WhatsApp Business Premium: What It Is, Pricing & Availability [2026]
WhatsApp Business Premium is the paid subscription for the WhatsApp Business app that Meta launched to offer advanced features to small and medium-sized businesses. Unlike the free version of WhatsApp Business, the Premium plan includes tools such as a custom short link (wa.me/yourbusiness), the ability to link up to ten devices, and a web page directly within WhatsApp. If your business already uses WhatsApp Business and you want to know whether the Premium version is worth paying for, in this guide we explain what it includes, how much it costs, where it is available, and when it makes sense to upgrade to the WhatsApp Business API for a truly scalable solution.
What Is WhatsApp Business Premium
WhatsApp Business Premium is a monthly subscription within the WhatsApp Business app itself. Meta introduced it in late 2022 in select markets and has been progressively expanding it throughout 2023, 2024, and 2025. In 2026, it is already available in several Latin American countries and some European regions, although its rollout in Spain remains limited.
The free version of WhatsApp Business lets you create a business profile, set up quick replies, and product catalogs. The Premium version adds three key capabilities on top of that base:
Custom short link. Instead of sharing a wa.me/ link followed by your phone number, you get a link with your business name (for example, wa.me/yourbusiness). This strengthens your brand and makes it easier for customers to find you directly on WhatsApp.
Expanded multi-agent. The free version allows linking up to four devices. With Premium, that number goes up to ten simultaneously linked devices. For customer support teams handling medium volume, this can be enough without needing to migrate to the API.
Web page in WhatsApp. Premium includes the option to create a basic page within the platform with company information, location, hours, and featured products. It is a sort of microsite visible directly when a customer opens your profile on WhatsApp.
It is important to understand that WhatsApp Business Premium is not the same as the WhatsApp Business API. The Premium subscription is an upgrade to the mobile app, designed for small businesses. The API is a programmable platform for medium and large businesses that need automation, CRM integration, and the capacity to manage thousands of simultaneous conversations. If your use case requires that scale, check out our guide on how the WhatsApp Business API works.
How to Set Up WhatsApp Business Premium Step by Step
Activating WhatsApp Business Premium is a simple process, but there are certain requirements to meet. Here is a step-by-step breakdown.
Prerequisites
Before you can subscribe to Premium, you need:
- Have the latest version of WhatsApp Business installed on Android or iOS. Older versions do not show the Premium option.
- Operate in a country where Meta has activated the subscription. As of February 2026, availability in Spain is partial: some users see the option and others do not. Meta is rolling it out gradually.
- Have a completed business profile with name, description, category, and address.
Step 1: Access the settings
Open WhatsApp Business and tap the settings menu (the three dots on Android or the gear icon on iOS). Look for the "WhatsApp Business Premium" or "Premium" option under the business tools section. If you do not see it, it is not yet available in your region or for your account.
Step 2: Activate the feature
Once inside the Premium screen, WhatsApp will show you the included features and the WhatsApp Business Premium price for your market. Tap "Subscribe" and select the payment method. On Android, billing goes through Google Play; on iPhone, through the Apple App Store.
Activation is immediate. Once payment is processed, you can configure your custom short link, link additional devices, and start editing your business web page within WhatsApp.
Best Practices and Tips for WhatsApp Business Premium
Paying for the subscription is not worth much if you do not take advantage of what it offers. These are the key points to get real value out of Premium.
Choose a memorable short link. The custom wa.me/ link can only be set up once (or changed with restrictions). Use your brand name as your customers know it. Avoid hyphens, numbers, and unclear abbreviations. This link is ideal for printing on business cards, including in email signatures, and using in social media campaigns.
Organize linked devices by function. If you have ten devices available, do not assign them randomly. Define which device handles pre-sales, which handles post-sales, and which handles incidents. Although Premium does not offer automatic chat assignment (that requires the API), you can establish an internal convention.
Do not confuse Premium with a CRM. WhatsApp Business Premium improves the app, but it is not a customer relationship management tool. You do not get advanced automatic tagging, you do not get detailed per-agent metrics, and you do not get native integrations with your business software. If you need those capabilities, the right path is the WhatsApp Business API combined with a provider like GuruSup.
