do not receive broadcasts. On the API, messages can fail because the number is not on WhatsApp, the customer opted out of marketing, or Meta's per-person marketing limit was reached.
Can I schedule a WhatsApp broadcast?
On the WhatsApp Business API, yes: campaign tools such as QuickMessage let you schedule a template campaign for a later date and time.
Is WhatsApp broadcast free?
Broadcast lists in the WhatsApp Business app are free. On the API, Meta charges per delivered template message, and the price depends on the category and the customer's country.
Reach every customer, not just 256
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