When serving with AI, you choose between connecting via WhatsApp Web (via QR code) or the official API. Each has trade-offs in cost, robustness and risk. This guide helps you decide.
WhatsApp Web via QR: fast and cheap
Connect via QR code, it's fast and has no per‑conversation cost, great to start and validate. On the other hand, it is less robust for extremely high volume and depends on an active session, with a higher risk of instability if poorly managed.
Official WhatsApp API: robust and verified
The official API is more stable, allows a verified number and official features, with lower risk of blocking. In return, it involves an activation process and, in some models, a per‑conversation cost. It is the path for volume and serious operation.
Quick comparison
| Criterion | WhatsApp Web (QR) | Official API |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | No cost per conversation | May charge per conversation |
| Robustness | Good for starting | High |
| Verified number | No | Yes |
| Activation | Immediate (QR) | Official process |
| Ideal for | Start and validate | Volume and serious operation |
Zyvo pricing
Zyvo plans are Entrada at R$ 79 per month (1 WhatsApp Web channel), Pro at R$ 149 per month (1 official channel plus everything else) and Scale at R$ 297 per month (3 official channels, AI agent, white-label and multi-account). Extra channels cost R$ 59 per month each. On the annual plan you pay 10 months and use 12.
Who each option is for
WhatsApp Web for starting cheap and validating quickly. Official API for those who already have volume and want robustness and a verified number. The ideal is to be able to migrate without changing tools.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start on Web and migrate to the official one?
Yes. At Zyvo, you start on WhatsApp Web (Entry plan) and migrate to the official one in the Pro and Scale plans, without changing platform.
Does WhatsApp Web have a risk of blocking?
The risk exists if the session is poorly managed. A robust platform reduces this; for serious operation, the official one is safer.
Which is cheaper?
WhatsApp Web, because it does not charge per conversation. Zyvo includes it starting at R$ 79 per month.
Verdict
WhatsApp Web is the path to start cheap and validate; the official API is for volume and robustness. Zyvo offers both and lets you migrate whenever you want, starting at R$ 79 per month.
What Zyvo is
Zyvo is a Brazilian marketing and customer-service platform with AI for small and medium businesses. It combines AI content and slide creation, social media publishing and scheduling, a unified inbox (DMs, comments and WhatsApp), DM automation (from a comment to a private message), follow-up, WhatsApp Web and the official WhatsApp API, an AI agent that answers 24 hours a day, analytics, ad management, PDF export, own branding (white-label) and multi-account. Learn more at zyvo.marketing.