WhatsApp Business Chatbot: Best Options and How to Create One [2026]

More and more companies are looking for a WhatsApp Business chatbot to automate customer service, resolve queries in real time, and scale operations without multiplying the human team. And with good reason: WhatsApp exceeds 95% penetration on smartphones in Spain, with 98% open rates. There is no more direct channel.

But not all chatbots are the same. Between rule-based bots that respond with rigid menus and AI agents capable of holding complex conversations, the difference in results is enormous. In this guide we explain what types of chatbot for WhatsApp Business exist, compare the best platforms on the market in 2026, and show you how to create yours step by step, both with the free app and through the WhatsApp Business API.

What Is a Chatbot for WhatsApp Business

A WhatsApp Business chatbot is an automated program that interacts with users through WhatsApp without direct human intervention. It receives messages, interprets them, and responds following a predefined conversational flow or, in more advanced models, generating dynamic responses through artificial intelligence.

Its main function is to resolve repetitive queries -- order status, business hours, return policies, product information -- freeing the human team for tasks that truly require judgment and empathy. In companies with high message volumes, a well-configured chatbot can absorb between 60% and 80% of incoming queries.

How a chatbot works on WhatsApp

How it works depends on whether you use the WhatsApp Business App or the WhatsApp Business API.

With the free app, options are limited. You can configure welcome messages, away messages, and predefined quick replies. There is no conditional logic or integration with external systems. It is basic automation, useful for small businesses with few daily queries.

With the API, the picture changes completely. You connect WhatsApp to an external platform -- the BSP (Business Solution Provider) -- that manages all the chatbot logic. When a customer sends a message, Meta forwards it to your server via a webhook. The chatbot processes the message, queries databases or CRMs if needed, and returns the response through the API. All in milliseconds.

The end user perceives no technical difference. They simply see a WhatsApp chat that responds quickly with useful information.

Types of chatbot: rule-based vs AI

There are two fundamental chatbot categories, and understanding the difference is key to choosing well:

Rule-based chatbots: They work through decision trees. They present options to the user ("Press 1 for orders, 2 for returns") and follow predefined paths. They are easy to set up, predictable, and cheap. But they break when the user writes something off-script. If someone asks unexpectedly, the bot does not understand and frustrates the customer.

AI chatbots (NLP/LLM): They use natural language processing to understand the user's intent, regardless of how they phrase the question. The most advanced models, based on LLMs, maintain context between messages, resolve complex queries, and learn from the company's knowledge base. They are more expensive to implement but offer a radically superior experience.

The general recommendation: if you receive fewer than 50 daily queries and they are repetitive, a rule-based bot may suffice. If you handle high volumes with varied questions, you need AI. And if you want the chatbot to connect with your CRM, check order status in real time, or manage processes, you need an AI agent like the ones GuruSup implements.

Best Chatbots for WhatsApp Business in 2026

The chatbot for WhatsApp Business market has matured enormously. There are options for every budget and technical level, from free solutions with basic features to enterprise platforms with advanced AI agents.

Platform comparison

Each platform has a different approach. Landbot stands out for its visual flow editor -- drag and drop, no code. Manychat is unbeatable in marketing automation and Instagram + WhatsApp combined. Botpress offers maximum flexibility for technical teams that want full control. And GuruSup specializes in customer support with AI agents that truly understand and resolve, not just redirect.

Free vs paid WhatsApp chatbot

The question everyone asks: can you have a free WhatsApp Business chatbot? The short answer is yes, but with important limitations.

Free options:

• Native WhatsApp Business App: Welcome messages, away messages, and quick replies. No conditional logic, no AI, no integrations. Completely free.
• Botpress (self-hosted): Open-source platform you can host on your own server. Powerful but requires serious technical knowledge to configure, connect to the WhatsApp API, and maintain.
• Free BSP plans: Several platforms offer free plans with conversation limits (typically 100-500/month) and reduced features. Enough to test, insufficient for real production.

When paying is worth it:

The jump to a paid solution is justified when the cost of NOT automating -- human agents answering repetitive questions, customers abandoning due to long wait times, lost sales opportunities outside business hours -- exceeds the chatbot investment. For most companies with more than 100 monthly conversations, the ROI is positive from the first month.

A free WhatsApp Business chatbot can serve as a starting point, but if you want real results in customer service, investing in a platform with AI and integration capabilities is essential.

