WATI
Access the WATI (WhatsApp Team Inbox) API with managed authentication. Send WhatsApp messages, manage contacts, and work with message templates.
Quick Start
# Get contacts list
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/wati/api/v1/getContacts?pageSize=10&pageNumber=1')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
Base URL
https://gateway.maton.ai/wati/{native-api-path}
Replace {native-api-path} with the actual WATI API endpoint path. The gateway proxies requests to your WATI instance and automatically injects your API token.
Authentication
All requests require the Maton API key in the Authorization header:
Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY
Environment Variable: Set your API key as MATON_API_KEY:
export MATON_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
Getting Your API Key
- Sign in or create an account at maton.ai
- Go to maton.ai/settings
- Copy your API key
Connection Management
Manage your WATI connections at https://ctrl.maton.ai.
List Connections
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections?app=wati&status=ACTIVE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
Create Connection
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'app': 'wati'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
Get Connection
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
Response:
{
"connection": {
"connection_id": "21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80",
"status": "ACTIVE",
"creation_time": "2025-12-08T07:20:53.488460Z",
"last_updated_time": "2026-01-31T20:03:32.593153Z",
"url": "https://connect.maton.ai/?session_token=...",
"app": "wati",
"metadata": {}
}
}
Open the returned url in a browser to complete authorization.
Delete Connection
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}', method='DELETE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
Specifying Connection
If you have multiple WATI connections, specify which one to use with the Maton-Connection header:
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/wati/api/v1/getContacts?pageSize=10&pageNumber=1')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Maton-Connection', '21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF
If omitted, the gateway uses the default (oldest) active connection.
API Reference
Contacts
Get Contacts
GET /wati/api/v1/getContacts?pageSize=10&pageNumber=1
Query Parameters:
pageSize- Number of results per pagepageNumber- Page number (1-indexed)name(optional) - Filter by contact nameattribute(optional) - Filter by attribute (format:[{"name": "name", "operator": "contain", "value": "test"}])createdDate(optional) - Filter by created date (YYYY-MM-DD)
Attribute operators: contain, notContain, exist, notExist, ==, !=, valid, invalid
Add Contact
POST /wati/api/v1/addContact/{whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"name": "John Doe",
"customParams": [
{
"name": "member",
"value": "VIP"
}
]
}
Update Contact Attributes
POST /wati/api/v1/updateContactAttributes/{whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"customParams": [
{
"name": "member",
"value": "VIP"
}
]
}
Messages
Get Messages
GET /wati/api/v1/getMessages/{whatsappNumber}?pageSize=10&pageNumber=1
Query Parameters:
pageSize- Number of results per pagepageNumber- Page number (1-indexed)
Send Session Message
Send a text message within an active session (24-hour window):
POST /wati/api/v1/sendSessionMessage/{whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
messageText=Hello%20from%20WATI!
Send Session File
Send a file within an active session:
POST /wati/api/v1/sendSessionFile/{whatsappNumber}?caption=Check%20this%20out
Content-Type: multipart/form-data
file=@document.pdf
Message Templates
Get Message Templates
GET /wati/api/v1/getMessageTemplates?pageSize=10&pageNumber=1
Send Template Message
Send a pre-approved template message to a single contact:
POST /wati/api/v1/sendTemplateMessage?whatsappNumber={whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"template_name": "order_update",
"broadcast_name": "order_update",
"parameters": [
{
"name": "name",
"value": "John"
},
{
"name": "ordernumber",
"value": "12345"
}
]
}
Send Template Messages (Bulk)
Send template messages to multiple contacts:
POST /wati/api/v1/sendTemplateMessages
Content-Type: application/json
{
"template_name": "order_update",
"broadcast_name": "order_update",
"receivers": [
{
"whatsappNumber": "14155551234",
"customParams": [
{
"name": "name",
"value": "John"
},
{
"name": "ordernumber",
"value": "12345"
}
]
},
{
"whatsappNumber": "14155555678",
"customParams": [
{
"name": "name",
"value": "Jane"
},
{
"name": "ordernumber",
"value": "67890"
}
]
}
]
}
Send Template Message via CSV
POST /wati/api/v1/sendTemplateMessageCSV?template_name=order_update&broadcast_name=order_update
Content-Type: multipart/form-data
whatsapp_numbers_csv=@contacts.csv
Message Templates (v2 API)
The v2 API provides enhanced response format with message tracking IDs.
