WhatsApp QR vs WhatsApp Business API: which one for Bitrix24? (2026)
Short answer: both plans connect WhatsApp to Bitrix24 through WASync — the difference is the connection itself. WhatsApp QR (€15/mo) links the number you already use, in five minutes, with WhatsApp groups and voice notes. The WhatsApp Business API (€25/mo) is Meta's official channel — approved templates, proactive messaging and a verified business profile. Here is an honest side-by-side, including what each one can't do.
| WhatsApp QR — €15/mo | WhatsApp Business API (Meta) — €25/mo | |
|---|---|---|
| How it connects | Scan a QR code (Linked Devices) — ~5 minutes | Meta Embedded Signup — official Cloud API |
| Your number | The number you already use, keeps working in your phone | Dedicated to the API — no longer usable in the WhatsApp app |
| Message anyone, anytime | ✅ No template needed | Within the 24-hour window; outside it → approved template |
| Meta-approved templates | — | ✅ Send from workflow robots |
| Proactive / re-engage campaigns | Not built for bulk — WhatsApp may flag the number | ✅ Template-based, the official way |
| WhatsApp groups in Bitrix24 | ✅ Groups bridge included | — (the Business API has no group chats) |
| Voice notes from the CRM widget | ✅ | — |
| Verified business profile | — | ✅ Eligible (green checkmark) |
| WhatsApp @username | — | ✅ Reserve & manage from Bitrix24 |
| Block & spam control | In your phone app | ✅ Synced live with Meta (24-hour rule applies) |
| Phone must stay reachable | Linked device — occasional re-scan | ✅ No phone at all |
| Open Lines, CRM widget, files, robots, Chat Flows, AI | ✅ | ✅ |
| Extra Meta fees | None | Meta bills conversation charges separately |
| Trial | 7 days, no card | 7 days, no card |
Both plans include the full Bitrix24 integration: Open Lines, the CRM widget on leads and deals, files and media, workflow robots, visual Chat Flows, and AI automations with your own API key. The pricing is per connection, so you can mix plans in one portal.
What is the difference between WhatsApp QR and the WhatsApp Business API?
WhatsApp QR links the number you already use via Linked Devices — like WhatsApp Web, but into Bitrix24. The WhatsApp Business API is Meta's official Cloud API: a dedicated number, approved message templates, proactive campaigns and a verified profile, with no phone involved. Same CRM features on both; the channel underneath is what changes.
What can't you do with WhatsApp QR?
Honesty first — the QR plan has real limits:
- No Meta-approved templates. You can't send template messages, so there is no official way to run proactive campaigns to people who haven't written to you.
- Not built for bulk sending. Blast messages from a QR-linked number and WhatsApp may flag or ban it. Use workflow automation carefully.
- No verified badge and no @username. Those exist only on the Business API.
- The session lives on a linked device. If WhatsApp unlinks it (rare, but it happens after phone changes or long offline periods), you re-scan the QR code.
- You need an existing WhatsApp number — the phone with that SIM has to exist, even though it doesn't have to stay online all day.
If your team mostly answers customers who write first, none of this will hurt you — that's exactly what the QR plan is for.
What can't you do with the WhatsApp Business API?
Meta's official channel has its own hard rules — they apply to every provider, not just WASync:
- No WhatsApp groups. The Business API simply has no group chats. If you manage client groups from Bitrix24, you need the QR plan's groups bridge.
- The 24-hour window. You can write freely only within 24 hours of the customer's last message. After that, only a Meta-approved template can restart the conversation.
- The 24-hour block rule. You can only block a contact via the API within 24 hours of their last message — here's why, and what to do instead.
- Your number becomes API-only. Once registered on the Cloud API, that number can't be used in the WhatsApp app anymore. Most businesses register a fresh number.
- Templates need Meta approval — usually fast, but plan for a review step before a campaign, not the same morning.
- Meta bills conversations separately. On top of the WASync subscription, Meta charges per conversation opened (rates vary by country and category).
Which plan should you choose?
Pick by how your team uses WhatsApp:
- Inbound sales and support — customers write first, you reply, sometimes in groups: WhatsApp QR. Cheaper, instant setup, keeps your existing number.
- Notifications and re-engagement — order updates, reminders, win-back campaigns via template robots: WhatsApp Business API.
- Both — many teams run one QR connection for conversations and one API connection for campaigns. Pricing is per connection, so mixing is normal.
Can you switch from WhatsApp QR to the Business API later?
Yes. Plans are per connection, so you can add a Business API connection next to your QR one, or replace it when you're ready. Your Bitrix24 setup — Open Lines, widget, robots, Chat Flows — stays the same; only the WhatsApp channel underneath changes. Start with the 7-day trial on either plan.
Is the QR connection safe for my number?
Used normally — real conversations with customers who expect your messages — yes: it's the same Linked Devices mechanism as WhatsApp Web, fully supported by WhatsApp. The risk appears with mass unsolicited sending, which violates WhatsApp's terms on any unofficial channel. If your volume is campaign-shaped, that's what the official Business API is for.
Ready to get started with WASync?
Connect WhatsApp Business to Bitrix24 in minutes. Start your 7-day free trial today.