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Polymorfa vs self-hosted WhatsApp gateways

Evolution API, WAHA and OpenWA are free to download. Running them means servers, upgrades and someone on call. Polymorfa is the operated alternative, with the official route and calls built in.

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Operations

Free software still has a running cost.

Each gateway needs servers, a database for session keys, reconnect handling and upgrades when WhatsApp changes its protocol. Someone has to respond when numbers disconnect at night.

With Polymorfa, that work is ours. Compare our price with your hosting bill and the hours your team spends on the gateway.

WorkYou hostPolymorfa

Servers and a database for session stateYou

Reconnects after drops and restartsYou

Library upgrades when WhatsApp changesYou

Signed webhooks, retries and replayYou

Per-number proxies and pacingYou

Someone on call when numbers disconnectYou

The software can be free. The servers, upgrades and on-call time that keep it running are not.

Routes

The official route and coexistence, too.

WAHA and OpenWA run linked-device engines only. Evolution API adds a Cloud API channel but documents no coexistence. Polymorfa connects linked-device, Cloud API and coexistence numbers (the last two in beta).

Linked deviceQR or pairing code

Cloud APIOfficial Meta route

One Polymorfa APISame messages, webhooks, SDKs

Your applicationOne integration

Both WhatsApp routes arrive through one contract. Moving a number between routes does not mean rewriting your integration.

Tenancy

Built for serving many customers.

The Customers API gives each client their own numbers, pairing links and scoped tokens, with an audit log and export. OpenWA describes its own multi-tenancy as not implemented.

Evolution API's license requires a visible notice in any product that uses it, unless you buy a commercial license. Polymorfa adds no notice to your product.

ACConnect Acme's WhatsAppScan with WhatsApp, or use a pairing code

Opened · Linked · Connectedlink.polymorfa…

Send your customer one hosted link. You watch it move from opened to connected without building a pairing screen.

Fair comparison

When self-hosting is the right call.

If you have the people and hosting already, a free gateway can cost less than any managed service. WAHA is fully free since version 2026.6.1, and OpenWA is MIT-licensed.

These gateways offer per-session proxies, which Polymorfa does not. You also keep every byte on your own servers.

Side by side

Feature by feature.

Every row, every product. Hover a feature name for a definition.

Feature

PolymorfaWhatsApp infrastructure API

Evolution APISelf-hosted gateway

WAHASelf-hosted gateway

OpenWASelf-hosted gateway

Connection routes

YesQR code or pairing code

Baileys

4 engines

2 engines

BetaMeta Embedded Signup; needs beta access

Yes

Not listed

BetaKeep using the WhatsApp Business app

Not listed

Both routes behind one API

Sends and reactionsEdits, deletes, groups and channels are linked-device only

Per-instance channel type

Not listed

Pairing code (no camera)

In QuickLink

Yes

Hosted onboarding link for your customers

QuickLink

Not listed

Key for your own QR page

Not listed

Import existing sessions without rescanning

PreviewBaileys sessions; others assisted

Not listed

Own backups only

Messaging

Media, polls, reactions, edits, deletes

YesEdits and deletes on linked device

Yes

Group management

Linked device

Yes

Channels

Linked device

Not listed

Yes

Status posts

Not listed

Yes

Message templates

YesSubmitted to Meta for review

Cloud API channel

Not applicable

Scheduled campaigns

Pro numbers

Not listed

Bulk send

24-hour keys

Not listed

Webhooks only

Hosted message history

Beta

In your database

Read from the engine

In your database

Media storage

Hosted

Your S3 or MinIO

Local, Postgres, S3

Local or S3

Calls

Incoming call events

11 call events

Yes

Place and answer calls from code

Browser, server, SIP

Through a third party

Not listed

Video calls

Linked deviceCloud API calls are one-to-one audio

Not listed

SIP trunk to your PBX

Both directions

Not listed

Browser calling components

React and web componentPrerelease SDK

Not listed

Call history

With quality stats

Not listed

Automation and AI

Visual flow builder

WhatsApp Flows formsNot a chatbot builder

Via Typebot

Auto-reply rules

Hosted serverless functions

Private beta

Not listed

Self-hosted plugins

MCP server for AI agents

Hosted, 190 tools

Separate project

Yes

n8n, Zapier or Make

n8n, Zapier, Make

n8n

Built-in AI replies

Bring your ownConnect any agent over MCP or the API

OpenAI, Dify, Flowise

Not listed

Developer experience

REST API with OpenAPI spec

OpenAPI 3.1

REST

Swagger

Yes

Official SDKs

TS · Python · Go · PHP · Rust

Python client

Code examples

5 languages

Official CLI

Prerelease

Not listed

Signed webhooks with retries

HMAC-SHA256Up to 8 attempts over about 41 hours

JWT bearer tokenNot a payload signature

HMAC-SHA512

HMAC

Streaming event feed

SSE, beta

WebSocket and queues

WebSocket

Free test environment

Beta test numbers0 credits

Self-hosted

BetaSimulated test numbers

Not listed

Embeddable UI components

Call components

Not listed

Operations and safety

Number health estimate

0–100, rules-basedProduction linked-device numbers

Not listed

Typing, pacing and presence controls

Standard and ProEvery setting is off until you turn it on

Delay and presence per send

Presence and typing

Presence API

Per-number proxy

Not offered

Per instance

Per session

Customer accounts for SaaS builders

Customers API

Instance tokens

Session-scoped keys

Not implementedStated in its docs

Branded onboarding

Branded QuickLink$50 a month add-on

Not permittedLicense forbids removing its logo

Not listed

Global branding only

Team roles and scoped API keys

Roles and scoped keys

Global and instance keys

Scoped keys

Audit log

With export

Not listed

Yes

Team inbox app

Shared agent inbox

Not offered

Via Chatwoot

Built-in CRM or pipeline

Not offered

Separate app

Not listed

Deployment and pricing

Managed cloud

Yes

Not listed

Self-hosting

Not offered

Docker

Docker, Helm

Source license

Proprietary

Apache 2.0 with conditions

Apache-2.0

MIT

Pricing model

Per online number-day

Free software, you pay hosting

Paid entry price

$0.25 per online dayStandard number; +55 numbers cost 15% less

Not applicable

Free tier or trial

1 project, 1 real numberFree team

Software is free

All features free

Free

Region choice

Not selectable

Wherever you host

Checked against each vendor's public website and documentation on 24 September 2026. “Not listed” means we did not find the capability on those pages. It does not mean the product lacks it. Prices are list prices shown publicly on that date and exclude Meta's fees and taxes unless stated.

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.

Sources

Polymorfa

Evolution API

WAHA

OpenWA

More comparisons

Ship a WhatsApp integration this afternoon.

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Polymorfa vs self-hosted WhatsApp gateways

Compared in this page

Free software still has a running cost.

The official route and coexistence, too.

Built for serving many customers.

When self-hosting is the right call.

Feature by feature.

Sources

Polymorfa

Evolution API

WAHA

OpenWA

More comparisons

Ship a WhatsApp integration this afternoon.