On-Premises API vs. Cloud API
Businesses looking to use the WhatsApp Business Platform have two hosting options: On-Premises API and Cloud API. In general, we recommend that the majority of businesses use the Cloud API due to ease of implementation and maintenance. For a full performance comparison, see:
Saved by grahamp 09/02/2021: Back up of Key differences in the case we want to keep Postman complete and not link out to developers.facebook.com.
| Feature | On-Premises API (v2.37) | Cloud API/Beta |
|---|---|---|
|
Check Contact
|
✅
|
🆇 (For Cloud API, this is no longer required to send messages. You can just use the person’s phone number.)
|
|
Text Messages
|
✅
|
✅
|
|
Media Messages
|
✅
|
✅ Images and documents are supported in October 2021. Audio and video will be supported starting November 2021.
|
|
Media Provider
|
✅
|
🆇
|
|
Text Message Templates
|
✅
|
✅
|
|
Media Message Templates
|
✅
|
✅
|
|
Interactive Message Templates
|
✅
|
✅
|
|
Contacts send/receive (not in template)
|
✅
|
✅
|
|
Location send/receive (not in template)
|
✅
|
✅
|
|
Stickers
|
✅
|
🆇
|
|
Sticker packs
|
✅
|
🆇
|
|
Conversation-Based Pricing - global rollout
|
✅ (Feb, 2022)
|
✅ (Feb, 2022)
|
|
List Messages
|
✅ (v.2.35)
|
🆇
|
|
Dynamic Reply Buttons
|
✅ (v.2.35)
|
🆇
|
|
Product List Messages
|
✅ (v.2.37)
|
🆇
|
|
Ads with Content
|
✅
|
🆇
|
Autorply
