How to Send WhatsApp Bulk Messages: Methods and Safe Steps

A WhatsApp bulk message means sending the same announcement or campaign to many people without having to message each one individually. It sounds simple, but messages sent to the wrong audience, at the wrong pace, or without permission can both annoy the recipient and lead to your number being restricted. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the methods you can use, the steps you need to complete before getting started, and how to send messages step by step using WapFlow. In short: if the audience has given permission, the volume is reasonable, and there’s a clear way out, bulk messaging is a useful tool.

Ways to Send Bulk Messages on WhatsApp

There are three basic methods. Which one is appropriate depends on the size of your audience, your budget, and your technical resources.

Method	How does it work?	Strengths	Limit
Broadcast list	The same message is sent to the people you select in the WhatsApp app	It’s free and requires no installation	Only people who have saved you in their contacts receive the message; the number of recipients is limited
Official WhatsApp Business Platform (API)	Messages are sent via Meta or a solution partner using approved templates	It is Meta’s official business channel and is suitable for high volume	Requires an application, template approval, and a message fee; setup may be more technical
Device-based dashboards (such as WapFlow)	You link your number via a QR code; the dashboard manages messaging	Quick setup, personalization, campaign tracking, and tools all in one panel	This is not an official API; the risk of account restrictions is not completely eliminated

Let’s be honest here: WhatsApp’s terms of service do not look favorably upon unsolicited and automated bulk messaging. WapFlow is not an official API service and is not endorsed by WhatsApp or Meta. No tool can guarantee you won’t get banned. What manages the risk is not so much the tool’s name as how you use it. If you’d like to compare the options in more detail, check out our guide to choosing a WhatsApp automation tool.

Before You Begin: Consent and Legal Framework

The most critical step in mass messaging isn’t writing the message—it’s deciding who to send it to.

Only message people who have given their consent. The fact that someone has made a purchase from you or that their number is on a list does not necessarily mean they have automatically given permission to receive commercial messages. Obtaining explicit consent via a form, at checkout, or in a chat is the most reliable approach.
Offer an opt-out option. Include a clear option in every marketing message—such as “Text STOP if you no longer wish to receive messages”—and actually honor this request.
Review the IYS and KVKK. In Turkey, the Message Management System (IYS) rules apply to commercial electronic messages, and the KVKK applies to personal data. The specific obligations that apply to you depend on your business structure and the type of message. This article is not legal advice; seek legal counsel before launching a campaign.

Prepare Your Number and List

Don’t rush with a new number

It’s suspicious for a newly activated number to message hundreds of people on the very first day. Let a normal conversation history develop first, and gradually increase the number of messages sent. If you have at least two accounts, the “account warming” feature will help make this transition more gradual.

Clean Up Your List

Messaging numbers that don’t have WhatsApp is both a waste of time and may be flagged as spam. Use a number validator to check your list before sending. Organizing your contacts into labels and groups allows you to message the relevant audience instead of sending the same message to everyone. For more on this, check out our article on contact management.

Sending Bulk Messages with WapFlow: Step by Step

Link your account. From the “My Accounts” page, link your number using a QR code or pairing code. Accounts in the warm-up period cannot be used for sending messages.
Open the “Send to Contacts” page. Select the sender account. If you have multiple accounts, you can select several of them.
Add recipients. Select them from your contacts or enter the numbers manually. Numbers marked as “Not on WhatsApp” in your contacts will be excluded from the message.
Write your message. [isim] Personalize it with variables such as {Merhaba|Selam} and add variety to your text using spintax. You can add photos, videos, audio, documents, locations, contact cards, polls, and events.
Adjust the speed. In Advanced Settings, enter the wait time between messages, account switching, and regular break values. The panel’s defaults are a 90–120-second wait and a 5-minute break every 25 messages.
Enable Safe Mode. Safe Mode does not send messages to numbers not saved in WhatsApp; it marks the chat as “seen” before each message and displays “Typing…” for a few seconds. Sending may be slightly slower.
Send a test message to yourself. The “Test to Myself” option sends a single message from the first selected account to its own number. Check the variables and links here.
Start or schedule. You can start the campaign immediately or schedule it for a future date and time. Accounts must be logged in at the scheduled time.
Track the results. View successful, failed, and non-WhatsApp numbers on the Campaigns page. Even if you leave the page, delivery continues on the server.

