> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.notifique.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connection modes

> Understand the difference between official and unofficial WhatsApp connection: when to use each, pricing, and what each mode allows.

<Tip>
  Picking a mode is like choosing **highway or shortcut**: official follows Meta's rules with more predictability; unofficial is faster to try, but riskier.
</Tip>

## Official or unofficial?

Each number connected on Notifique uses **one** of two modes. You cannot switch on the same instance: if you need to change, **create a new one**.

|                 | **Official**                                           | **Unofficial**                                                                  |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| What it is      | Connection **approved by Meta**                        | Connection **outside the official contract**, similar to WhatsApp on a computer |
| Best for        | **Production**, OTP, campaigns with approved templates | **MVP**, tests, building the integration                                        |
| Number risk     | Lower, following Meta's rules                          | **Higher** (blocks or instability)                                              |
| Extra Meta cost | Yes: conversations billed in WhatsApp Manager          | No                                                                              |

### When to use official

* Live product serving real customers
* Verification codes, order confirmations, marketing with approved templates
* Buttons, lists, and carousels within Meta's rules

### When to use unofficial

* Validate an idea, build a prototype, or integrate for the first time
* Need groups, edit/delete messages, or download received media
* Not ready yet for Meta account setup

<Warning>
  **Unofficial** connection does not replace official in production. Use it to learn and test; for real customers at scale, move to **official**.
</Warning>

In both modes you need recipient **opt-in**, allowed content, and compliance with [Meta policies](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-policy) and Notifique [Terms](https://app.notifique.dev/terms).

***

## Templates across multiple numbers

Both modes let you **reuse templates on more than one number**, in different ways:

|                                   | **Official**                                               | **Unofficial**                                                     |
| --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Where templates come from         | **Meta-approved** on your Business account                 | Created in the Notifique **workspace**                             |
| Sharing                           | Numbers on the **same Business account** share one catalog | Any **unofficial** number in the workspace uses the same templates |
| Buttons and carousel in templates | Yes (with Meta approval)                                   | No (internal templates are simple text/image)                      |

More on official templates: [Official Meta templates](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/templates-oficiais-meta).

***

## Billing

|                           | **Official**                                  | **Unofficial** |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | -------------- |
| Credits (plan)            | 1 per message                                 | 1 per message  |
| Pay-as-you-go (Notifique) | R\$ 0.01 / msg                                | R\$ 0.05 / msg |
| Meta billing              | **You pay** conversations in WhatsApp Manager | Not applicable |

On **official**, Meta bills conversations and Notifique charges only the **platform fee**. You must have a **card on file** in WhatsApp Manager before sending in production.

General billing: [Billing](/en/guides/introducao/cobranca-e-pague-pelo-uso).

***

## Full comparison

| Feature                                      | Official | Unofficial |
| -------------------------------------------- | :------: | :--------: |
| Plain text messages                          |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Image messages                               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Audio messages                               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Video messages                               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Document messages (PDF, etc.)                |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Location messages                            |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Contact card (vCard)                         |    ⚠️    |      ✅     |
| Button messages                              |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| List messages                                |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| Carousel (multiple cards)                    |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| Meta-approved templates                      |     ✅    |      ❌     |
| Notifique workspace templates                |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Multiple numbers using the same templates    |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Message someone who never chatted with you\* |   ✅\*\*  |      ✅     |
| Schedule and cancel sends                    |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Edit a sent message                          |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Delete for everyone                          |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Show "typing..." or "recording audio"        |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Send to groups                               |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Manage groups (members, invites)             |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Receive customer replies                     |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Delivery and read receipts                   |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| Download media the customer sent             |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Sandbox testing (no real send)               |     ✅    |      ✅     |
| New number warm-up                           |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Sync WhatsApp address book                   |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Connect by scanning code on phone            |     ❌    |      ✅     |
| Connect with Meta login in dashboard         |     ✅    |      ❌     |

\* On **official**, outside a recent chat use an **approved template**. On **unofficial**, free-form messages without that window.

\*\* With a Meta-approved template.

⚠️ = works with a specific format or rule.

<Note>
  You cannot convert an instance from one mode to the other. Create a new instance in the right mode.
</Note>

<Info>
  Integrating via API only (no browser on your server)? Use `mode: "OFFICIAL"` (or `mode: "UNOFFICIAL"`) with `generateShareableLink: true` on `POST /v1/whatsapp/instances` to get a link the customer opens to finish connecting (QR or Meta login). Details in the [Quick Start](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/quick-start).
</Info>

***

## Quick pick

| Situation                                    | Prefer                                                   |
| -------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| Production with real customers               | **Official**                                             |
| OTP and transactional alerts                 | **Official**                                             |
| MVP, test, or integration in development     | **Unofficial**                                           |
| Groups, edit/delete, download received media | **Unofficial**                                           |
| Several numbers with the same templates      | **Both** (official: Meta account; unofficial: workspace) |

## Next steps

* [Introduction](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/introducao): channel overview
* [Official Quick Start](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/quick-start): connect and send on official
* [Quick Start (unofficial)](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/quick-start): try unofficial
* [Official Meta templates](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/templates-oficiais-meta)
* [Groups](/en/whatsapp-api/grupos/introducao): unofficial only
* [Anti-ban policy](/en/whatsapp-api/como-funciona/politica-anti-banimento)