API Rate Limits
Throttling rules that restrict how many API requests or messages you can send per second to prevent system overload and ensure fair usage.
How it works
WhatsApp Business API enforces rate limits at multiple levels. The Cloud API allows up to 80 messages per second per phone number for text messages, with lower limits for media messages. There are also limits on API calls for template management, phone number management, and analytics endpoints. Exceeding rate limits returns HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests) errors, and persistent violations can temporarily block your API access. BSPs like SuperWaba handle rate limit management by implementing queuing systems and retry logic, so businesses can submit large broadcast campaigns without worrying about throttling. Understanding rate limits is critical for planning bulk messaging operations.
Related terms
Messaging Limits
The maximum number of unique customers a business can message in a rolling 24-hour period, determined by quality rating and account tier.
Cloud API
Meta's hosted version of the WhatsApp Business API that runs on Meta's own infrastructure, removing the need for businesses to manage their own servers.
Broadcast
A feature that sends the same template message to a large list of contacts simultaneously, used for promotions, announcements, and re-engagement campaigns.
Learn more in our docs
Explore guides, tutorials, and API references for building on the WhatsApp Business platform with SuperWaba.