Keep the Premium web page up to date. The micro-page created by Premium is visible from the business profile. Make sure that hours, location, and featured products are always current. It is a passive storefront that customers see before messaging you.
Evaluate whether Premium is enough or you need the API. If your team exceeds ten agents, if you need chatbots, if you want to automate responses with artificial intelligence, or if you handle more than one hundred daily conversations, Premium will fall short. At that point, the difference between WhatsApp Business vs API becomes decisive.
Practical Examples of WhatsApp Business Premium
To see how it works in practice, here are five real cases by industry where Premium adds value.
Examples by industry
Restaurant with reservation service. A restaurant in Madrid with three front-of-house employees uses Premium to link the floor manager's phone, the reception tablet, and the kitchen computer. The short link wa.me/restaurantexample appears on Google Maps and on the QR menu. Customers book via WhatsApp and any team member can respond.
Dental clinic with two receptionists. The clinic links four devices (two at reception, one for the manager, and one for the follow-up team). They use quick replies to confirm appointments, and the Premium web page displays the most requested treatments.
Online fashion store. A DTC brand with an Instagram shop and its own website includes its custom short link in all social media bios. When a customer has questions about sizes, they message directly via WhatsApp. The three-person team manages inquiries from separate devices.
Training academy. A language academy uses Premium so its five sales reps can respond from their own phones without sharing a single number. The short link is printed on brochures and in email signatures.
Auto repair shop. The shop links the manager's phone, the counter tablet, and the office computer. Customers send photos of the issue via WhatsApp and the team responds from anywhere in the shop.
Ready-to-use templates
Although Premium does not have pre-defined message templates like the API, you can set up quick replies with shortcuts. Here are some useful examples:
- /hours: "Our business hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM."
- /location : "You can find us at [address]. Here is our location on Google Maps: [link]."
- /pricing : "Here is our updated pricing. If you have any questions, I am available to help."
- /appointment : "To book an appointment, let me know your preferred day and time and I will confirm availability."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WhatsApp Business Premium?
WhatsApp Business Premium is a paid subscription within the WhatsApp Business app that offers additional features such as a custom short link (wa.me/yourbusiness), linking up to ten devices, and a basic web page integrated into the business profile. It is designed for small businesses that need more capacity than the free version but without the technical complexity of the API.
How much does WhatsApp Business Premium cost?
The WhatsApp Business Premium price varies by country and payment platform. In markets where it is available, prices range from 5 to 15 dollars per month (or the local currency equivalent). In Spain, the price can be around 10-12 euros per month, although it depends on Meta's regional rollout. Billing is managed through Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS).
How to get WhatsApp Business Premium?
To activate Premium, you need the latest version of WhatsApp Business installed and to operate in a country where Meta has rolled out the feature. Go to Settings within the app, look for the "Premium" option under business tools, and follow the subscription process. If the option does not appear, it is not yet available for your account or region.
What is the difference between WhatsApp Business and regular WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is the messaging app for personal use. WhatsApp Business is a separate version designed for businesses, with features such as a business profile, product catalog, quick replies, and labels to organize chats. The Business version is free. Premium is a subscription within Business that adds a custom link, more devices, and a web page.
How GuruSup Enhances Your WhatsApp Business Premium
WhatsApp Business Premium meets basic presence and support needs for small teams. But when volume grows, when you need to automate responses, or when you want an AI agent to handle your customers' repetitive inquiries, Premium falls short.
Key Features of GuruSup
GuruSup connects to the WhatsApp Business API to give you what Premium cannot:
- Conversational AI agents that resolve common inquiries without human intervention, 24 hours a day.
- Unlimited multi-agent: you are not limited to ten devices. Your entire team works from a unified dashboard.
- Integration with your CRM and tools. Every conversation is logged, classified, and measured.
- Workflow automation: welcome, lead qualification, handoff to human agent, and post-sale follow-up, all configured once and running autonomously.
How to Get Started with GuruSup
If your business has outgrown what Premium offers, the next logical step is to migrate to the API with a partner that simplifies the process. With GuruSup, you can be operational in less than a week and start automating your customer support from day one.
Try GuruSup for free: automate your customer support with AI agents on WhatsApp.
