Frequently Asked Questions

Text, images, documents in any format (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, ZIP, and more), video, audio, interactive button messages (up to 3 buttons), list menus, location pins, contact cards, and copy-code/OTP messages.

File size limits by plan: Starter & Standard — 25 MB  •  Premium & Ultimate — 50 MB per file. SMESS auto-detects the file type from the filename — no MIME type configuration needed.

Yes — that's Linked Channels. If your number isn't ready yet (a brand-new number needs a warm-up period, and some projects are one-off events or launches), a partner business already sending on SMESS can sponsor your delivery.

• Both sides consent. You request the link from your Connections page; the sponsor approves it from theirs. Either party can end it instantly.
• The sponsor stays in control. They set a daily cap, a total cap, and an end date before approving, and watch usage live.
• You keep your own identity. Your API keys, your quota, your reports, your webhooks — only the delivery channel is shared. Nothing about the sponsor's credentials is exposed to you, and nothing of yours to them.
• Recipients see the sponsor's number and business name. WhatsApp ties the sender identity to the number itself — no provider can change that per message. So SMESS automatically labels every linked message with your brand (and optionally an event name and date) on the first lines, e.g. “*Your Brand* / Spring Launch · 01 Aug 2026”, so recipients always know who is really writing.

It's the fastest way to go live on day one — then move to your own number once it's warmed up, with no code changes.

Yes — to any country. Write the number in full international form and it is accepted worldwide; there is no country list to request or maintain. Perfect for businesses with diaspora customers, international suppliers, or guests travelling in for an event.

• Accepted: +233000000000 (Ghana) · +44000000000 (UK) · +10000000000 (US/Canada) · +96100000000 (Lebanon) · +97100000000 (UAE) · +8600000000000 (China) — and every other country code.
• Also accepted: local Ghanaian format 0240000000 (converted automatically), numbers without the + such as 233000000000, and numbers containing spaces, dashes or brackets.
• Rejected (with a clear reason): a country code with no number (+233), anything starting +0, numbers shorter than 7 or longer than 15 digits, and anything containing letters.

One honest note: a valid number still has to have an active WhatsApp account. If it doesn't, you'll see the reason in your dashboard (or delivery webhook) rather than a rejected send.

Every send returns a queue_id, and you can watch each message's final state in your portal (Queue and Messages pages). If you'd rather be told than have to look, turn on a delivery webhook:

• Go to API Keys → Delivery Webhook, save your HTTPS endpoint and generate a signing secret — no support ticket needed.
• SMESS then POSTs a signed message.status event (sent or failed, with the failure reason) the moment each message reaches its final state, so your own dashboard can show delivery problems in real time.
• Use Send test event to confirm your endpoint accepts and verifies it correctly before you rely on it.

Two separate credentials are involved: your API key authenticates messages you send, and the signing secret proves incoming webhooks really came from SMESS. Keep them distinct — then rotating one never breaks the other.

Most messages are delivered within 2 seconds. Our queue processes in real-time with automatic retries. Track every delivery from the dashboard.

You need an active phone number that can receive WhatsApp messages. Here's the breakdown:

• Personal WhatsApp: Works, but not recommended for business use — it lacks professional features and has lower trust with recipients.
• WhatsApp Business app (free): Recommended for small and medium businesses. Same number, but with a business profile, catalog, and auto-replies.
• Meta Business Verification: Entirely optional, and bought directly from Meta (from approx. $11/month). It applies to your business presence on Meta's own platforms — it is not required to use SMESS, and it does not change how SMESS delivers your messages or raise your SMESS sending limits. Learn more at Meta Business.

SMESS handles all the technical API routing and message delivery infrastructure. We configure your number and get you sending — but the number and its Meta compliance status remain yours.

No number ready yet? A partner business already on SMESS can sponsor your delivery with Linked Channels — see the question below.

Note: SMESS is an independent service and is not affiliated with Meta Platforms, Inc. or WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a trademark of Meta Platforms, Inc.

When your quota is exhausted:

• Your client dashboard will show a quota alert in real-time so you always know your usage.
• The API returns a 429 Too Many Requests error — messages are not lost, they are rejected at the API level.
• You can purchase extra message credits for the current month without waiting for the next billing cycle.
• Quotas automatically reset on the 1st of every month.

SMESS works with any country and any valid international phone number worldwide. Simply provide the full international number (e.g. +1 USA, +44 UK, +233 Ghana) and messages are delivered globally. Contact us if you need support for a specific region.

Yes! We offer a 30-day free trial with 100 messages — no credit card required. Register now or email sales@smess.io and we’ll have you set up within minutes.

Payments are processed securely via Paystack (a Stripe company). Accepted methods include:

• Credit & debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
• Mobile Money — MTN, Vodafone/Telecel, AirtelTigo (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya)
• Bank transfers
• Enterprise clients can request invoicing with NET-30 terms

No. SMESS is an independent messaging infrastructure service. WhatsApp and Meta are trademarks of Meta Platforms, Inc. Use of WhatsApp’s services is subject to Meta’s own Terms of Service. By using SMESS, you agree to comply with all applicable WhatsApp policies and Meta platform rules.