Your customers know one number. Your team has three, eight or twenty people who need to answer it. Here are the three ways to share a WhatsApp Business number, what each one can and cannot do, and which to pick for your team size.
Updated 16 October 2026 · by the Wasab AI team at MTLabsYes, several people can answer from one WhatsApp Business number. The free WhatsApp Business app lets you link up to 4 devices to the main phone, so up to 5 people can reply. A paid Meta Verified subscription raises the device limit where it is offered. If more people need to answer, or you need to assign chats, keep notes and see who handled what, connect the number to the WhatsApp Business API and use a shared team inbox such as Wasab AI.
The WhatsApp Business app runs on one main phone, and you can link up to 4 more devices to it: computers through WhatsApp Web or the desktop app, tablets, or other phones. Everyone sees the same chats and replies as the business.
WhatsApp's help centre now also describes a multi-agent mode for the Business app, where each linked device has a name and chats can be claimed or assigned. It is not on every account yet, so check the Linked devices screen in your app.
Meta Verified is a monthly subscription from Meta for businesses on the WhatsApp Business app. Along with the verified badge and account support, it allows more linked devices than the free app. It is only offered in some countries and its features change, so check what the subscription screen in your app offers before paying. It is still the same app: more devices, but no pipeline, auto-reply rules or reporting.
For teams that have outgrown the app, the number is connected to the official WhatsApp Business API (also called the WhatsApp Business Platform) through a provider. Your team then works in a web inbox instead of on phones:
The trade-offs: a monthly fee for the inbox, and Meta charges for some messages (mainly messages you start, such as offers and reminders). See current rates on our Wasab AI pricing page. The number you connect must not be registered on the regular WhatsApp app. We can help you set one up, or manage the account for you.
| Linked devices (free app) | Meta Verified (paid app) | API team inbox (Wasab AI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| People who can reply | Up to 5 (phone + 4 devices) | More devices, by Meta's current limit | 3, 8 or 20 logins by plan |
| Cost | Free | Monthly Meta subscription | From ₹999 a month, plus Meta message fees |
| Needs the main phone | Yes, used at least every 14 days | Yes | No |
| Assign chats to a person | Only with multi-agent, where available | Only with multi-agent, where available | Yes |
| Internal notes on a chat | No | No | Yes |
| Leads pipeline and follow-ups | Labels only | Labels only | Yes, with stages and reminders |
| Automatic replies | Greeting and away message | Greeting and away message | Keyword rules and AI replies |
| Broadcasts | Broadcast lists (only reach people who saved your number) | Same | Approved templates to tags and stages (Growth plan) |
Whichever you choose, put your number in front of customers with a click-to-chat link and QR code.
Yes. On the WhatsApp Business app, the main phone and up to 4 linked devices can all be used at the same time. On the WhatsApp Business API with a team inbox, each person has their own login and the number of people depends on your plan.
The free WhatsApp Business app allows up to 4 linked devices in addition to the main phone. A paid Meta Verified subscription allows more where it is offered. The WhatsApp Business API has no phone at all, so the limit is the number of logins on your inbox plan.
Linked devices keep working while the main phone is off or offline, but if the main phone is not used for about 14 days, the linked devices are logged out.
No. Customers always see the business name. In a team inbox like Wasab AI, your own team can see who each chat is assigned to and leave internal notes that the customer never sees.
Starter includes 3 agent logins, Growth 8 and Pro 20. All of them work from the same WhatsApp number in one shared inbox.
You need a phone number that is not already registered on the regular WhatsApp app. We can help you set it up, or manage the account for you.
Wasab AI gives your team a shared WhatsApp inbox with assignment, notes, a leads pipeline, keyword auto-replies and an AI assistant. Plans from ₹999 a month.