Send Template Message (v2)
POST /wati/api/v2/sendTemplateMessage?whatsappNumber={whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"template_name": "order_update",
"broadcast_name": "order_update",
"parameters": [
{
"name": "name",
"value": "John"
}
]
}
Response:
{
"result": true,
"error": null,
"templateName": "order_update",
"receivers": [
{
"localMessageId": "38aca0c0-f80a-409c-81ed-607fa5206529",
"waId": "14155551234",
"isValidWhatsAppNumber": true,
"errors": []
}
],
"parameters": [
{"name": "name", "value": "John"}
]
}
Send Template Messages (v2 - Bulk)
POST /wati/api/v2/sendTemplateMessages
Content-Type: application/json
{
"template_name": "order_update",
"broadcast_name": "order_update",
"receivers": [
{
"whatsappNumber": "14155551234",
"customParams": [
{"name": "name", "value": "John"}
]
},
{
"whatsappNumber": "14155555678",
"customParams": [
{"name": "name", "value": "Jane"}
]
}
]
}
Response:
{
"result": true,
"error": null,
"templateName": "order_update",
"receivers": [
{
"localMessageId": "c486f386-d86d-431d-aa3b-fb1b6c494e58",
"waId": "14155551234",
"isValidWhatsAppNumber": true,
"errors": []
},
{
"localMessageId": "d597f497-e97e-542e-bb4c-718gb6d5a069",
"waId": "14155555678",
"isValidWhatsAppNumber": true,
"errors": []
}
]
}
Interactive Messages
Send Interactive Buttons Message
POST /wati/api/v1/sendInteractiveButtonsMessage?whatsappNumber={whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"header": {
"type": "text",
"text": "Order Status"
},
"body": "Your order #12345 is ready. What would you like to do?",
"footer": "Reply within 24 hours",
"buttons": [
{
"text": "Track Order"
},
{
"text": "Contact Support"
}
]
}
Send Interactive List Message
POST /wati/api/v1/sendInteractiveListMessage?whatsappNumber={whatsappNumber}
Content-Type: application/json
{
"header": "Choose an option",
"body": "Please select from the menu below",
"footer": "Powered by WATI",
"buttonText": "View Options",
"sections": [
{
"title": "Products",
"rows": [
{
"title": "Product A",
"description": "Best seller item"
},
{
"title": "Product B",
"description": "New arrival"
}
]
}
]
}
Operators
Assign Operator
POST /wati/api/v1/assignOperator?email=agent@example.com&whatsappNumber={whatsappNumber}
Media
Get Media
GET /wati/api/v1/getMedia?fileName={fileName}
Pagination
WATI uses page-based pagination:
GET /wati/api/v1/getContacts?pageSize=50&pageNumber=1
Parameters:
pageSize- Results per pagepageNumber- Page number (1-indexed)
Code Examples
JavaScript
const response = await fetch(
'https://gateway.maton.ai/wati/api/v1/getContacts?pageSize=10&pageNumber=1',
{
headers: {
'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.MATON_API_KEY}`
}
}
);
const data = await response.json();
Python
import os
import requests
response = requests.get(
'https://gateway.maton.ai/wati/api/v1/getContacts',
headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}'},
params={'pageSize': 10, 'pageNumber': 1}
)
data = response.json()
Send Template Message
import os
import requests
response = requests.post(
'https://gateway.maton.ai/wati/api/v1/sendTemplateMessage',
headers={
'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
params={'whatsappNumber': '14155551234'},
json={
'template_name': 'order_update',
'broadcast_name': 'order_update',
'parameters': [
{'name': 'name', 'value': 'John'},
{'name': 'ordernumber', 'value': '12345'}
]
}
)
Notes
- WhatsApp numbers should include country code without + or spaces (e.g.,
14155551234) - Session messages can only be sent within 24 hours of the last customer message
- Template messages require pre-approved templates from WhatsApp
- Interactive messages (buttons/lists) have specific character limits set by WhatsApp
- IMPORTANT: When using curl commands, use
curl -gwhen URLs contain brackets to disable glob parsing - IMPORTANT: When piping curl output to
jqor other commands, environment variables like$MATON_API_KEYmay not expand correctly in some shell environments
Error Handling
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 400 | Missing WATI connection or invalid request |
| 401 | Invalid or missing Maton API key |
| 429 | Rate limited |
| 4xx/5xx | Passthrough error from WATI API |