Manual / Communication

WhatsApp via TextMeFlow (free on Starter+)

Updated on 2026-07-01

WhatsApp via TextMeFlow

TextMeFlow is our own WhatsApp + SMS API. For BedFlow customers from the Starter tier up, TextMeFlow Starter is included for free — no separate signup, no Stripe checkout, no fiddling with API keys. These days you connect your WhatsApp number entirely inside BedFlow, with a QR scan.

🎁 What do you get? 500 WhatsApp + SMS messages per month, from your own WhatsApp number. Anti-ban, GDPR-compliant, EU servers. Normal price: € 5/month — for you € 0 as long as your BedFlow subscription is Starter or higher.

Why TextMeFlow?

We used to recommend TextMeBot ($ 6/month, external SaaS). That still works — BedFlow remains technically compatible with TextMeBot (same URL shape, drop-in replaceable). But TextMeFlow does exactly the same, runs on our own EU infrastructure, and is included for free with your subscription.

| | TextMeFlow | TextMeBot | |---|---|---| | Price for BedFlow Starter+ | Free (included) | $ 6/m (bills separately) | | Hosting | EU (France) | Unknown | | GDPR + DPA | ✅ Official via Fades Management EOOD | Not clearly documented | | Anti-ban (rate limit + opt-in + risk score) | ✅ Built in | Best effort, not documented | | Setup time | QR scan from BedFlow | Own account + paste API key manually | | SLA | Best-effort 99% (Starter), 99.5% (Business) | No formal SLA | | Your own number? | ✅ — persisted Baileys session | ✅ — similar approach |

Connecting in a few clicks — right inside BedFlow

Everything happens in one place: Settings → Integrations, on the WhatsApp card.

  1. Open the WhatsApp card and choose under Provider: TextMeFlow (self-hosted)
  2. On Starter or higher? You'll see a green confirmation: your BedFlow subscription includes TextMeFlow, and the base URL, API key and webhook secret are filled in automatically once you save. No copying keys, no configuration — BedFlow creates your TextMeFlow account in the background and wires up the inbound webhook in both directions right away
  3. Save and click 📱 Connect your WhatsApp — a QR code appears on screen
  4. On your phone: open WhatsApp → Settings → Linked devices → Link a device and scan the code (exactly like WhatsApp Web)
  5. BedFlow detects the connection automatically and switches to ✅ Your WhatsApp is connected — guest messages now go out via your own number

QR expired before you could scan? Click ↻ New QR and scan again.

The Connection status field always shows where you stand: ✅ Connected, ⚠️ Disconnected or Not connected yet.

ℹ️ Activating via My account → Billing (/account/billing) still works — but the flow above is shorter: pick the provider, save, scan, done.

Managing your TextMeFlow subscription

Below the WhatsApp settings there is a link ⚙️ Open TextMeFlow — manage your subscription or upgrade. It logs you into the TextMeFlow portal automatically in a new tab (via a magic link) — no separate password needed. Handy for checking your usage or upgrading to Pro or Business.

Connection dropped? BedFlow lets you know

A WhatsApp session can drop — for example if you remove the linked device in WhatsApp or move your number. You don't have to keep an eye on it yourself:

  • TextMeFlow reports the disconnect to BedFlow immediately (push, no polling — and deliberately no emails)
  • At the top of your BedFlow screen an amber banner appears: "Your WhatsApp connection for [property] has been broken. Reconnect so your guests keep receiving WhatsApp messages." with a Reconnect button
  • On the WhatsApp card the status flips to ⚠️ Disconnected (including for how long)
  • Click Reconnect, scan the QR again — the status jumps back to ✅ Connected and the banner disappears

The WhatsApp card shows what's active

On the Integrations page, the description of the WhatsApp card immediately shows which provider your messages run through: "WhatsApp messages to guests via TextMeFlow" (or TextMeBot, or both for mixed properties). One glance tells you what you're connected with.

