How to get a phone number for WhatsApp

Learn how to choose and prepare a phone number for WhatsApp in Klaviyo. You can connect more than 1 phone number to your WhatsApp Business account. Choose from these options for each number you add:

• Using an existing phone number (like your customer support number).
• Receiving a number from Meta.
• Receiving a number from Klaviyo (for paid plans).
• Purchasing a number from a provider like Twilio or Infobip.

WhatsApp phone number requirements

If you use an existing number or buy one from a provider, the phone number must be:

• Owned by you or your business.
• Able to receive phone calls or text messages.
• Ready to receive a verification code when you’re setting up your account.
  • This includes being able to receive international calls or texts during the registration process.
• Not active with more than 1 WhatsApp provider at a time. You can migrate a number from another provider to Klaviyo.
• Not connected to a personal WhatsApp account.
• Not a short code.

How display names and phone numbers appear to your customers

Each phone number has its own display name. Once a number's WhatsApp display name is approved by Meta, that's what customers see on messages sent from that number. If they tap into your WhatsApp profile, they'll see the phone number the message was sent from.

If a number doesn't have an approved display name yet, customers will see that phone number itself on incoming messages. Learn more about WhatsApp display names.

Which option should I pick?

It depends on whether you already have a number and how quickly you need to launch:

• Already have a business number you want to use? Use your existing number.
• Want a free number from Meta? Expect 5+ business days for verification, and note the usage limitations.
  • We recommend this option for testing purposes only, and note that Meta may release the number if it is not used regularly.
• Want a free number from Klaviyo? Upgrade to a paid plan for this feature.
• Want a number from a different country, or prefer a specific provider? Purchase one from a third party like Twilio or Infobip.

Use an existing phone number

Using a phone number you already pay for avoids the cost of purchasing another number. A WhatsApp number can only be active with 1 WhatsApp provider at a time, but you can migrate it to Klaviyo during setup.

If your number is already used with WhatsApp, follow the instructions for migrating from another WhatsApp provider or migrating from the WhatsApp Business App before connecting it. These guides cover the required preparation, including turning off the number’s two-step verification.

1. Follow the instructions for connecting Klaviyo to WhatsApp to start setup.
2. In Meta’s setup, enter the number you want to use and choose to receive a verification code by text message or phone call.

3. Enter the verification code, then complete the remaining prompts to connect the number to Klaviyo.

Request a phone number from Meta

Meta provides a free 555 number that you can use for WhatsApp. During the Meta setup flow, this option appears as Use a display name only.

Setup can take 5 business days or more while Meta verifies your business, so plan accordingly.

We recommend this option for testing purposes only, or for setting up your account before bringing on a real number. If you plan to use WhatsApp regularly in production, it's better to use an existing business number or a number from another provider.

Before you can send messages from a Meta-provided number, you'll need:

• An approved WhatsApp display name (customers will see this on your messages instead of the 555 number)
• A verified Meta Business Portfolio

Things to know before choosing this option

A Meta-provided number:

• May be released by Meta if it is not used regularly.
• Is recommended for testing only, not for long-term production use.
• Can't be migrated to another WhatsApp Business Account.
• Can't be used outside of the WhatsApp Business platform.
• Can't be used for Click-to-WhatsApp ads or buttons.

1. To request a Meta-provided number, follow the instructions for connecting Klaviyo to WhatsApp and choose Use a display name only when prompted for a number.
2. Complete signup, then verify your Meta Business Portfolio and wait for display-name approval before sending test messages.

Using a Klaviyo provisioned number

On a paid plan when you go through onboarding, you will see the option to “Get a Klaviyo Number” which will provide you with a free, preverified number to onboard with. After selecting that option, when Meta’s embedded signup opens in the phone number selection number you will see the BSP provided number appear. Select that option and continue onboarding.

Purchase a phone number from another provider

You can buy a phone number from a provider, such as Infobip or Twilio.

Please note that the time it takes to acquire a phone number can vary. Some countries require that you register phone numbers, a process that may take several business days. If this happens with your number, you may need to submit certain information or to complete the registration process before you can set up WhatsApp with the number.

Infobip

Follow Infobip’s instructions to buy a number. Choose the country and a supported number type, such as a virtual long number. Provide any required registration information and complete the purchase before starting WhatsApp setup.

For the text message verification steps below, choose a number with SMS capability. Meta also supports phone call verification for numbers that can receive calls.

Once your number is ready in Infobip, follow the instructions for connecting Klaviyo to WhatsApp. When you reach phone verification:

1. Choose to receive the verification code by text message in Meta’s setup window.
2. Log in to Infobip and use its message logs to find the incoming verification message and code.
   • Note that it may take a few minutes for the code to appear.
3. Return to Meta’s setup window, enter the verification code, and complete the remaining prompts to connect your number to Klaviyo.

Twilio

Buy a number

Follow Twilio’s instructions to buy a number. Select the country for your phone number, typically where your business is headquartered. You can also use criteria such as area code to find a number.

Choose a number with Voice capability for phone call verification, or SMS capability for text message verification. You do not need both.

Configure your phone number

Configure your Twilio number to receive the verification method you plan to use. For phone call verification, one option is to use the Voicemail Twimlet to send a recording to your email address.

To use this voicemail option, follow Twilio’s instructions for configuring incoming calls to set your number’s voice webhook to the following URL:

https://twimlets.com/voicemail?Email=[YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]

Replace [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS] with your email address, then save the configuration.

Verify your phone number

1. Follow the instructions for connecting Klaviyo to WhatsApp to start setup.
2. Choose phone call verification if you configured voicemail, or text message verification if your number can receive SMS.
3. Retrieve the verification code from the voicemail recording sent to your email address, or use Twilio’s messaging logs to find the incoming text message.
4. Enter the code in Meta’s setup window, then complete the remaining prompts to connect your number to Klaviyo.

Add another phone number

If your WhatsApp Business account is already connected to Klaviyo, add each additional number to that same account:

1. Go to Settings > WhatsApp > Sender information.
2. In the WhatsApp Phone Number section, click Add number. In the dialog, click Add number to open Meta’s setup.
3. Select the WhatsApp Business account already connected to Klaviyo, then follow the prompts to add and verify the new number. Complete Meta’s setup and return to Klaviyo to check the number’s status.

Next steps

Connect your WhatsApp Business account to Klaviyo

Verify your Meta Business Portfolio

Import WhatsApp consent into Klaviyo