A WhatsApp auto reply for business is a message that goes out automatically when a customer writes to you, so they are never left waiting in silence. You can set one up in three ways: greeting and away messages in the free WhatsApp Business app, automatic replies through the WhatsApp Business API, or an AI chatbot that actually answers questions. Which one fits depends on how many chats you get and how many of them are the same question.
WhatsApp auto reply for business: three options
| WhatsApp Business app | API auto-replies | AI chatbot (on the API) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free app | Platform plus Meta's per-message charges | Platform plus Meta's per-message charges |
| What it sends | One fixed greeting or away message | Fixed replies, often by keyword or time | A real answer from your business info |
| Answers questions | No | Only exact keyword matches | Yes, including Hinglish and typos |
| Team access | Limited linked devices | Shared inbox, many agents | Shared inbox, many agents |
| Works at scale | Hundreds of chats | Thousands | Thousands |
| Best for | Shops, freelancers, small clinics | Simple acknowledgements | Businesses with repeated questions |
Option 1: Greeting and away messages in the Business app
The free WhatsApp Business app has two built-in automatic messages:
- Greeting message: sent when a new customer messages you, or someone returns after a long gap.
- Away message: sent outside the business hours you set, or always, if you choose.
You also get quick replies, saved messages you send by typing a shortcut like "/price". Quick replies are not automatic, but they save typing.
For a small shop, this is the simplest WhatsApp auto reply for business, and it is great when you are starting out. Their limit is that every customer gets the same message regardless of what they asked. If someone writes "Size M available hai?" at 11 pm, they get "We are closed" and the question waits until morning. See WhatsApp Business app vs API to know when to switch.
Option 2: Auto-replies on the WhatsApp Business API
Once you move to the official API, replies can be sent by software. A basic setup sends a fixed message when a chat starts or outside working hours, and routes the chat to the shared inbox. This helps a team stay organised, but fixed text still cannot answer real questions.
Option 3: An AI chatbot
An AI chatbot is an auto reply that understands the question. It uses your timings, prices, delivery areas and FAQs to give a specific answer, then hands over to a human for anything it should not handle.
On AiSender, the AI chatbot replies 24x7 in Hindi, English and Hinglish, can import FAQs from your website URL, and pauses itself as soon as an agent replies in the Live Chat inbox. As of November 2026, Meta allows business chatbots that serve your own customers, but not general-purpose AI assistants (a policy in force since 15 January 2026). Our WhatsApp AI chatbot guide goes deeper.
WhatsApp auto reply examples you can copy
Adjust the names, timings and links to your business.
Greeting (retail shop):
Namaste! Sharma Garments mein aapka swagat hai. Aap apna sawaal bhejiye, hum 15 minute mein reply karenge. Naya stock dekhne ke liye "catalogue" likhiye.
Away message (clinic):
Hello! Clinic abhi band hai. OPD timings: Mon-Sat, 10 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm. Appointment ke liye apna naam aur preferred date bhejiye, staff kal subah confirm karega. Emergency ho toh please nearest hospital jaayein.
Away message (coaching institute):
Thanks for messaging! Our office is closed for today. Batch timings and fees are on our website. Counsellor will call you tomorrow between 10 am and 1 pm.
Busy hours acknowledgement:
Aapka message mil gaya hai. Abhi zyada chats hain, isliye thoda time lag sakta hai. Order status ke liye apna order number bhejiye.
AI chatbot reply (furniture store):
Customer: sofa ki delivery Yamuna Nagar mein hoti hai?
Bot: Haan ji, Yamuna Nagar aur Jagadhri mein delivery free hai, usually 3-5 din mein. Kya aap koi specific sofa dekh rahe hain? Main details bhej sakta hoon.
The first four set expectations. The last one actually solves the customer's question, which is the real goal of a WhatsApp auto reply for business.
Common auto reply mistakes
- Promising what you cannot deliver. "We reply in 5 minutes" at midnight sets you up to fail. Give a realistic time.
- Sending the same greeting again and again. A repeat customer mid-conversation should not get "Welcome!" every time.
- Writing a wall of text. Keep auto replies to 2-4 short lines. Use a link for long details.
- No way to reach a human. Always say how to talk to a person, for example "Team se baat karni ho toh bas likh dijiye, hum connect kar denge".
- Letting a bot handle complaints. Refunds, damaged orders and angry messages should go straight to staff.
- Wrong or old information. If your prices or timings change, update the away message and chatbot the same day.
- Using unofficial auto-reply apps. Third-party apps and browser extensions that read and reply from your personal WhatsApp break WhatsApp's terms and can get the number banned. Use the Business app's own features or the official API.
- Mixing marketing into every reply. Answer the question first. Add an offer only when it is relevant.
Costs to know (as of November 2026)
The Business app's greeting and away messages are free. On the API, Meta charges per message by category. From 1 October 2026, service replies inside the 24-hour customer service window are free up to 1,000 per number per month and charged after that. Every bot reply counts as a service message, so a busy chatbot can cross that limit. Read WhatsApp Business API pricing in India to estimate your bill.
How to choose
- Fewer than 30-40 chats a day and one person replying: the Business app's greeting and away messages are enough.
- A team replying from one number: move to the API and use a shared team inbox.
- Many repeated questions, late-night enquiries or Hinglish chats: add an AI chatbot with human handover.
FAQ
How do I set an auto reply on WhatsApp Business?
In the WhatsApp Business app, open Business tools and turn on Greeting message or Away message, write your text and choose who receives it. On the API, auto-replies and chatbots are set up in your platform's dashboard.
Can WhatsApp auto reply in Hindi?
Yes. You can write greeting and away messages in Hindi or Hinglish. An AI chatbot like AiSender's can also understand and reply in Hindi, English and Hinglish based on the customer's message.
Are WhatsApp auto replies free?
In the Business app, yes. On the API, as of November 2026, service replies are free up to 1,000 per number per month and then charged by Meta.
Can the auto reply send different messages for different questions?
Fixed greeting and away messages cannot. An AI chatbot can, because it answers from your business information instead of one saved text.
Want your WhatsApp to answer customers properly, even at midnight? Sign up on AiSender and get 500 messages free for order updates, reminders and alerts, with no monthly fee.
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