--- "@context": https://schema.org "@type": TechArticle "@id": https://www.twilio.com/docs/usage/trials/try-out-whatsapp#article headline: Try out Twilio WhatsApp Messaging description: Start building with a Twilio trial account. Send and receive your first WhatsApp messages within a few minutes. url: https://www.twilio.com/docs/usage/trials/try-out-whatsapp inLanguage: en dateModified: 2026-10-20T22:48:02.000Z author: "@type": Organization name: Twilio Developer Education Team publisher: "@type": Organization name: Twilio --- # Try out Twilio WhatsApp Messaging To see how WhatsApp Messaging works, you can try it out with a few clicks. You'll be able to send and receive your first WhatsApp messages within a few minutes. As you send messages, you'll be able to see the API request and response that Twilio uses. You can build using the [Messages API reference](/docs/messaging/api/message-resource), knowing that everything you create transfers to a fully featured account when you upgrade. For details about trial free units, restrictions, the 30-day expiration, and post-upgrade free units, see [Twilio trial account](/docs/usage/trials). To get started, go to the [Twilio Console](https://1console.twilio.com/) home page. In the **Try it out** section, click the **Communications** tab, then click **Send a WhatsApp message**. During your WhatsApp trial: * You can only send WhatsApp messages to verified numbers. To verify a number, Twilio will send a verification code to that number that you must enter on the page. * Each account can verify up to five numbers. Verified recipients are shared across Messaging, WhatsApp, and Voice. * The phone number that you signed up with is automatically added as a verified number. * If you have multiple accounts, you can use the same verified number for up to three accounts, including subaccounts. If you sign up for a fourth Twilio account with the same number, your number is not added as a verified number. * Your message is sent from the WhatsApp-enabled number shown in the trial flow. Once you upgrade your account, messages will be sent from a Twilio number that you've purchased and registered with WhatsApp. * Trial numbers can vary by product and by recipient. Make sure you use the correct trial number for the product and recipient you're testing. * You'll choose from a few pre-approved WhatsApp template messages. You won't be able to write your own message. * WhatsApp messages require pre-approved templates for business-initiated conversations. During your trial, Twilio provides these templates for you. When you're ready, you can upgrade your account to use all WhatsApp Messaging functionality. At any time, click **Logs** to view WhatsApp message logs or **Free units tracker** to see how many WhatsApp messages you have left in your trial. ## Step 1: Send a trial WhatsApp message To send your first WhatsApp message, follow these steps: 1. On the **Try out WhatsApp** page, if prompted, acknowledge the Sandbox terms. 2. Scan the QR code to link your device, or send the prepopulated join message from your device to the number provided. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure settings. 4. Send your first message to yourself so you have access to the number to receive WhatsApp messages in your trial account. Note that the API request and response for your message appear on the page. ## Step 2: Receive a trial WhatsApp message On the **Try out WhatsApp** page, select **Inbound**. Send a WhatsApp message from your verified phone number to the WhatsApp-enabled number shown in the trial flow. To inspect or customize responses, choose **Custom** in **Auto-Reply settings**, and add a webhook. ## Using the Messaging API During your trial, you can use the [Messages resource](/docs/messaging/api/message-resource) with some limitations and differences. The fastest way to build during your trial is to copy your request from the code block on the **Try out WhatsApp** page, then make adjustments as needed. You can build in your trial environment, then upgrade to a fully featured account when you're ready. Once trial limitations no longer apply, you can create your own custom WhatsApp message content and set additional parameters that were not supported in your trial. ### Send a WhatsApp message This request uses the [Create a Message](/docs/messaging/api/message-resource#create-a-message-resource) resource. During your trial, you can only use or change the following parameters: * `to`: (Required) The recipient's phone number in WhatsApp format: `whatsapp:+15551234567`. * `from`: (Required) Your Twilio WhatsApp-enabled number in WhatsApp format. * `ContentSid`: (Required) Must specify one of the Twilio-provided WhatsApp template messages shown on the **Try out WhatsApp** page in the Console. * `statusCallback`: (Optional) URL to `POST` message status updates (for example, delivered, read, or failed). ### Receive and reply to WhatsApp messages Use the same approach described in [Receive and Reply to Incoming Messages - Python](/docs/messaging/tutorials/how-to-receive-and-reply/python). However, your WhatsApp trial has the following limitations: * Twilio Functions, Twilio Proxy, and TwiML Bins are not supported. * Direct TwiML XML is not supported during response. ### Messaging logs See [Read multiple Message resources](/docs/messaging/api/message-resource#read-multiple-message-resources) for details about required and optional parameters.