Maytapi
Maytapi/Unofficial API/Comparison
ComparisonMaytapi vs whatsapp-web.jsA hosted alternative to whatsapp-web.js
whatsapp-web.js drives WhatsApp Web inside a headless Chrome that you host and keep running. Maytapi gives you the same capabilities as a managed REST API.
Feature by feature: Maytapi vs whatsapp-web.js
| Maytapi | whatsapp-web.js | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hosted REST API and webhooks | Open-source Node.js library (Apache-2.0) |
| What you run | Nothing; we host the sessions | Node.js 18+ and a headless Chrome per session |
| Languages | Any language over HTTP | JavaScript / TypeScript |
| WhatsApp Web updates | We patch and redeploy | You wait for a release and upgrade |
| Many numbers | Add numbers from the dashboard | One browser session per number to host and monitor |
| Dashboard, QR pairing, logs | Included | Build it yourself |
| Cost | From $24 per number per month | Free library, plus servers and your time |
| Control over the code | API surface we provide | Full source access |
Competitor details come from their public pages and repositories, checked October 2026. Prices and features change; tell us if something here is out of date.
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No browsers to babysit
Headless Chrome sessions crash, leak memory and need restarts. With Maytapi they are not your problem.
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Updates are handled for you
When WhatsApp Web changes, we update the sessions; your code keeps calling the same endpoints.
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Use it from any stack
Python, PHP, Go, Java, n8n or an AI agent can call a REST endpoint. A Node library ties you to Node.
whatsapp-web.js is free and gives you full control of the code. For a hobby project or a single number on a server you already run, it is a reasonable choice.
Moving to Maytapi takes an afternoon
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[ 01 ]
Start the free trial
Create an account; every endpoint is open for three days without a card.
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[ 02 ]
Pair the same number
Unlink it from the old service, then scan the QR code in the Maytapi dashboard.
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[ 03 ]
Point your code at Maytapi
Swap the base URL and token, map the message types and set your webhook URL.
Questions about switching
Ask our support team anything over WhatsApp. Average response time is under 24 hours.
Can I use my whatsapp-web.js number with Maytapi?
Yes. Log out the whatsapp-web.js session, then pair the same number with a QR code in the Maytapi dashboard.
Is Maytapi built on whatsapp-web.js?
No. Maytapi runs its own session infrastructure and exposes it as a REST API with webhooks.
Will my code need big changes?
Replace the library calls with HTTP requests to /sendMessage and handle incoming events on your webhook. The payloads are documented with examples in six languages.
Other comparisons
Get your key, send your first message in ten minutes
No approval, no templates, no card. Every endpoint is open for three days.