Automatic reply in WhatsApp: how to set it up.

Friday 21:40. A customer messages your business: “Has my order been sent yet?”
No answer comes. On Saturday he messages again. On Sunday he calls. Nobody picks up.

On Monday at 8:30 you see three messages from the same customer. He only wanted to know whether anyone had seen his question.

A question without an answer feels like a question that never arrived.

Can WhatsApp reply automatically?

Yes, with WhatsApp Business. This free app for businesses has three messaging tools.

1. Away message. Goes automatically to customers who message you when you are not there. For example outside your opening hours.
2. Greeting message. Goes automatically to customers who message you for the first time.
3. Quick replies. Texts you send often are saved under a shortcut. Type / and choose the reply. This does not happen by itself. You send it.

Regular WhatsApp for personal use has no automatic reply. Read the difference in Disadvantages of WhatsApp Business.

Setting up an away message in WhatsApp Business

1. Open WhatsApp Business and go to the settings.
2. Choose the business tools and then Away message.
3. Switch the away message on.
4. Write your text. You will find examples below.
5. Choose when the message goes out: always, on a custom schedule or outside your opening hours. The last option only works if your opening hours are in your business profile.
6. Choose who receives it: everyone, only people not in your address book, or your own selection.
7. Save.

You set up a greeting message in the same place.

An automatic reply on your personal WhatsApp

That is not possible. Regular WhatsApp has no away message. Apps that promise it anyway are not official WhatsApp. WhatsApp does not allow unofficial apps and can then temporarily or permanently block your account.

Want to reply automatically? Then use WhatsApp Business on a separate business number.

What do you put in an automatic reply?

A good automatic reply does three things. It says the message has arrived. It names a moment. And it says what the customer can do if it really cannot wait.

1. Confirm the message has arrived. “Your message has arrived.” Then your customer knows he has been heard.
2. Name a moment. “You will hear from us before 12 noon tomorrow.” Just “we are closed” does not tell your customer when he will hear something.
3. Offer a route for urgent matters. A phone number or a link.
4. Keep it short. Two or three sentences.
5. Keep your promise. Naming a moment only works if you stick to it.

Examples of an automatic reply

Outside opening hours
“Thank you for your message. It has arrived. We are back on Monday from 8:30. You will hear from us before 12 noon.”

Holiday
“Thank you for your message. We are on holiday until 14 August. You will hear from us on 15 August. Is it urgent? Then call our office.”

Busy
“Thank you! Your message has arrived. It is busy right now. You will hear from us before 17:00 today.”

After a question or request
“Thank you. Your question has arrived. A colleague will pick it up. You will hear from us within two working days.”

With a team: where the app stops

WhatsApp Business runs on one phone and up to four linked devices. The away message applies to the whole number. In the regular app you cannot see who picks up the question afterwards.

For teams there is the WhatsApp Business Platform, also called the API. With it you send an automatic reply from your own inbox or system. For example a confirmation with a moment, or a question back: “What is it about?” The answer arrives with the right colleague.

Within 24 hours of your customer’s last message you may reply freely. After that only with a pre-approved template.

What does an automatic reply cost?

In the WhatsApp Business app nothing. The app is free.

Via the platform you pay per message. Since 1 October 2026 Meta also charges for replies within 24 hours. Each number gets 1,000 of these free per month. After that a reply to a Dutch number costs €0.0414 (Meta rate, excl. VAT).

It can work like this

Friday 21:40. A customer messages: “Has my order been sent yet?”
21:40: “Thank you for your message. It has arrived. You will hear from us before 12 noon on Monday.”
He puts his phone away.
Monday 9:05: “Your parcel is on its way today. Here is your tracking code.”
He sends back a thumbs up.

At the office the message was already waiting in the email on Monday morning. A colleague looked up the order and replied.

The customer is heard. The employee simply works in their own email. The organisation earns it. So it arrives.

How does your organisation score? Take the free Communication Scan. In one minute you see where you can gain in reachability, appointments and follow-up. Your result arrives straight in WhatsApp.

Prefer to see how it works first? Book a demo.

Further reading

• Disadvantages of WhatsApp Business
• WhatsApp for business
• What is an 085 number? Explained for businesses
• WhatsApp for Teams: customer conversations in your Teams channel

Frequently asked questions

Can you set up an automatic reply in WhatsApp?

Yes, in WhatsApp Business. This free app has an away message and a greeting message that are sent automatically. Regular WhatsApp for personal use does not have this feature.

How do you set up an away message in WhatsApp Business?

Go to the settings, open the business tools and choose Away message. Switch it on, write your text and choose when it is sent and to whom. Then save.

Can I set up an automatic reply on my personal WhatsApp?

No. Regular WhatsApp has no automatic reply. Apps that promise it are not official. WhatsApp can then temporarily or permanently block your account.

What is the difference between a greeting message and an away message?

A greeting message goes to customers who message you for the first time. An away message goes to customers who message you when you are not there, for example outside your opening hours.

What do you put in an automatic reply?

Confirm the message has arrived, name a moment when the customer will get an answer and offer a route for urgent matters. Keep it to two or three sentences.

Does an automatic reply cost money?

Not in the WhatsApp Business app. Via the WhatsApp Business Platform you pay per message. Each number gets 1,000 replies within 24 hours free per month. After that Meta charges €0.0414 per reply to a Dutch number, excl. VAT.