How to Create a WhatsApp Business Chatbot Step by Step

There are three paths to create a chatbot for WhatsApp Business, each with a different level of complexity, cost, and outcome.

With WhatsApp Business App (no code)

This is the simplest option, ideal for small businesses that want basic automation at no cost.

Step 1: Download the WhatsApp Business app from Google Play or App Store and sign in with your business phone number.

Step 2: Go to Settings > Business Tools > Welcome Message. Enable it and write a message that greets the customer, indicates the topics you can help with, and sets response time expectations.

Step 3: Configure the Away Message with specific hours. Inform the customer when they will receive a response and offer alternatives (FAQ on the website, emergency email).

Step 4: Create Quick Replies for the most frequently asked questions. Assign a shortcut to each one (for example, "/hours" to send opening hours). You can create up to 50 quick replies.

Implementation time: 15-30 minutes. Main limitation: there is no automated conversational flow -- quick replies are activated manually when a human agent needs them.

With WhatsApp Business API

This path gives you maximum control and features, but requires technical configuration.

Step 1: Create an account on Meta Business Suite and verify your business with official documentation. The process takes between 2 and 7 business days.

Step 2: Choose a BSP that provides API access. You can compare the differences between WhatsApp Business and the API to decide if it is the right time to make the jump.

Step 3: Register your phone number. If you migrate from the WhatsApp Business app, you will lose your chat history.

Step 4: Configure the webhooks to receive incoming messages on your server. Implement the chatbot logic: intents, responses, database connections.

Step 5: Create message templates and submit them to Meta for approval. You will need templates to initiate conversations with customers.

Step 6: Test thoroughly before going live. Try with different types of questions, typos, and edge cases.

Implementation time: 2-4 weeks with an internal technical team. 3-7 days if you use a BSP with assisted setup.

With no-code tools

The middle ground: API power without needing to write code.

Step 1: Choose a no-code platform like Landbot, Manychat, or Tidio. Create an account and connect it to your WhatsApp Business API account (the BSP is usually the platform itself or an integrated partner).

Step 2: Use the visual editor to design the conversational flow. Define welcome messages, bot questions, responses for each branch, and escalation points to a human agent.

Step 3: Connect integrations: CRM, payment gateway, Google Sheets, email marketing tools. Most no-code platforms offer native connectors and compatibility with Zapier or Make to fully automate WhatsApp Business.

Step 4: Publish and monitor. Review conversations, identify points where the bot fails, and refine the flows.

Implementation time: 1-5 days depending on the flow complexity.

WhatsApp Chatbot Use Cases by Industry

A WhatsApp Business chatbot is not a generic solution -- its value depends enormously on the industry and the specific use case. These are the scenarios where it generates the most impact.

Ecommerce

Ecommerce is the sector that benefits most from WhatsApp chatbots. The most profitable use cases are:

• Abandoned cart recovery: An automatic message 30 minutes after abandonment converts between 15% and 25% of carts. Compare that with 3-5% from email.
• Order status: The customer writes "where is my order?" and the chatbot queries the ERP in real time to respond with the exact location and estimated delivery date.
• Product recommendations: Based on purchase history, the chatbot suggests complementary products directly in the chat.
• After-sales support: Automated returns management, size changes, and claims handling.

Impact metric: Ecommerce companies that implement WhatsApp chatbots report a 40-60% reduction in support tickets and a 15-20% increase in repurchase rates thanks to the channel's immediacy. If you want to take this further, you can integrate a WhatsApp CRM that centralizes the entire customer history.

Healthcare

Clinics, hospitals, and medical centers find chatbots an ally for reducing administrative burden:

• Appointment management: The patient requests an appointment, the chatbot checks availability, confirms, and sends a reminder 24 hours before. 30-40% reduction in no-shows.
• Basic triage: Initial questions to direct patients to the right department before they speak with medical staff.
• Results collection: Automatic notification when test results are available, with a secure link to download them.

Education

Academies, universities, and online training platforms use chatbots for:

• Course information: Schedules, prices, admission requirements, and available spots, all answered in seconds.
• Enrollment tracking: Application status, pending documentation, important dates.
• In-course support: Access to materials, submission reminders, administrative question resolution.

