Frequently Asked Questions
Buying & licensing
Can I run WhatsMax as a paid SaaS?
Yes — that is exactly what it is built for. Under Envato terms, charging your end users requires the Extended License (see License).
Can I white-label it?
Yes. The app name, tagline, logo, brand colours, typeface and every section of the public site are configurable in the admin panel — no code. Plans can also grant white-label options to your own top-tier customers. See Configuration and Content.
Does it work on shared hosting?
No. It is a Node.js application requiring long-running processes, MySQL and Redis — you need a VPS or dedicated server. See Requirements.
Is there a web installer?
No. Installation is CLI-based and takes about 10 minutes by copy-pasting commands — see the Installation guide.
WhatsApp & channels
Is this the official WhatsApp API?
Yes. WhatsMax's primary WhatsApp channel is Meta's official WhatsApp Business Cloud API — no phone emulators, no scraping, fully supported by Meta.
There is also an optional QR-linked channel (see below) for teams who need to message from a number that is not on the Cloud API. It is off by default and is not the recommended way to run WhatsMax.
What is the WhatsApp QR channel, and how is it different?
It links an existing WhatsApp account to WhatsMax as a companion device, the same way WhatsApp Web does. It suits teams who already run their business from a normal WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app and cannot move that number to the Cloud API.
| Cloud API (recommended) | WhatsApp QR (optional) | |
|---|---|---|
| Supported by Meta | Yes | No |
| Setup | Meta business verification | Scan a QR code |
| Message templates | Required outside 24h | Not available |
| 24-hour window | Applies | Does not apply |
| Group chats | Not supported | Supported |
| Risk of the number being banned | None | Real |
| Throughput | High | Deliberately throttled |
Can my number get banned on the QR channel?
Yes. This is the honest answer: the QR channel uses a protocol Meta does not support, and WhatsApp does ban numbers that use unofficial clients — especially for bulk messaging to people who never opted in.
WhatsMax reduces the risk but cannot remove it. Sends are paced with randomized delays, new numbers are warmed up gradually over two weeks, daily caps apply, and bulk number verification is blocked on numbers linked less than three days ago. You must tick an explicit risk acknowledgement before linking, and we recommend using a number you can afford to lose rather than your main business line.
If you want a channel with no ban risk, use the Cloud API.
Does the QR channel need anything extra to run?
Yes — one additional long-running process (node scripts/gateway) and Redis. See the production deployment guide. It must run as exactly one instance.
Do my customers need their own WhatsApp numbers?
Yes. Each workspace connects its own WhatsApp Business number via its own Meta business account (the embedded signup flow makes this painless).
Why can't I send a free-form message to a contact?
WhatsApp's 24-hour rule: outside the service window only Meta-approved templates can be sent. This is a WhatsApp platform policy, not a WhatsMax limitation.
Are message/conversation fees included?
No — Meta bills conversation fees directly to each connected business's payment method. WhatsMax doesn't add per-message charges.
AI
Which AI providers are supported?
OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude) and Google (Gemini). Platform-wide keys, per-workspace keys, or both — see AI Providers.
Who pays for AI usage?
Whoever owns the configured key. Set platform keys and cap usage via plan limits, or let workspaces bring their own keys.
Operations
Campaigns stay "queued" and bots never reply — why?
The worker is not running, or the scheduler cron entry is missing. Check pm2 status, crontab -l, and Admin → System → Queue / Cron Setup. See Troubleshooting.
How do I back up?
Nightly mysqldump of the database plus a copy of .env and (if using local storage) public/storage. See the backup commands in Updating.
Can I scale to multiple servers?
Yes — the web tier is stateless and scales horizontally. Use S3 storage, shared MySQL and Redis, as many workers as you need, and the scheduler cron entry on exactly one host. Notes in Production.
How do I change the platform language or currency?
Admin → Configuration → Languages / Currencies. You control which are available; each user picks their own in Account → Settings. See Configuration.
Customization
Can I modify the source code?
Yes, full source is included (TypeScript/Next.js). Keep your changes in version control — updates replace application files, and you'll need to re-apply custom patches after upgrading.
Is there an API?
Yes — a full REST API with bearer tokens, outgoing webhooks and mobile-optimized endpoints. See Developer API.