WhatsApp chatbot questions, answered: free options, cost, setup and features
A WhatsApp chatbot is an automated assistant on your WhatsApp Business number that answers questions, captures leads, confirms orders and sends reminders instantly, day or night. Options range from free rule-based auto-replies to AI-powered agents that understand natural language. On Convo360 you build one visually in the Flow Builder, no coding needed, starting with a 14-day free trial and plans from ₹999/month.
- A WhatsApp chatbot always runs on Meta's official WhatsApp Business Cloud API - there is no working "no-API" shortcut, only no-code tools that hide the technical setup.
- Convo360 plans start at ₹999/month (excluding GST) after a 14-day free trial with every feature unlocked and no credit card required.
- Being BYOK, Convo360 adds zero markup on WhatsApp messages or AI tokens - you pay Meta and your AI provider directly at their rates.
- Bots and humans work together: the live-chat inbox lets a person take over any conversation, and the bot pauses automatically while they do.
- The no-code Flow Builder and Template Store let most businesses launch a working WhatsApp bot in under an hour.
Getting started with WhatsApp chatbots
What is a WhatsApp chatbot and how does it work?
A WhatsApp chatbot is a program connected to a WhatsApp Business number that reads incoming messages and replies automatically using pre-built flows or an AI model. It runs on WhatsApp's official Cloud API, understands keywords or free-text questions, and can answer FAQs, collect leads, confirm orders or hand off to a human when needed.
How to make a WhatsApp chatbot?
On Convo360 you connect your WhatsApp Business number through Meta's embedded signup, then open the Flow Builder and drag together blocks like Send Message, AI Reply and Buttons to design the conversation - no coding required. Add a trigger such as a keyword or new conversation, preview it with Try-it, then publish.
Whatsapp chatbot without api - is that possible?
Every official, automated WhatsApp bot has to run on Meta's WhatsApp Business Cloud API - there is no legitimate way around that. What people usually mean by this search is not wanting to code the integration themselves: Convo360's embedded signup connects your number in a few clicks, and you build replies visually in the Flow Builder instead of writing API calls.
How long does WhatsApp chatbot setup take?
Most businesses connect their WhatsApp number and publish a basic flow (welcome message, FAQ answers, a lead-capture form) within an hour using the Flow Builder and Template Store's ready-made agents. More advanced setups with AI knowledge bases, appointments or payment links can take a day or two, mainly waiting on Meta's template approval.
Cost and free options
Is there a WhatsApp chatbot free option?
Yes - Convo360 offers a 14-day free trial with every feature unlocked and no credit card required, so you can build and test a full WhatsApp chatbot before paying anything. After the trial, plans start at ₹999 a month, excluding GST.
Is a WhatsApp chatbot free forever?
A fully free-forever WhatsApp chatbot isn't realistic once you're sending real customer volume, because Meta charges per message for templates outside the free reply window, and any AI model you use also has a per-token cost. Convo360's own platform fee starts at ₹999/month after the 14-day trial, and being BYOK, it adds zero markup on top of what Meta or your AI provider charges.
What is the WhatsApp chatbot cost in India?
On Convo360, the Starter plan is ₹999/month for one workspace with WhatsApp and web chat, Pro is ₹2,999/month with AI voice calls and all integrations, and Business is ₹7,999/month with unlimited workspaces and the REST API (all prices exclude 18% GST). Yearly billing saves roughly 10 percent - see pricing.
Is a WhatsApp bot for small business worth the budget?
Yes - the Starter plan at ₹999/month gives a small business WhatsApp and web chat, the Flow Builder, a knowledge base and basic CRM, covering FAQs, order updates and lead capture. Because Convo360 is BYOK, you also avoid any per-message markup, paying Meta and your AI provider directly at their own rates.
Features and capabilities
What is a WhatsApp auto reply bot?
An auto-reply bot instantly answers common questions - business hours, pricing, order status - the moment a customer messages, using keyword triggers or an AI Reply block that understands free text. In the Flow Builder you set a trigger, like a keyword or new conversation, and the matching response, so replies fire without anyone watching the inbox.
Does a WhatsApp bot work 24/7?
Yes, once published a WhatsApp bot keeps responding around the clock, including nights, weekends and holidays, since it isn't tied to staff shifts. It can still hand a conversation to a live agent during business hours through the team inbox, and the bot automatically pauses while a human is replying so responses don't clash.
WhatsApp chatbot vs human agent - which is better?
They work best together, not as a replacement. A bot handles repetitive questions, order tracking and lead capture instantly at any hour, while a human agent is better for complex complaints, negotiations or sensitive issues. Convo360's live-chat inbox lets a human take over any bot conversation, and the bot pauses automatically so there is no overlap.
Can a WhatsApp bot send images or PDF files?
Yes. The Flow Builder's Send Media block lets a bot send images, PDFs, catalogues or brochures, and Send Template supports Meta-approved templates with media headers and carousels. This is commonly used for product images, invoices, brochures or appointment confirmations sent directly inside the WhatsApp chat.
Does the WhatsApp bot support Indian languages?
Yes. Convo360's AI agents converse in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia and Punjabi, plus English, and handle Hinglish naturally. The same range is available for AI voice calls too.
