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

# Which channel should you connect?

> The difference between personal WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, and what each channel can do.

Everything starts here — no conversations arrive until a channel is connected. Channels
live under **Settings → Channels**.

## The WhatsApp decision

There are two ways to connect WhatsApp and they are genuinely different products. This is
the most consequential choice on this page.

|                          | WhatsApp (personal)            | WhatsApp Business (Cloud API) |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ----------------------------- |
| How you connect          | Scan a QR code with your phone | Sign in with Meta             |
| Setup time               | A minute                       | Longer — Meta review          |
| Your phone               | Must stay online               | Not involved at all           |
| Broadcasts and templates | No                             | Yes                           |
| Voice calling            | No                             | Yes                           |
| Stability                | Can disconnect                 | Stable                        |
| Best for                 | Trying it out, low volume      | Anything serious              |

<Warning>
  Personal WhatsApp depends on your phone staying connected, and WhatsApp can end the linked
  session at any time. If you plan to send broadcasts or run a team on it, connect
  [WhatsApp Business](/help/channels/whatsapp-cloud-api) instead — moving later means
  reconnecting and re-approving templates.
</Warning>

## Every channel

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="WhatsApp (personal)" icon="qrcode" href="/help/channels/whatsapp-personal">
    Scan a QR code or use a pairing code. Fastest way to start.
  </Card>

  <Card title="WhatsApp Business" icon="whatsapp" href="/help/channels/whatsapp-cloud-api">
    Official Cloud API. Templates, broadcasts and calling.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Telegram" icon="telegram" href="/help/channels/telegram">
    A bot token from BotFather. Has real gotchas for groups.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Website chat" icon="globe" href="/help/channels/website-chat">
    A chat bubble on your own site. One script tag, no platform to apply to.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email" icon="envelope" href="/help/channels/email-smtp">
    Send from your own address over SMTP.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Also available, connected the same way as WhatsApp Business by signing in with the
provider:

* **Facebook Messenger** — you pick which Page to connect.
* **Instagram** — direct messages for an Instagram Business account.
* **TikTok** — comments on your videos and ads.
* **SMS** — sent from the inbox and broadcasts, billed against an SMS credit balance.
* **Voice calling** — available on WhatsApp Business numbers, configured per channel.

## What your plan allows

Your plan caps how many channels you can connect and which types are available. If a
channel type is greyed out, that is why — **Billing** shows your current limits.

## After connecting

A connected channel does nothing on its own. Grant it to a role, or nobody receives its
conversations:

**Roles → the role → Channels**. See
[Invite your team](/help/getting-started/invite-your-team#roles-decide-two-different-things).