For export trade, cross-border e-commerce and overseas support, WhatsApp is often how customers prefer to reach you. The usual mistake when buying an account is not the price but the type and country: buying a regular account when you need a catalog, or a US number when your customers are in Brazil. This guide covers both.
The four types of WhatsApp accounts
All four deliver sign-in details and none ship a SIM card. They differ in age, the number used to register and the app you sign in with.
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct-login (1 month) | Registered at least a month ago, ready to sign in | Trials, short projects, tight budgets |
| 1-year-old | Registered at least a year ago, with a longer normal history | Long-term customer contact, a team's main numbers |
| SIM-registered | Registered on a real local carrier SIM, 1 year old | When the number's source matters, long-term use |
| Business | Registered on the WhatsApp Business app | Business profile, catalog and auto-replies |
Choose the type by use
- Just chatting with friends and colleagues abroad: a US direct-login account is enough.
- Prospecting new customers or testing: start with a direct-login account; it costs the least.
- A number for business cards, websites and stores: choose a 1-year-old or SIM-registered account, since you won't want to change it later.
- Many customers, a product showcase, auto-replies at night: choose a Business account, or sign in to a regular account from the WhatsApp Business app.
Choose the country by market
Customers reply more readily to a number from their own country and are less likely to treat you as spam. Pick by region:
| Market | Countries |
|---|---|
| North America | United States, Canada (both +1; the country in the option is what you get) |
| Europe | UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands |
| Latin America | Brazil (Portuguese); Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador (Spanish) |
| Middle East | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye |
| Southeast Asia | Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines |
| South Asia | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh |
| East Asia & Oceania | Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Australia |
| Africa | Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya |
If you serve several markets, use one number per market and one number per phone rather than switching back and forth.
Check before you order
- Pick the right country; it cannot be changed after delivery.
- Have a phone ready; a number can only be active on one phone at a time.
- Sign in and check within 1 hour of delivery; if it fails or the account is disabled within that hour, we replace it or refund you.
- Turn on two-step verification right after signing in.
Every type and country is in the Social (Global Trade) category.