Quick start

This guide walks you from sending a test message to full use of WhatsApp Business API (WABA) in seven simple steps.

Step 1. Create an accountCopy Anchor Link

You need an account on platform.1msg.io to get started.

Go to the registration page, enter your email and password, and click Sign up. Alternatively, use the Facebook icon below the registration form.

Step 2: Activate the Test channelCopy Anchor Link

You don’t have to wait for Meta approval — start testing right away.

1. Scan the QR code in your dashboard or click "Write to WhatsApp" and send the generated code to the test WABA number.

2. Your account will automatically connect to the test WABA channel.
3. You can chat with your phone number on WhatsApp.

✅ Test channel is ready. A $5 bonus has been credited to your balance for testing paid templates and sessions.

Why use the Test channel?Copy Anchor Link

Connect to our pre-configured WABA test number — no Meta approval or additional setup required.

• send and receive WhatsApp messages;
• test webhooks and API methods;
• verify your integration flow before connecting your own WABA number.

Test limitations:

• Messages can be sent only to your own WhatsApp numbers.

Step 3: Send your first messageCopy Anchor Link

Once your test channel is created, you can send your first API message.

Click "Send" and check the message in your WhatsApp chat with the test WABA number.

Example request

POST https://platform.1msg.io/{{channel_id}}/sendMessage?token=••••••••

You can find your channel ID and token on the channel page.

Request body (JSON):

{
    "phone": "your_phone_number",
    "body": "Hello 1msg",
    "preview_url": false
}

You can find more API methods in Playground

Step 4: Try more API methods in PlaygroundCopy Anchor Link

In a couple of minutes, verify that the messaging API works end to end.

1. Open Playground.
2. Send another message in one click and receive it instantly on your WhatsApp number.
3. In the UI you’ll see a ready-made JSON request you can use in your code, plus the send response and the webhook payload.

Step 5: Configure webhooksCopy Anchor Link

Teach your system to “listen” to WhatsApp.

1. Set your webhook URL in the channel settings.
2. Incoming messages, delivery statuses (sent, delivered, read), and profile changes will be delivered to your server in real time.
3. Test webhook handling in your integration using webhook simulation from Playground.

Step 6: API, SDK, and developer toolsCopy Anchor Link

Once the flow is clear, move on to automation. Use our resources to ship faster:

• API documentation — full description of all methods in OpenAPI format
• SDK — ready-made libraries for Node.js, Python, and PHP with code examples.
• MCP (Model Context Protocol) — connect our API directly to your AI assistant (Cursor, Claude Desktop) to generate integration code on the fly.
• CLI — turns WhatsApp Business API methods into commands you run in a terminal. It is the same API as the SDK and MCP

Step 7: Go to productionCopy Anchor Link

Ready to launch for real customers?

1. In the left menu, go to Add new channel.
2. Choose a plan for your channel and pay the subscription via Stripe in the dashboard.
3. Connect your own number: use the Embedded Signup flow to register your business number with Meta quickly.
4. Configure API, webhooks, and message templates — then start broadcasts, chatbots, and everything else the 1MSG API offers.

For a tutorial on connecting a WABA channel, see:

Connection WABA