Testing safely

There is no sandbox and no test mode. Every flow that runs sends real WhatsApp messages, and every template it sends is billed by Meta. Test with sample events, your own phone number, and a project set aside for testing.

Webhooks: send test eventsCopy Anchor Link

On Integrations → Webhooks, Send test posts a sample of any event to an endpoint, signed with its current secret, and shows what your endpoint answered.

• Choose Ping for a request with no customer data, or any event type for that event's documented example.
• A test carries "test": true in the envelope; real events carry "test": false. Drop tests before they reach your CRM.
• The endpoint does not have to be subscribed to the event, or switched on.
• A test is not retried, and a failed test does not count towards switching the endpoint off.
• Tests and resends are limited to 10 a minute per account.

See Testing webhooks.

Reaching a receiver on your computerCopy Anchor Link

We only deliver to public https:// addresses, so localhost cannot receive events. Run a tunnel, such as ngrok http 3000, and add the HTTPS address it prints as an endpoint. Remove the endpoint when you are done: tunnel addresses are often reused by someone else later.

Flow triggers: test with your own numberCopy Anchor Link

A flow trigger URL has no dry run: an accepted request sends the flow's template to the number in the body.

1. Build the flow and create its URL, but leave it unpublished.
2. Send one request with your own phone number. It is answered 409 flow_off, and the builder keeps the body so you can map its fields with a tap.
3. Publish the flow, then send a request with your own number again, with a new Idempotency-Key.

A project for testingCopy Anchor Link

A project is a separate company in your account, with its own channels, contacts, flows and webhook endpoints, and its own company.id in events. Connect a test number to a project and build test flows there, so they can never reach your customers. Templates its automations send count against the daily allowance shared with the rest of your account.