WhatsApp vs WhatsApp Business: what's the difference?

What ordinary WhatsApp gives you

Chats, calls, groups, status updates and voice notes — the same messaging most people already use for friends and family. It is free and works perfectly well for taking orders manually.

What WhatsApp Business adds

• A business profile: category, address or service area, hours, description and website link
• A product or service catalogue customers can browse without asking
• A greeting message for first-time chats
• An away message for outside working hours
• Quick replies to answer common questions in one tap
• Labels to track New enquiry, Quoted, Paid and Completed
• Basic statistics on messages sent, delivered and read

Does it cost anything?

No. WhatsApp Business is a free app, same as ordinary WhatsApp. It uses your existing data or Wi-Fi and does not charge per message. The only cost involved anywhere in this setup is your own airtime or data bundle.

Can customers tell the difference?

Yes, slightly. A business account shows a small "Business Account" label under your name and, if you complete your profile, a Green tick style verified badge is possible for some businesses through Meta, though most small businesses will not need this to look credible — a complete profile does that on its own.

When it makes sense to switch

• You are answering the same three or four questions repeatedly
• You want customers to see your hours, location and price list without asking
• You are losing track of who you have already replied to
• You want a single link people can click to start chatting without saving your number

When ordinary WhatsApp is still fine

If your business is very small, your volume of chats is low, and you already reply promptly, there is no urgency. Switching takes minutes though, so most businesses find it worth doing as soon as enquiries start arriving daily.