Concepts

This document introduces the Kakao Talk Message API.

Introduction

The Kakao Talk Message API is a feature that allows users to send messages to their Kakao Talk friends who use the same service for the purpose of interaction. This feature can be used to send messages between service users for interaction or sharing purposes, or to send messages to themselves.

For the types and characteristics of various message sending features provided by Kakao, see Message sending features. For the differences between the message sending features provided by Kakao Developers, see Differences between Kakao Talk Share and Kakao Talk Message features.

Kakao Talk Message usage scenario example

How to use

To apply the feature of sending messages to friends using the Kakao Talk Message API in your service, you must request additional features and obtain permission. Apps without permission and their test apps can only send messages to the app's team members.

You can apply for permission by following the steps below.

1. Check whether you need the Kakao Talk Message feature among the Kakao message sending features in Message sending features.
2. In the App Management page, go to [Kakao Login] > [Consent Items] and set the following two consent items:
   • [Personal Information] > [Friends list in Kakao service (including profile photo, nickname, favorites)]
   • [Access Permission] > [Send Kakao Talk Message]
3. Implement the message sending feature by referring to the platform-specific development documentation. When implementing, refer to the Kakao Talk Message sending flow.
4. Test the feature to ensure it works properly for app members.
5. To retrieve and send messages to users other than app members, you need to apply for the required permission in [App] > [Request Additional Features] > [Kakao Talk Friends/Message]. Before applying for additional features, you must complete the following tasks, and you must enter the Additional feature application information when applying. The review result will be sent to the emails of the app members.
   • Switch to Biz App
   • Check eligibility
   • Business information review

Additional feature application information

• Service information: Enter the service web page or application download URL.
• Service application screen: Upload a screenshot of the actual screen where the message sending feature is applied.
  • Only one file in JPG, JPEG, PNG, or PDF format under 20 MB can be uploaded.
• Reason for application and usage scenario: Describe in detail the purpose for which this feature is needed in your service, and the scenario in which a user logs in to the service and sends a message to their Kakao Talk friends.

Kakao Talk Message sending flow

This section explains how a user sends a Kakao Talk Message from a service. Refer to the sequence diagram and step-by-step explanation below.

1. When a user selects the Kakao Talk Message send button on the service screen, the service provides a UI to select recipients through one of the following methods.
   • Call the Friends picker API.
   • Provide a UI for users to select desired recipients from the Retrieve friends list API response.
2. When the user selects the desired recipients using the Friend picker or service UI, the service receives the recipient information as a response.
3. The service sends a Kakao Talk message by calling the Kakao Talk Message API with the recipient information and message parameters composed with a message template.

Message sending features

This section introduces various Kakao Talk message sending features provided by Kakao. The differences between products can be found in the table below.

Product	Description	Message sender → Recipient	Available platform
Kakao Talk Share	Users select content in the service and share it to Kakao Talk chatrooms themselves. Recommended use: Implementing content sharing features between users.	Kakao Talk user → User's Kakao Talk friends	Kakao Developers
Kakao Talk Message	Users send messages to their Kakao Talk friends who use the same service, for interaction purposes. Recommended use: Implementing message sending for user interactions.	Service's Kakao Login user → Service's Kakao Login user	Kakao Developers
Kakao Moment Personalized Message	Sends promotional personalized messages containing customer-specific data when customer behavior events occur. Can be configured in Moment Admin Center or using Kakao Moment Personalized Message Management API. Recommended use: Sending targeted promotional messages via API.	Agency/Service → User	Kakao Developers, Kakao Business
Brand Message	Promotional messages sent through dealers to members who have consented to receive marketing. Recommended use: Sending bulk promotional messages.	Dealer/Service → User (Limited to members who have consented to receive marketing.)	Kakao Business
Kakao Talk Channel Message	Sends promotional or informational messages through Kakao Talk Channel. Recommended use: Sending promotional messages.	Service's Kakao Talk Channel → User	Kakao Business
Info Talk	The service sends informational messages to users. Recommended use: Sending informational messages to users.	Service's Kakao Talk Channel → User	Kakao Business
CS Talk	Users can open a Kakao Talk chatroom to make inquiries about the service. Recommended use: Implementing customer support using real-time chat or chatbot.	Service's Kakao Talk Channel (Only available after user initiates consultation)	Kakao Business

Select the product that fits your service needs based on the guide below.

• If your service requires sending messages between users, choose the appropriate product between Kakao Talk Share and Kakao Talk Message.
• If your service needs to send messages directly to users, choose the appropriate product between Brand Message and Info Talk.
• If your service requires a customer support feature, select the CS Talk product.

For details on Brand Message, Info Talk, and CS Talk, see the Kakao Business document.

Differences between Kakao Talk Share and Kakao Talk Message features

This section explains the differences between Kakao Talk Share and Kakao Talk Message, both of which are Kakao Talk Message sending features provided by Kakao Developers. Both features only support user-to-user messaging, and services cannot send messages directly to users.

Refer to the table below to check the feature differences and choose the product that best suits your service requirements.

Item	Kakao Talk Share	Kakao Talk Message
Message recipients	All Kakao Talk friends of the user	Friends who meet the information provision conditions of the Retrieve friends list API.
Recipient selection UI	No separate implementation required.	Requires calling the Friend picker API or implementing a UI using the Retrieve friends list API.
Message sending method	When the user selects recipients in the Kakao Talk app, the sharing message is automatically sent.	After providing a recipient selection UI, the Kakao Talk Message API must be called with the selected recipients.
Permission required	X	O
REST API supported	X	O
Confirmation of message delivery success	Confirm via the Kakao Talk Share webhook.	Confirm via API response.

Message template

When sending Kakao Talk messages, you can use predefined default templates or custom templates that you configure using the message template tool. Refer to the respective documentation for usage instructions for each template type.

Usage policy

Quota

Kakao API applies monthly and daily quotas for stable service. You can check the currently applied quota information in the Quota.

The Kakao Talk Message API has a limited quota before you get the permission via requesting permission, and the quota limit cannot be increased to protect users from frequent messages.

Profile visibility settings

Messages sent via the Kakao Talk Message API include a profile visibility settings button in the message bubble. Users can press this button to set whether to show their profile on the friends list of that app. Users with this setting set to private are not included in the picker friends list and the Retrieve friends list response, so their uuid required for sending Kakao Talk messages cannot be retrieved and messages cannot be sent. For more details, refer to Profile visibility settings.

Firewall settings for scraping

If your service server's firewall blocks access from Kakao's scraping server, image transmission may be very slow or images may not be displayed. In this case, refer to Firewall to allow Kakao scraping server IPs in your ACL (Access Control List).

Provided APIs

• Refer to Scope of support to know whether each Kakao SDK supports each feature.

API	Description	Documentation
Send me message with default template	Sends a Kakao Talk message with a default template to myself.	REST API JavaScript Android iOS Flutter
Send me message with custom template	Sends a Kakao Talk message with a custom template to myself.	REST API JavaScript Android iOS Flutter
Send me scrape message	Sends a Kakao Talk message with scraped web page information to myself.	REST API JavaScript Android iOS Flutter
Send friends message with default template	Sends a Kakao Talk message with a default template to a friend.	REST API JavaScript Android iOS Flutter
Send friends message with custom template	Sends a Kakao Talk message with a custom template to a friend.	REST API JavaScript Android iOS Flutter
Send friends scrape message	Sends a Kakao Talk message with scraped web page information to a friend.	REST API JavaScript Android iOS Flutter
Upload image	Uploads an image for use in messages.	JavaScript Android iOS Flutter