A detailed explanation of the settings is available in our article on creating campaigns.

Delivery Speed and Volume: How Safe Is It?

WhatsApp does not publish a specific daily or hourly limit, so approach any information claiming “sending fewer than this number is safe” with caution. It appears that the account’s age, history, recipient response, and message content are all evaluated together, but the criteria are not clear. In practice, the following principles work well:

Start with a small group, observe the results, and gradually increase the volume.
Spread out your sends throughout the day rather than shortening the wait time. The “Quick Mode” in the dashboard resets the wait time and carries a risk of being banned; we do not recommend it for marketing campaigns.
Enable quiet hours in the Settings > Delivery and Security section. Sending messages at night increases the likelihood of complaints.
Use the “Skip recipients who recently received messages” option to avoid sending frequent messages to the same person.
Don’t reuse a list that hasn’t generated responses. Low engagement indicates it’s time to review the list.

Message Content: Why Do People File Complaints?

Most complaints stem from messages being irrelevant or unexpected. A good mass message is short, states who you are in the first sentence, explains why you’re reaching out, and asks for a single action.

Hello [name], this is Ece from Lale Florist. You stopped by last month, and our Mother’s Day bouquets are ready for this weekend. Would you like a catalog? If you don’t want to receive messages, you can reply with STOP.

There’s no link in this example because users who receive mass messages with links from people they don’t know are more likely to report them as spam. The dashboard also alerts you when a message contains a link. It’s safer to send the link only to those who reply. If you want to automatically follow up when someone says “yes,” an auto-reply bot comes in handy at this point.

Automatically Block Those Who Write “STOP”

We recommend enabling the “Automatically block those who type ‘STOP’” option under Settings > Delivery and Security; it is disabled by default. Only when a customer types one of the keywords you’ve specified (such as “stop,” “stop,” or “cancel”) will their number be added to the block list, and they will no longer receive campaign messages. Phrases like “What’s the status?” are not considered triggers. If you wish, a confirmation message can also be sent. You can also manually add numbers to the Block List in the Contact List.

Which Messages Are Suitable for Bulk Sending?

Not all content is suitable for bulk messaging. The table below serves as a general guide.

Message Type	Suitability	Note
Appointment reminder	Suitable	The person is already in a process with you
Order and shipping information	Appropriate	Must be personalized—check the variables
Announcement to customers	Careful	Check permissions and frequency; add an opt-out option
Discounts and promotions	Caution	Commercial message rules apply; send only to an approved audience
Promotions to people who don’t know you	Not recommended	This is the scenario with the highest risk of complaints and restrictions

Using a Group or Channel Instead of Individual Contacts

If your announcement is the same for everyone, using a different channel might be more appropriate than messaging people individually. The “Groups” page allows you to send bulk messages to WhatsApp groups you’re a member of. However, follow the group rules and avoid sending the same text to every group in succession. If your plan includes it, the “Channels” page is for one-way broadcasting. Since followers choose the channel themselves, the likelihood of complaints about unwanted messages decreases, and subscribers do not see your number. The downside is that you have to build your audience from scratch. For businesses that share content regularly, considering these channels alongside bulk messaging can be beneficial.

Common Mistakes

Sending messages to lists found online or purchased.
Sending the same text without any variations at a high volume.
Failing to provide an opt-out option or ignoring “STOP” requests.
Including links and long promotional text in the first message.
Repeating the same campaign without reviewing the results. Check out our article on campaign analysis for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can you message at once on WhatsApp?

Broadcast lists have a per-person limit, and this limit may change over time. When sending messages via the dashboard, the number of messages depends on the rate you set, not the package limit; however, keep in mind that WhatsApp has not specified a definitive safe number.

Can I send messages to people who don’t have my number saved?

Technically, it’s possible, but if the recipient doesn’t know you, the likelihood of being blocked or reported increases. Only message people who have given their consent.

Will I get banned for sending bulk messages?

There is a risk, and no tool can eliminate it entirely. A consented audience, a reasonable sending rate, a verified list, and an opt-out option help reduce the risk.

Is WapFlow the official WhatsApp API?

No. WapFlow uses your phone number as a linked device; it is not the official Business API service and is not affiliated with WhatsApp or Meta.

What are the fees?

Account, contact, and feature limits vary by plan. See the pricing page for the latest information.