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Choose a channel

An agent can talk on one channel, several, or all of them. Which you connect first depends on who you are reaching, what the conversation needs to show, and whether the agent starts the conversation or waits to be messaged.

Compare the channels

RCS Apple Messages for Business WhatsApp SMS
Reaches Android handsets with RCS iPhone and Mac users WhatsApp users, strongest outside North America Any mobile number
Rich content Cards, carousels, suggested replies, verified brand Cards, list pickers, time pickers, verified brand Cards, buttons, verified brand Text and links
Agent starts the conversation Yes No Not yet: requires Meta-approved templates As fallback
Managed provisioning 3 to 7 business days Several weeks 1 to 2 weeks 1 to 3 weeks (10DLC)
Bring your own account Google RBM, Webex Connect, Vonage Webex Connect Meta Cloud API Twilio

Slack, Viber, and Poe are supported as bring-your-own-account channels for inbound conversations.

When to choose RCS

Choose RCS when your audience is on Android and the conversation benefits from cards, carousels, and suggested replies, or when the agent needs to start the conversation.

RCS is the only channel that supports Outreach today, so an agent that reaches out rather than waiting starts here. Provisioning is also the fastest of the rich channels.

When to choose Apple Messages for Business

Choose Apple Messages for Business when your audience is on iPhone and you want a verified brand experience inside the Messages app, with Apple's own pickers for choosing a time or an option.

The agent answers on Apple Messages for Business and does not start conversations there. Apple's business registration takes several weeks, so start it early.

When to choose WhatsApp

Choose WhatsApp when your audience already uses it, which is most of the world outside North America.

Agents answer inbound WhatsApp conversations today. Business-initiated messages require Meta-approved templates, which are not yet available, so use RCS for outreach in the meantime.

When to choose SMS

Choose SMS as a fallback rather than a destination. Every mobile number can receive it, and Anychat falls back to SMS when a rich channel is unavailable, so the conversation still gets through.

An SMS-only agent works. It sends plain text and links, with no cards or chips, and the agent knows that from the channel line it reads each turn.

Before you choose

Two things are worth settling first.

Managed or bring your own. Managed means Anychat registers the channel account, handles verification, and operates it. Unmanaged means you supply credentials for a provider account you already run and stay responsible for it. Unmanaged bindings are active immediately.

Time. Rich channels involve real-world verification. Connect the channel early and keep building in the emulator while provisioning runs.

What's next