Getting Started

Send your first WhatsApp message in 5 minutes using the Chatbase HTTP API

Getting Started

Welcome to the Chatbase API. This guide will get you from zero to sending your first WhatsApp message in under 5 minutes.

Prerequisites

Before you begin you need:

• A Chatbase account — Sign up free
• An active WhatsApp Business API connection (set up via the CRM dashboard under Integrations)
• At least one approved message template if you are messaging users outside the 24-hour window

Step 1 — Create an API Client

Go to your CRM dashboard → API Manage and click Create API Client.

Give it a name (e.g. my-app-server) and optionally restrict it to specific IP addresses or routes. Once created, copy the API key — it is shown only once.

wpapi_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Step 2 — Authenticate

All API requests require a Bearer token in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer wpapi_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Step 3 — Send Your First Message

Send a template message to a phone number:

curl -X POST https://chatbase.in/api/v1/whatsapp/messages/send \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer wpapi_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "to": "919876543210",
    "type": "template",
    "template": {
      "name": "hello_world",
      "language": { "code": "en_US" }
    }
  }'

A successful response looks like:

{
  "success": true,
  "message_id": "wamid.HBgLOTE5ODc2NTQzMjEwFQIAERgSM0E2QTI3RThCNTFFNTU2QzA4AA==",
  "status": "accepted"
}

Step 4 — Send a Plain Text Message

Within the 24-hour customer service window (after a user messages you first) you can send free-form text:

curl -X POST https://chatbase.in/api/v1/whatsapp/messages/send \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer wpapi_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "to": "919876543210",
    "type": "text",
    "text": { "body": "Hello! How can I help you today?" }
  }'

Phone Number Format

Always send phone numbers in E.164 format without the leading +:

What's Next?

• Authentication — API key security and key management
• Send Message API — Full reference for all message types
• Message Templates — Create and manage templates
• Webhooks — Receive delivery receipts and inbound messages
• Your First Message Guide — Detailed walkthrough with JavaScript examples