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There are two ways to access the WhatsApp Business API: Cloud API (hosted and managed entirely by Meta) and On-Premise API (hosted on your own servers or via a BSP). Cloud API is the current standard; On-Premise no longer receives updates.

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WhatsApp Cloud API

Hosted by Meta on Meta’s own cloud. Businesses do not need to maintain servers. Meta handles all updates, maintenance, and encryption automatically. Pricing is conversation-based — you only pay for what you use. New features are available immediately.

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WhatsApp On-Premise API

Hosted on a company’s own servers or through a BSP (Business Solution Provider). The business is responsible for server maintenance, software updates, hardware costs, and managing encryption locally. It no longer receives new features or updates. It is more complex and more expensive than Cloud API.
Recommendation: Use Cloud API for any new integration. On-Premise is legacy and should not be chosen for new projects.

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Frequently asked

No. With the Cloud API, Meta hosts everything. You just make API calls — no server setup or maintenance needed.
Yes. On-Premise no longer gets new features or updates. Cloud API is cheaper, easier to maintain, and always up to date.
A Business Solution Provider (like Twilio or 360dialog) is a company that resells access to the WhatsApp API. With Cloud API you can connect directly to Meta without going through a BSP. See the glossary.
Yes. Cloud API is conversation-based pricing — you pay only for what you use. On-Premise requires hardware, hosting, and maintenance costs on top of any usage fees.

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Gotchas & common mistakes

  • On-Premise is no longer updated — do not recommend it for any new build.
  • BSPs still exist for Cloud API — some businesses use a BSP even with Cloud API (for extra tooling), but it is optional. You can go direct to Meta.
  • End-to-end encryption exists in both, but is managed differently: Cloud API handles it automatically; On-Premise requires local management.