Send a WhatsApp message

Send a message from a connected WhatsApp number. text, media, interactive_buttons, interactive_list, location, contacts, and flow are SESSION messages - deliverable only inside the 24-hour customer window (i.e. after the user messaged you). Outside it, only template (an approved HSM) is deliverable. context_message_id (any type except contacts) threads the message as a reply under a prior WhatsApp message id, rendering as a quoted reply in the customer’s app. type=flow requires the flow to be PUBLISHED first (see the WhatsApp Flows endpoints) - a DRAFT flow can only be tested via its preview URL. Requires social:write.

Pricing. Billed per message from your API wallet, on top of your plan’s monthly WhatsApp send limit. The price depends on the destination country and the message category, mirroring how WhatsApp itself prices, so a utility message to one market and a marketing message to another cost different amounts. Free-form replies are billed as service, priced at the destination market’s utility rate. The response carries a pricing block showing which rate was applied, and the usage block reports cost and remaining balance. You are charged only for a message accepted for delivery - a rejected send is refunded automatically.

POST

messages

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.smartlyq.com/v1/whatsapp/messages \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '
{
  "account_id": 42,
  "to": "+14155551234",
  "type": "text",
  "text": "Thanks for reaching out!"
}
'

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "message_id": "wamid.HBg...",
    "status": "sent",
    "pricing": {
      "category": "utility",
      "market": "United States",
      "calling_code": "1",
      "rate": "0.003600"
    }
  },
  "usage": {
    "units": 1,
    "cost": "0.0036",
    "balance_remaining": "24.9964"
  }
}

{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND",
    "message": "Post not found.",
    "details": {}
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_9f3a2b1c-7d4e-4a08-b2c6-5e1f8a9d0c34",
    "timestamp": "2026-07-26T09:41:22Z"
  }
}

{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
    "message": "Missing required fields: content, platforms.",
    "details": {
      "fields": [
        "content",
        "platforms"
      ]
    }
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_9f3a2b1c-7d4e-4a08-b2c6-5e1f8a9d0c34",
    "timestamp": "2026-07-26T09:41:22Z"
  }
}

Authorizations

Authorization

string

header

required

API key from Developer dashboard (Bearer token).

Body

application/json

account_id

integer

required

A connected WhatsApp number (social account id).

string

required

Recipient phone in E.164 (e.g. +14155551234).

type

enum<string>

default:text

Available options:

text,

media,

template,

interactive_buttons,

interactive_list,

location,

contacts,

reaction,

flow

context_message_id

string

A prior WhatsApp message id (wamid) to thread this message as a reply under, or (for type=reaction) the message being reacted to. Renders as a quoted reply in the customer's app.

footer_text

string

For type=flow. Optional footer line below the body, max 60 characters.

text

string

Body for type=text, or the prompt text for type=interactive_buttons/interactive_list.

media

object

For type=media.

Show child attributes

template

object

For type=template.

Show child attributes

buttons

object[]

For type=interactive_buttons. Up to 3 reply buttons; the customer's tap arrives as an inbound message you already receive on your webhook.

Maximum array length: 3

Show child attributes

button_text

string

For type=interactive_list. Label on the button that opens the list, max 20 characters.

sections

object[]

For type=interactive_list. Up to 10 rows total across all sections.

Show child attributes

location

object

For type=location.

Show child attributes

contacts

object[]

For type=contacts. WhatsApp's raw contact-card array - see Meta's WhatsApp Cloud API contacts message reference for the full object shape (name, phones, emails, etc.).

emoji

string

For type=reaction. The emoji to react with, or an empty string to remove a previously-sent reaction. Requires context_message_id.

flow

object

For type=flow.

Show child attributes

Response

Sent

success

enum<boolean>

Available options:

true

data

object

Show child attributes

usage

object

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.smartlyq.com/v1/whatsapp/messages \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '
{
  "account_id": 42,
  "to": "+14155551234",
  "type": "text",
  "text": "Thanks for reaching out!"
}
'

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "message_id": "wamid.HBg...",
    "status": "sent",
    "pricing": {
      "category": "utility",
      "market": "United States",
      "calling_code": "1",
      "rate": "0.003600"
    }
  },
  "usage": {
    "units": 1,
    "cost": "0.0036",
    "balance_remaining": "24.9964"
  }
}

{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND",
    "message": "Post not found.",
    "details": {}
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_9f3a2b1c-7d4e-4a08-b2c6-5e1f8a9d0c34",
    "timestamp": "2026-07-26T09:41:22Z"
  }
}

{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
    "message": "Missing required fields: content, platforms.",
    "details": {
      "fields": [
        "content",
        "platforms"
      ]
    }
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_9f3a2b1c-7d4e-4a08-b2c6-5e1f8a9d0c34",
    "timestamp": "2026-07-26T09:41:22Z"
  }
}

Core

CRM

Profiles

AI Generation

Social

WhatsApp

Inbox

AI Assistants

Send a WhatsApp message

Authorizations

Body

Response