Baileys is the open-source library most unofficial WhatsApp tools are built on - including much of this market. It's free, MIT-licensed, and excellent. It's also just a library: you write the HTTP API, the queueing, the media handling, the session persistence, and the reconnect logic for the sockets that drop every day or two. WABridges is what you'd build after a few weekends of that - already built, hosted, and $5/month.
| Self-hosting Baileys | WABridges | |
|---|---|---|
| Library cost | Free (MIT) | $5/bridge/month all-in |
| HTTP API layer | You write it | Included |
| Session persistence | You build and back it up | Managed - survives restarts |
| Disconnect handling | DIY reconnect logic | Handled |
| Media upload/download | You implement it | One endpoint |
| Webhooks | You build the dispatcher | Included with delivery logs |
| Protocol updates | Watch the repo, redeploy | Handled for you |
| Server | Your VPS + monitoring | Included |
| Time to first message | Hours to days | Under 60 seconds |
Provision a bridge, pair a number, start sending in under 60 seconds. Flat pricing, unlimited messages, prorated refund if you cancel.