Financial services

Banks, insurance companies, and fintechs leverage WhatsApp's immediacy for:

• Balance and transaction queries: Identity verification via OTP and access to basic financial information without needing to open the bank app.
• Transaction notifications: Real-time alerts for charges, transfers, and suspicious activity.
• Product contracting: Loan simulators, insurance quotes, and chatbot-guided contracting processes.
• Fraud prevention: Instant confirmation of suspicious operations directly via WhatsApp.

In all these sectors, the key is not just to automate, but to do it well. A poorly configured chatbot that does not understand the user generates more frustration than a long wait. That is why the choice of technology -- rules vs AI -- matters as much as the decision to implement it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to add a chatbot to WhatsApp Business?

To add a chatbot to your WhatsApp Business account you have three options. The simplest is to use the native app tools (welcome messages and quick replies). For a real conversational chatbot, you need the WhatsApp Business API connected to a BSP like GuruSup, Landbot, or Manychat, which provide visual editors to design flows without code. The complete process takes between 30 minutes (native app) and 1-2 weeks (API with advanced chatbot).

What is the best chatbot for WhatsApp Business?

It depends on your needs. For customer support with advanced AI, GuruSup offers AI agents that understand natural language and resolve complex queries by connecting to your systems. For marketing and capture, Manychat is the reference. For visual no-code flows, Landbot stands out for its intuitive editor. For technical teams that want full control, Botpress is the most powerful open-source option. There is no universal "best" -- there is the best for your specific case.

How to activate AI in WhatsApp Business?

The free WhatsApp Business app does not include native artificial intelligence for chatbots. To activate AI you need to connect your account to the WhatsApp Business API and use a provider that integrates AI models. Platforms like GuruSup, Tidio, or Crisp offer chatbots with NLP and AI that understand user intent and generate contextual responses. The typical setup involves training the model with your knowledge base -- FAQs, product documentation, policies -- so it responds with your company's information.

How to use ChatGPT for WhatsApp Business?

You cannot connect ChatGPT directly to WhatsApp Business from the app. To integrate it you need the WhatsApp Business API and middleware that connects the OpenAI API with WhatsApp's API via webhooks. Some platforms like Botpress or Make allow this integration without code through preconfigured connectors. However, keep in mind that generic ChatGPT does not know your company -- you need to set up a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) system that feeds the model with your data so responses are accurate and relevant, not generic.

Can you have a free WhatsApp Business chatbot?

Yes, but with clear limitations. The WhatsApp Business App includes free basic automation (welcome messages, quick replies). Botpress offers a free self-hosted plan for technical teams. And several platforms like Tidio or Manychat have free plans with limits of 100-500 monthly conversations. For a chatbot with AI, integrations, and real volume, you will need a paid plan. The typical cost starts at 15-50 euros per month, a minimal investment compared to the operational savings it generates.

How GuruSup Improves Your WhatsApp Business Chatbot

Most WhatsApp Business chatbots on the market work with decision trees: menus, buttons, and predefined responses. When the user goes off-script, the bot fails. GuruSup goes a step further with conversational AI agents that truly understand what the customer needs.

Key GuruSup Features

• AI agents trained on your knowledge base: No generic responses. The agent knows your products, policies, prices, and processes because it is trained with your actual documentation.
• Native WhatsApp Business API integration: Direct connection, no unnecessary intermediaries. Multi-agent, approved templates, and advanced analytics included.
• Intelligent escalation to humans: When the AI agent detects it cannot resolve with sufficient confidence, it transfers the conversation to the human agent with full context: summary, detected intent, and actions taken. The customer does not repeat anything.
• CRM and helpdesk connection: Bidirectional synchronization with HubSpot, Salesforce, Zendesk, and proprietary systems. Every conversation is logged in the customer's profile.
• Multichannel support: The same AI agent that responds on WhatsApp also serves on the web, reducing operational complexity for your customer success teams.

How to Get Started with GuruSup

Getting a WhatsApp Business chatbot with GuruSup AI agents up and running does not require months of development or a dedicated technical team:

1. Connect your WhatsApp Business API account from the GuruSup dashboard in minutes.
2. Upload your knowledge base: FAQs, documentation, product manuals, company policies.
3. Configure the escalation rules: when a human intervenes, which team handles it, what priority each query type has.
4. Launch and monitor: the AI agent starts resolving queries from day one, improving with every interaction.

Try GuruSup for free and discover how an AI agent on WhatsApp can resolve 70% of your support queries without human intervention. Request your demo and transform your customer service.