South Africa
Resources
WhatsApp guides for South African businesses
Plain guides to getting the official WhatsApp Business API in South Africa and to what each message costs in rand, written for salons, gyms, practices, restaurants and shops.
API setup guide
Costs in rand
POPIA and opt-ins
Payments in chat
Your business toolkit
Guides
Start with these two guides
The two questions every South African owner asks us first.
Guide
How to get the WhatsApp Business API in South Africa
The steps in the order they happen: connecting your number, your display name, business verification with CIPC documents, templates and going live.
Guide
What WhatsApp messages cost in South Africa, in rand
Meta's per-message rates in US dollars and rand, the free service replies, and worked examples for a salon, a gym and a restaurant.
Go deeper
How the pieces work on DMly
API
The official WhatsApp Business API
Your own number on Meta's API, with co-existence so the WhatsApp Business app keeps working on your phone.
Broadcasts
Broadcasts to opted-in customers
Segments, approved templates and POPIA section 69 opt-ins, with costs worked out in rand.
Payments
Payment links and invoices in the chat
Card and EFT through Paystack, or card through Flutterwave, with receipts sent automatically.
Why DMly
Why businesses in South Africa choose DMly
The chats your customers already start on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, answered, booked and paid for in one place.
01The official WhatsApp APIRuns on Meta's official WhatsApp Business API on your own number, and the WhatsApp Business app keeps working on your phone.
02Every channel, one inboxWhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, SMS, Google Business Profile and website chat, answered by one team.
03Card and EFT in the chatSend Paystack payment links and invoices for card or EFT, or card through Flutterwave. DMly adds no fee.
04An AI agent on every planTrained on your services, prices and hours. It answers day and night, books, and hands over to your team with the chat attached.
05Meta's costs, nothing addedA marketing message costs about R0.63 and a utility message about R0.16 at Meta's South Africa rate. Incoming messages are free.
06Set up with you, freeOur team helps with Meta business verification and builds your setup with you on a video call, at no cost.
Support
Getting help with WhatsApp in South Africa
Do you help with setup?
Yes, at no cost. Our team gets on a video call with you, connects your number and channels, and builds your first flows with you.
Do you help with Meta business verification?
Yes. We go through your CIPC documents with you before anything is submitted to Meta, on the same video call.
Can I try DMly before I pay?
Yes. There is a seven day free trial and no card is needed to start it.
Can I keep using the WhatsApp Business app on my phone?
Yes. With co-existence, the app keeps working on your phone while the same number runs on the official API in DMly.
Rather have us walk you through it?
Seven days free, no card needed. Our team sets it up with you on a video call.