> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dialtu.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Requirements

> What you need before connecting WhatsApp to Dialtu

Gather these before you start. The connection pauses halfway to scan a QR code, so it's worth
having everything to hand.

## The essentials

<Check>
  **The Facebook account linked to your WhatsApp Business number.** This is the account you'll
  sign in with in the Meta window, and it needs permissions on the business's portfolio.
</Check>

<Check>
  **The phone holding that number, with the WhatsApp app installed.** You need it to scan the QR
  code that links the number. Without physical access to that phone you can't complete a
  Coexistence connection.
</Check>

<Check>
  **A Meta business portfolio.** If your business already uses WhatsApp Business, you usually
  have one.
</Check>

<Check>
  **WhatsApp permissions inside Dialtu.** If you can't see the WhatsApp Business section under
  Settings, ask your administrator to check your role.
</Check>

## About the number

<Warning>
  The number **must not already be linked to another WhatsApp Business API account**. A number
  can only be connected to one platform at a time.
</Warning>

If your team already uses the number from the phone app, that's **not a problem** — it's exactly
the case [Coexistence](/en/channels/whatsapp/onboarding-mode) solves.

## What you don't need

<Note>
  * **You don't need to buy a number from Dialtu.** You bring the WhatsApp number yourself, on
    your own Meta account. The [phone numbers](/en/getting-started/phone-numbers) Dialtu provides
    are for **voice and SMS**, not WhatsApp.
  * **You don't need to configure anything technical.** There are no webhooks or keys to copy —
    the process is guided from start to finish.
</Note>

## About billing

<Check>
  WhatsApp conversations are **billed by Meta directly to your account**, not by Dialtu. You
  connect your own WhatsApp Business account and Meta charges you for them.

  Dialtu only charges credits for **AI-generated messages**. See
  [Credits](/en/getting-started/credits).
</Check>

## Next step

<Card title="Cloud API or Coexistence" icon="code-compare" href="/en/channels/whatsapp/onboarding-mode">
  Decide how to onboard the number before you start.
</Card>