Can multiple team members or agents use one WhatsApp bot?
Yes. Convo360 supports workspaces with team seats and roles, so several people can manage the same WhatsApp number, and the live-chat inbox shows incoming conversations to your whole team. Higher plans (Pro and Business) support more workspaces and unlimited seats, useful once your support or sales team grows.
Is a WhatsApp bot secure?
Convo360 encrypts connected API keys at rest, limits a login to 3 signed-in devices at a time (a 4th sign-in signs out the oldest one), and requires a captcha at login. Staff roles (owner, admin, support, finance, analyst) limit who sees what, webhooks are HMAC-signed, and the database plus media are backed up nightly.
Use cases and examples
What are some WhatsApp chatbot examples?
Common flows include a welcome message with a menu of buttons, an FAQ bot answering delivery or return-policy questions, an order-status lookup, an appointment booking-and-reminder flow, a lead-capture form that saves straight to the CRM, and a payment-link flow using Razorpay. All of these are built visually in the Flow Builder, without writing code.
What is a WhatsApp bot for business used for?
Businesses use a WhatsApp bot to answer FAQs instantly, qualify and capture leads into a CRM pipeline, confirm and remind customers about appointments, send order updates, collect payments via a Razorpay link, and route complex queries to a human agent through the live-chat inbox - all on one WhatsApp number.
Can WhatsApp bots handle customer support?
Yes. A bot can resolve routine support questions instantly using an AI agent with a knowledge base built from your documents or URLs, giving RAG-based answers, and escalate anything it can't handle to a human via the team inbox. This cuts wait times while keeping a person available for harder cases.
Can a WhatsApp bot generate leads?
Yes. A flow can ask qualifying questions, capture name, phone and requirement through an Ask a Question block, and save the result straight into Convo360's CRM pipeline as a new lead stage. You can also embed a floating enquiry form on your website that starts the same WhatsApp conversation for visitors.
Is there a chatbot for WhatsApp groups?
Not in the sense of a bot auto-replying inside a WhatsApp group chat - Meta's WhatsApp Business Cloud API is built for one-to-one conversations with contacts, not group messaging. Convo360 instead lets you organise contacts into groups using tags and trigger a flow automatically when someone is added to a group, which covers most group-based automation needs.
What counts as a WhatsApp business automation tool?
It's software that connects to your official WhatsApp Business number and automates replies, broadcasts, lead capture and follow-ups without manual typing. Convo360 combines this with a no-code Flow Builder, WhatsApp Studio for approved templates and campaigns, a CRM, contact segmentation, and integrations like Google Sheets and webhooks, all under one login.
Trying it, templates and setup on Convo360
Is there a WhatsApp chatbot demo I can try?
Rather than a fixed sales demo, Convo360 gives you a 14-day free trial with every feature unlocked, plus a Template Store of one-click, ready-made agents across 20+ industries that you can install and test live on your own WhatsApp number in minutes. No credit card is needed to start.
Are there ready-made WhatsApp chatbot templates?
Yes. The Template Store has one-click, ready-made agents for over 20 industries, tagged for chat, voice or both, which you can install as a starting point and then customise in the Flow Builder. This is much faster than building a flow from a blank canvas.
Can I integrate a WhatsApp chatbot with my website?
Yes. Convo360 also gives you a website chat widget with a floating enquiry form, so visitors can start a conversation on your site and continue it on WhatsApp, all from one workspace. Web forms, live-chat handover and the same AI agent or flow work across both channels.
Example conversation
Build your free WhatsApp chatbot in minutes
Start free in minutes — no code, no credit card. Bring your own AI keys and pay no per-message markup.
Frequently asked questions
What is a WhatsApp chatbot and how does it work?
A WhatsApp chatbot is a program connected to a WhatsApp Business number that reads incoming messages and replies automatically using pre-built flows or an AI model, running on WhatsApp's official Cloud API. It can answer FAQs, collect leads, confirm orders or hand off to a human when needed.
How to make a WhatsApp chatbot?
On Convo360 you connect your WhatsApp Business number through Meta's embedded signup, then use the Flow Builder to drag together blocks like Send Message, AI Reply and Buttons - no coding required. Add a trigger, preview it with Try-it, then publish your flow.
Whatsapp chatbot without api - is that possible?
Every official WhatsApp bot must run on Meta's WhatsApp Business Cloud API - there's no way around that. This search usually means not wanting to code the integration yourself: Convo360's embedded signup connects your number in clicks, and you build replies visually instead of writing API calls.
How long does WhatsApp chatbot setup take?
Most businesses publish a basic flow (welcome message, FAQ answers, lead-capture form) within an hour using the Flow Builder and Template Store. More advanced setups with AI knowledge bases, appointments or payments can take a day or two, mainly waiting on Meta's template approval.
Is there a WhatsApp chatbot free option?
Yes - Convo360 offers a 14-day free trial with every feature unlocked and no credit card required, so you can build and test a full WhatsApp chatbot before paying anything. After the trial, plans start at ₹999 a month, excluding GST.
Is a WhatsApp chatbot free forever?