Short links in your messages

The buttons in your welcome message (guest page, front door, room) are sent by BedFlow as short bedflow.eu/s/xxx links instead of endless URLs. That looks tidy in WhatsApp and is easy to tap on a phone. Security stays the same: behind the short link sits exactly the same secured URL.

Self-hosting or not bundled?

Running your own TextMeFlow installation, or not (yet) covered by the free bundle? Then the WhatsApp card shows the manual fields: TextMeFlow base URL, TextMeFlow API key and the TextMeFlow webhook signing secret. In the Incoming messages section you'll find the webhook URL to paste into TextMeFlow → Webhooks; after saving, TextMeFlow shows a 64-character signing secret that you paste back into BedFlow. With Test fire in TextMeFlow you can immediately verify that replies arrive in /guest-inbox.

Limits of the free package

| | Starter (free with BedFlow) | Pro (€ 15/m separate) | Business (€ 29/m separate) | |---|---|---|---| | Messages/month | 500 | 5,000 | 25,000 | | WhatsApp devices | 1 | 1 | 3 | | Anti-spam layer | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Webhook for incoming replies | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |

💡 For the average B&B, 500 messages/month is generous — that's roughly 50-100 bookings × (booking confirmation + pre-arrival + check-in instructions + post-stay review request). Hitting the limit? Upgrade to Pro (€ 15/m) via the ⚙️ Open TextMeFlow link.

What happens on a downgrade to Micro?

If your BedFlow subscription drops back to the Micro tier (where TextMeFlow is not a bundled feature), your TextMeFlow Starter is automatically reset to the Free tier (50 messages/month). Your account remains, your number stays connected, your API key works — only the quota drops.

Still want to keep sending without limits afterwards? You can upgrade in TextMeFlow at any time to paid Starter (€ 5/m), Pro (€ 15/m) or Business (€ 29/m) — that then runs directly via Stripe on TextMeFlow's side, separate from your BedFlow subscription.

Keeping TextMeBot is fine too

Already have a running TextMeBot subscription and don't want to switch for now? You don't have to. Go to Settings → Integrations → WhatsApp and choose provider TextMeBot instead of TextMeFlow. Paste your TextMeBot API key and all outbound flows continue unchanged. BedFlow's incoming webhook is provider-agnostic — replies find their way to /guest-inbox regardless of which provider sends.

ℹ️ You don't get TextMeFlow bundle credit back in cash if you keep paying for TextMeBot. The free Starter is "opt-in" — you use it or you don't.

Frequently asked questions

Does my existing WhatsApp number work or do I need to buy a new one? Your own number works. TextMeFlow uses a persisted Baileys session (same technology as WhatsApp Web) — your number remains yours. WhatsApp doesn't see your connection as bot/automation; we do advise respecting the anti-spam best practices (no bulk, opt-in for marketing, no "send 500 at once").

Do I still need to copy an API key anywhere? No — choose TextMeFlow as provider and save. On Starter+, BedFlow fills in the base URL, API key and webhook secret automatically. Only self-hosted installations still fill in the fields manually.

My BedFlow and TextMeFlow accounts have the same email address — is that a problem? No, on the contrary: BedFlow explicitly uses your BedFlow email as the TextMeFlow account identifier. One login vector, one DPA trajectory.

Can I connect multiple properties / B&Bs? One TextMeFlow account per BedFlow account is the norm. For multi-property setups you can use a different API key per property in the provider setting — handy if each property has its own WhatsApp number.

My WhatsApp suddenly disconnected — now what? You'll automatically see the banner "Your WhatsApp connection has been broken" at the top of your screen. Click Reconnect, scan the QR with your phone and everything runs again. Messages that should have gone out during the interruption are best re-sent.

Where is the provider toggle in BedFlow? Settings → Integrations → WhatsApp card → Provider (dropdown). Choose TextMeFlow (self-hosted) or TextMeBot; no provider chosen = no WhatsApp messages go out.

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