Broadcast lists vs marketing templates after Coexistence
Once a number is connected through Coexistence, the WhatsApp Business app's broadcast lists become read-only and new ones cannot be created. The API equivalent is a marketing template sent to each recipient, which needs opt-in, counts against the portfolio's messaging limit, is billed by Meta and respects each person's marketing preferences.
What existing broadcast lists become after Coexistence onboarding; new ones cannot be created.
The error when a marketing template is held back by per-user marketing limits.
The error when the recipient has stopped marketing messages from the business.
WhatsApp does not currently deliver marketing templates to users with United States phone numbers.
What replaces a broadcast list on the API?
An approved marketing template, sent once per recipient through Cloud API. There is no list object on the API side: the integration holds the audience and sends the template to each number in it.
That changes three things at once. The content goes through Meta's template review before it can be sent. Each send outside the customer service window opens a conversation that Meta charges to the payment method on the business's own WhatsApp Business Account. And each unique recipient counts against the portfolio's messaging limit for the moving 24 hours.
The disabling itself, and the reasons Meta gives for it, are covered on the page about features Coexistence switches off.
Who may receive a marketing template?
People who gave the business their number and opted in to hear from it. Meta's Business Messaging Policy makes both conditions explicit, and the opt-in has to name the business and state that the person is agreeing to receive its messages.
Meta leaves the method to the business, provided it meets those requirements and applicable law: SMS, a website form, an IVR call or a signed paper form are all listed examples. The evidence of opt-in therefore sits in the business's own records, not in a phone's contact list.
Sending to people who never opted in is also the fastest way to collect blocks and reports, which is what lowers quality.
Why do some marketing templates not arrive?
Because the API applies controls per recipient that broadcast lists never surfaced.
- Per-user marketing limits: WhatsApp may hold back marketing templates to a person who is less likely to engage, returning 131049.
- Stopped marketing: a person can stop marketing messages from the business in the Offers and announcements setting, returning 131050.
- United States numbers: WhatsApp does not currently deliver marketing templates to users with US phone numbers.
- Excluded regions: per-user limits are not currently active for the EEA, UK, Japan or South Korea.
Does the app's own marketing messages tool still work?
Meta's Coexistence feature table puts the app's messaging tools in one row, naming marketing messages, greeting message, away message, quick replies and labels, and records no change to them in the WhatsApp Business app after onboarding. The same row marks them as not supported on Cloud API.
So the app's marketing messages feature and API marketing templates are two separate routes on the same number. Meta also states that messages sent from the WhatsApp Business app continue to be free after onboarding, while messages sent through Cloud API follow Cloud API pricing.
Broadcast lists are the exception that does change, which is why they need a replacement.
Common mistakes
- Retrying a 131049 straight away. Meta asks for at least 24 hours, and early retries can block further attempts for up to a day.
- Retrying a 131050. The person stopped marketing messages from the business, and the message will not be received.
- Importing a broadcast list as an opt-in list. Having saved the number is not the opt-in the policy describes.
EasyCoexistence sends approved templates through the dashboard or the MCP connector, charges a flat fee per connected number with nothing per message, and leaves Meta's template charges on the business's own account.
Frequently asked questions
Are my broadcast lists deleted?
No. Existing broadcast lists become read-only, and new ones cannot be created while the number is connected.
Do I need a template to message my broadcast audience?
Outside a customer service window, yes. A marketing template is the API route for business-initiated promotion.
Why did a template fail with 131050?
That recipient has chosen to stop receiving marketing messages from your business. Meta says not to retry.
Is the app's marketing messages feature gone?
Meta lists the app's messaging tools, including marketing messages, as unchanged in the app after onboarding.
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