A fully free-forever WhatsApp chatbot isn't realistic at real volume, since Meta charges per message for templates outside the free reply window, and AI models have a per-token cost too. Convo360's platform fee starts at ₹999/month after the 14-day trial, and being BYOK, it adds zero markup on Meta or AI provider charges.
What is the WhatsApp chatbot cost in India?
On Convo360, Starter is ₹999/month for one workspace with WhatsApp and web chat, Pro is ₹2,999/month with AI voice calls and integrations, and Business is ₹7,999/month with unlimited workspaces and REST API (prices exclude 18% GST). Yearly billing saves roughly 10 percent.
Is a WhatsApp bot for small business worth the budget?
Yes - the Starter plan at ₹999/month gives a small business WhatsApp and web chat, the Flow Builder, a knowledge base and basic CRM, covering FAQs, order updates and lead capture, with no per-message markup since Convo360 is BYOK.
What is a WhatsApp auto reply bot?
An auto-reply bot instantly answers common questions - business hours, pricing, order status - the moment a customer messages, using keyword triggers or an AI Reply block. You set the trigger and response in the Flow Builder, so replies fire without anyone watching the inbox.
Does a WhatsApp bot work 24/7?
Yes, once published a WhatsApp bot keeps responding around the clock, including nights and holidays, since it isn't tied to staff shifts. It can still hand off to a live agent during business hours, and pauses automatically while a human is replying.
WhatsApp chatbot vs human agent - which is better?
They work best together. A bot handles repetitive questions, order tracking and lead capture instantly at any hour, while a human is better for complex complaints or sensitive issues. Convo360's live-chat inbox lets a human take over any bot conversation, pausing the bot automatically.
Can a WhatsApp bot send images or PDF files?
Yes. The Flow Builder's Send Media block lets a bot send images, PDFs, catalogues or brochures, and Send Template supports Meta-approved templates with media headers and carousels, commonly used for product images, invoices or appointment confirmations.
Does the WhatsApp bot support Indian languages?
Yes. Convo360's AI agents converse in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia and Punjabi, plus English and other global languages, and handle Hinglish or code-mixed messages naturally, for both chat and voice.
Can multiple team members or agents use one WhatsApp bot?
Yes. Convo360 supports workspaces with team seats and roles, so several people can manage the same WhatsApp number, with the live-chat inbox showing conversations to your whole team. Pro and Business plans support more workspaces and unlimited seats.
Is a WhatsApp bot secure?
Convo360 encrypts connected API keys at rest, limits a login to 3 signed-in devices at a time, and requires a captcha at login. Staff roles limit who can see what, webhooks are HMAC-signed, and the database plus media are backed up nightly to keep data protected.
What are some WhatsApp chatbot examples?
Common flows include a welcome menu with buttons, an FAQ bot for delivery or return questions, order-status lookup, appointment booking-and-reminders, a lead-capture form saving to the CRM, and a payment-link flow using Razorpay, all built visually in the Flow Builder.
What is a WhatsApp bot for business used for?
Businesses use it to answer FAQs instantly, qualify and capture leads into a CRM pipeline, confirm and remind about appointments, send order updates, collect payments via Razorpay, and route complex queries to a human agent through the live-chat inbox.
Can WhatsApp bots handle customer support?
Yes. A bot can resolve routine questions instantly using an AI agent with a knowledge base built from your documents or URLs, and escalate anything it can't handle to a human via the team inbox, cutting wait times while keeping a person available for harder cases.
Can a WhatsApp bot generate leads?
Yes. A flow can ask qualifying questions, capture name, phone and requirement through an Ask a Question block, and save the result into Convo360's CRM as a new lead stage. A floating enquiry form on your website can start the same WhatsApp conversation.
Is there a chatbot for WhatsApp groups?
Not as a bot auto-replying inside a WhatsApp group chat - Meta's WhatsApp Business Cloud API is built for one-to-one conversations, not group messaging. Convo360 instead lets you organise contacts into groups using tags and trigger flows when someone is added to one.
What counts as a WhatsApp business automation tool?
It's software that connects to your official WhatsApp number and automates replies, broadcasts, lead capture and follow-ups without manual typing. Convo360 pairs this with a no-code Flow Builder, WhatsApp Studio for templates, a CRM, contact segmentation, and integrations like Google Sheets and webhooks.
Is there a WhatsApp chatbot demo I can try?
Convo360 gives you a 14-day free trial with every feature unlocked, plus a Template Store of one-click, ready-made agents across 20+ industries you can install and test live on your own WhatsApp number in minutes, with no credit card needed.
Are there ready-made WhatsApp chatbot templates?
Yes. The Template Store has one-click, ready-made agents for over 20 industries, tagged for chat, voice or both, which you install as a starting point and customise in the Flow Builder, much faster than building from a blank canvas.
Can I integrate a WhatsApp chatbot with my website?
Yes. Convo360 gives you a website chat widget with a floating enquiry form, so visitors can start a conversation on your site and continue it on WhatsApp, all from one workspace, with web forms and live-chat handover working across both channels.
Related reading
Available across India — see WhatsApp & AI calling automation by state and city.