> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gallabox.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp Coexistence

> Use the WhatsApp Business App and Gallabox on the same phone number at the same time.

> **Who can use this?**
>
> * Gallabox users with **channel management permissions**.
> * Roles: Owners and Admins
> * Plans: Available on all Gallabox plans.

<Info>
  Coexistence must be enabled for your workspace by Gallabox support before you begin. [Contact support](mailto:support@gallabox.com).
</Info>

<Warning>
  Coexistence is **not enabled by default**. You must contact Gallabox support before starting the setup — the feature must be activated on your workspace first. Do not start the standard connection flow if you want Coexistence.
</Warning>

## Plan Availability

| Capability                           | Basic | Essential | Advanced |
| ------------------------------------ | :---: | :-------: | :------: |
| Connect a number with Coexistence    |   ✓   |     ✓     |     ✓    |
| Chat and contact sync from the app   |   ✓   |     ✓     |     ✓    |
| Shared inbox for Coexistence numbers |   ✓   |     ✓     |     ✓    |

## What is Coexistence?

Coexistence lets you use the **WhatsApp Business App** on your phone **and** Gallabox on the **same phone number** at the same time.

* **WhatsApp Business App** — continue personal, 1:1 conversations from your phone
* **Gallabox** — run shared inbox, automation, campaigns, and AI agents for your team

Both work on the same phone number, and messages are synced between them. What you send from the app appears in Gallabox, and what your team sends from Gallabox appears in the app.

<Info>
  Delivered and Read statuses do not sync in real time from the WhatsApp Business App for Coexistence channels. This is a known Meta limitation.
</Info>

## Why Use Coexistence?

Before Coexistence, businesses had to choose:

* **WhatsApp Business App** — simple and free, but limited for teams and automation
* **WhatsApp Business API** — powerful, but conversations moved to the platform's inbox

Coexistence removes this trade-off. It's best suited for:

* **Founder-led sales** — you handle high-touch deals from the app; your team manages follow-ups and bulk campaigns in Gallabox
* **Support teams scaling up** — support moves into Gallabox with assignments, SLAs, and AI agents, while you can still respond from your phone when needed
* **Gradual migration** — test Cloud API features first, then decide if you want to go fully API-first later

<Tip>
  If you send high volumes, advertise on one number, or need automation at scale, consider moving fully from the Business App to the WhatsApp Cloud API instead. See [Migrate from Business App](/whatsapp/migrate-from-business-app).
</Tip>

## How Coexistence Works

When you enable Coexistence:

1. Your team gets a **shared inbox** in Gallabox — with assignments, tags, bot flows, broadcasts, and AI agents
2. You and your team can still reply from the **WhatsApp Business App** on your phones
3. **1:1 chat history** (up to 180 days) and your **WhatsApp contacts** can be synced into Gallabox if you choose
4. New messages are **mirrored between both** — including messages you edit or delete from the app

<Info>
  You can plan a migration of a number from Coexistence to a Cloud channel, but it is not possible to move a Cloud channel to Coexistence.
</Info>

## Next Steps

<Columns cols="2">
  <Card title="What Changes on Your Number" href="/whatsapp/coexistence/what-changes">
    What the app can and cannot do afterwards, what syncs, and the sending limits that apply.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set Up Coexistence" href="/whatsapp/coexistence/set-up-coexistence">
    Requirements and the step-by-step connection flow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage Your Connection" href="/whatsapp/coexistence/manage-your-connection">
    Keep the connection alive, handle a phone change, or disconnect.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting and FAQs" href="/whatsapp/coexistence/troubleshooting">
    Fix setup errors and answer the common questions.
  </Card>
</Columns>

## Related Articles

* [Connect Your WhatsApp](/whatsapp/connect-your-whatsapp) — standard Cloud API setup
* [Migrate from Business App](/whatsapp/migrate-from-business-app) — move fully to the API instead