How do I install WhatsApp Messaging API?

Copy the stdio config for Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or VS Code on this page. It uses the publisher's install, not a PlugMCP proxy.

Does WhatsApp Messaging API need an API key?

The publisher lists these environment variables: WHATSAPP_API_KEY.

What transport does WhatsApp Messaging API use?

WhatsApp Messaging API runs locally over stdio.

When was WhatsApp Messaging API last checked?

Last checked 2026-11-09. Send WhatsApp messages from Claude. No Meta Business approval or WhatsApp Business account.

WhatsApp Messaging API MCP server

Power your agent

Add this server

The publisher's own command. Not a PlugMCP endpoint.

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code Run on PlugMCP

Host a copy with our keys and logs.

Local command

npx -y [email protected]

Credentials from the publisher

WHATSAPP_API_KEY — RapidAPI key for the WhatsApp Messaging API. Free tier, no credit card.

Claude Code has no install link for a local command. Copy the command below and run it in a terminal.

shClaude Code

1WHATSAPP_API_KEY=<secret> claude mcp add io.github.jevil25-whatsapp-messaging-api-mcp -- npx -y whatsapp-messaging-api-mcp@1.0.3

Run in a terminal.

jsonClaude Desktop

1{2  "mcpServers": {3    "io.github.jevil25-whatsapp-messaging-api-mcp": {4      "command": "npx",5      "args": [6        "-y",7        "[email protected]"8      ],9      "env": {10        "WHATSAPP_API_KEY": "<secret>"11      }12    }13  }14}

claude_desktop_config.json

Local · npmPublisher installStep-by-step: add this in Claude

Remote URL or a command on your machine? How the two installs differ

Run on PlugMCP

Host a copy with our keys and logs.

A new server you create. It is not this listing's official endpoint. Use the publisher install when you want their URL and their credentials.

Launch

Server facts

Local

Transport: stdio
Version: 1.0.3
API key

Tools

No tool list yet. Remote servers get one after the first health check.

FAQ

Questions

WhatsApp Messaging API — MCP Server

Send WhatsApp messages from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client. Create a session, scan a QR code, and send text, images and files — no Meta Business approval and no WhatsApp Business account required.

Wraps the WhatsApp Messaging API.

Quick start

Get a free API key from RapidAPI — no credit card.

Add this to your MCP client config (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "whatsapp-messaging-api-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "WHATSAPP_API_KEY": "your-rapidapi-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Restart the client. Ask it to create a WhatsApp session and show you the QR code.

Nothing to install or build — npx fetches the package on first run.

Tools

Tool	Description
`list_sessions`	List all sessions on this API key
`create_session`	Create a new session
`get_session_status`	Check a session's current status
`get_qr_code`	Get the QR code to authenticate a session
`request_pairing_code`	Get an 8-digit pairing code instead of a QR
`check_contact_exists`	Check if a phone number is on WhatsApp before sending
`send_text_message`	Send a text message
`send_image`	Send an image via URL
`send_file`	Send a file (PDF, document) via URL

Typical flow

create_session → get_qr_code → scan with WhatsApp (Settings → Linked Devices)
get_session_status until it reports WORKING
check_contact_exists, then send_text_message / send_image / send_file

Sessions stay authenticated between runs, so steps 1-2 are one-time per number.

Configuration

Variable	Required	Description
`WHATSAPP_API_KEY`	yes	Your RapidAPI key. The server exits on startup if it is missing.

The key is read from the environment and sent only to the API host. It is never logged.

Local development

git clone https://github.com/jevil25/whatsapp-messaging-api-mcp.git
cd whatsapp-messaging-api-mcp
npm install
npm run dev      # runs src/index.ts directly via tsx, no build step
npm run build    # compile to dist/
npm test         # boots the built server and drives a real MCP handshake

npm test needs no credentials — it passes a dummy key, which gets far enough to list tools because nothing in the handshake makes an API call.

To point an MCP client at your local build, use "command": "node" with "args": ["/absolute/path/to/dist/index.js"].

See DEVELOPING.md for the release process.

License

MIT

WhatsApp Messaging API

Add this server

Host a copy with our keys and logs.

Server facts

Tools

Questions

How do I install WhatsApp Messaging API?

Does WhatsApp Messaging API need an API key?

What transport does WhatsApp Messaging API use?

When was WhatsApp Messaging API last checked?

Documentation

WhatsApp Messaging API — MCP Server

Quick start

Tools

Typical flow

Configuration

Local development

Links

License