Send freeform

Sends a freeform (free-text) WhatsApp message to a recipient. Unlike template messages, freeform messages can contain any text but require an active 24-hour messaging window — meaning the recipient must have sent a message to your WhatsApp number within the last 24 hours.

Freeform messages can only be sent during an active 24-hour messaging window. If the session has expired, send a template message first to re-initiate the conversation.

This endpoint is rate-limited to 5 requests per second per user.

Endpoint

POST /user/whatsapp/send-freeform

Request

integer

required

ID of the WhatsApp sender to send from. Use the Get senders endpoint to retrieve available senders.

string

required

Recipient’s phone number in international format (e.g., +1234567890).

string

required

Message content to send. Maximum 4096 characters.

Response

boolean

Whether the message was sent successfully.

integer

ID of the conversation.

integer

ID of the conversation message record.

integer

ID of the WhatsApp message record.

string

Twilio message SID for delivery tracking.

object

Updated session status after sending.

Show Session status properties

boolean

Whether the 24-hour window is open.

boolean

Whether freeform messages can be sent now.

boolean

Whether a template message is required.

string

Human-readable description of the session state.

integer

Minutes remaining in the 24-hour window.

string

ISO 8601 timestamp when the session expires.

Example

curl -X POST "https://portal.intellixent.ai/api/user/whatsapp/send-freeform" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "sender_id": 12,
    "recipient_phone": "+1234567890",
    "message": "Thank you for your inquiry! Our team will get back to you within 2 hours."
  }'

const response = await fetch('https://portal.intellixent.ai/api/user/whatsapp/send-freeform', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    sender_id: 12,
    recipient_phone: '+1234567890',
    message: 'Thank you for your inquiry! Our team will get back to you within 2 hours.'
  })
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.session_status.minutes_remaining);

200 Success

{
  "success": true,
  "conversation_id": 1234,
  "message_id": 567,
  "whatsapp_message_id": 890,
  "message_sid": "SMxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
  "session_status": {
    "is_open": true,
    "can_send_freeform": true,
    "requires_template": false,
    "message": "Session open (23 hr 45 min remaining). Unlimited free-form messages allowed.",
    "minutes_remaining": 1425,
    "expires_at": "2026-02-25T10:30:00+00:00"
  }
}

403 Session expired

{
  "success": false,
  "error": "The 24-hour messaging window is closed. Customer must reply first, or use a template message.",
  "error_code": "SESSION_EXPIRED",
  "session_status": {
    "is_open": false,
    "can_send_freeform": false,
    "requires_template": true,
    "message": "Session expired. Send a template or wait for customer to reply."
  }
}

503 Sender offline

{
  "success": false,
  "error": "Sender is not online. Current status: Offline",
  "error_code": "SENDER_OFFLINE"
}

24-hour messaging window

When a customer sends a message to your WhatsApp number, a 24-hour window opens.
During this window, you can send freeform messages freely.
After the window expires, use a template message to re-initiate the conversation.
Each new customer message resets the 24-hour timer.

Overview

Assistants

Calls

Campaigns & Leads

Conversations

Messaging

Phone Numbers

Knowledge & Tools

Webhooks

Endpoint

Request

Response

Example

24-hour messaging window

​Endpoint

​Request

​Response

​Example

​24-hour messaging window

Endpoint

Request

Response

Example

24-hour messaging window