Channels
Which channels you can connect
Updated September 27, 20262 min read
Chato connects every customer channel to one shared inbox — Chats. Inquiries, DMs, calls, and emails from different sources land there the same way: with tags, an owner, and history.
What already works
| Channel | How you connect it | Can message first |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp (QR) | Scan a QR code with your phone | Yes, on the PRO and MAX plans |
| WhatsApp Business API (WABA) | Official connection through Meta | Yes, using approved templates |
| Log in to a business Instagram account | No — platform limitation | |
| Telegram bot | A bot token from @BotFather | No — a Telegram rule |
| Telegram personal account | Log in with a Telegram code or a QR code | Yes, we recommend up to 20 new contacts a day |
| Corporate email | Gmail, Outlook or any IMAP/SMTP mailbox | Yes |
| Website widget | A widget snippet on your site | Always — the visitor starts the conversation |
| Facebook UTM | Link your ad account | — |
| Calls (telephony) | Your own SIP trunk (Beeline, Altel, and others) | — |
Not sure where to start? Read Getting started with Chato. For WhatsApp, that's usually the fastest option: connecting takes less than a minute.
Coming soon
TikTok and Kaspi.kz are shown in the channel list (Channels → Add channel) tagged "Soon" — you can't connect a new one yet. There's already an article about TikTok — read it as a preview of what to expect once connecting opens.
Which channel to choose
- A simple, high-volume channel for customers in the CIS — WhatsApp QR: connects fastest, no Meta review.
- An official channel with templates and no ban risk — WhatsApp Business API. Costs more and needs Meta approval, but it's never banned for activity.
- You need to message customers first — WhatsApp QR on the PRO and MAX plans, WABA with approved templates, or a personal Telegram account. More in Connecting Telegram.
- Customer emails — corporate email: emails land in the same inbox as chats. See Connecting business email.
- Leads from your site — the widget: not just chat, but a form to collect contacts too.
- Call-center calls — telephony, if you already have a SIP trunk with one of the supported providers.
See the articles in this section for details and setup steps.