n8n
+
WhatsApp
Build a WhatsApp AI Chatbot with n8n
Connect n8n to the WhatsApp Business Cloud API (Meta) to build AI chatbots, send automated messages, handle lead follow-up, and run customer support on WhatsApp — 24/7.
WhatsApp Business API required — This integration uses the official WhatsApp Business Cloud API from Meta. A verified Meta Business account and an approved WhatsApp Business phone number are required. The personal WhatsApp app cannot be used for automation.
What this integration enables
Five things you can automate with n8n + WhatsApp
WhatsApp AI chatbot (24/7)
Build a GPT-4o-powered chatbot that reads incoming WhatsApp messages and responds intelligently — answering product questions, checking orders, and escalating to humans when needed.
Lead follow-up via WhatsApp
When a form is submitted, n8n instantly sends a personalized WhatsApp message to the lead's number — dramatically increasing response and booking rates versus email follow-up.
Order confirmations and shipping updates
Trigger WhatsApp messages from your ecommerce platform when orders are placed, shipped, or delivered — keeping customers informed in real time on the channel they actually check.
Appointment reminders
Send WhatsApp reminders 24 hours and 1 hour before scheduled appointments. Include reschedule links and one-tap confirmation buttons using WhatsApp's interactive message templates.
AI support with human escalation
The AI agent handles tier-1 support queries autonomously. When it detects frustration or a complex issue, it hands off to a human agent with full conversation context — seamlessly within WhatsApp.
Step-by-step setup
Setting Up n8n + WhatsApp Business API
1
Set up Meta Business account and WhatsApp app
Create a Meta Business account at business.facebook.com. Go to developers.facebook.com, create a new App (type: Business), and add the WhatsApp product. In WhatsApp → API Setup, add a phone number and note your Phone Number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID. Generate a permanent System User Access Token.
developers.facebook.com → My Apps → New App → WhatsApp → API Setup
2
Configure n8n to send WhatsApp messages
In n8n, add an HTTP Request node with the WhatsApp Cloud API endpoint. Set Authorization to Bearer (your Access Token). The request body specifies the recipient phone number, message type (text, template, interactive), and message content. n8n's native WhatsApp node (if available in your version) streamlines this further.
POST https://graph.facebook.com/v18.0/{PHONE_NUMBER_ID}/messages
Authorization: Bearer {ACCESS_TOKEN}
Authorization: Bearer {ACCESS_TOKEN}
3
Set up a webhook to receive incoming messages
In n8n, add a Webhook node and copy its URL. In your Meta app's WhatsApp settings, go to Configuration → Webhook, paste the n8n webhook URL, enter a Verify Token (any string — set the same in n8n), and subscribe to the messages field. Meta will now send incoming WhatsApp messages to n8n in real time.
4
Connect webhook → AI Agent → WhatsApp reply
Wire the Webhook trigger to an AI Agent node (OpenAI GPT-4o). Pass the incoming message text as the user input. Connect the agent's output to your HTTP Request (WhatsApp send) node. Add memory using a simple key-value store keyed on the sender's phone number. Activate the workflow.
What we build with this integration
Real workflows Xelionlabs has delivered
Workflow 01
WhatsApp Lead Follow-Up Bot
A form submission (Typeform/website) triggers n8n. Within 60 seconds, a personalized WhatsApp message lands on the lead's phone — introducing the company, asking a qualifying question, and offering to book a call. Conversion rates 3–5x higher than email-only follow-up.
Workflow 02
24/7 WhatsApp AI Support Agent
Incoming customer WhatsApp messages trigger n8n's webhook. GPT-4o (with a RAG pipeline over the product knowledge base) generates responses. Conversation history is stored per phone number. If the AI's confidence is low, it pages a human agent via Slack with full context.
Workflow 03
Order Status WhatsApp Notifications
WooCommerce/Shopify order events (placed, shipped, delivered) trigger n8n, which sends a formatted WhatsApp message to the customer's phone number with order details and tracking links — replacing transactional emails with WhatsApp's 98% open rate.
FAQ
n8n + WhatsApp — Common Questions
Can n8n send WhatsApp messages?
Yes. n8n can send WhatsApp messages using the WhatsApp Business Cloud API (Meta). You use n8n's HTTP Request node or the native WhatsApp node to call the Meta API endpoint, passing your Phone Number ID and Access Token. This requires a verified WhatsApp Business number — personal WhatsApp accounts cannot be used for automated messaging.
Do I need WhatsApp Business for n8n integration?
Yes. This integration uses the official WhatsApp Business Cloud API from Meta. You need a Meta Business account, a verified WhatsApp Business phone number (a new number works — it doesn't need an existing WhatsApp account), and a Meta developer app with the WhatsApp product enabled. Meta offers 1,000 free service conversations per month.
How do I build a WhatsApp AI chatbot with n8n?
Set up a Meta WhatsApp Business app and configure a webhook pointing to an n8n webhook trigger URL. When a user messages your WhatsApp number, Meta sends the payload to n8n in real time. n8n passes the message text to an AI Agent node (GPT-4o), and the agent's response is sent back via the WhatsApp Cloud API — creating a fully automated, conversational AI chatbot on WhatsApp.
Is n8n + WhatsApp suitable for customer support?
Yes. n8n + WhatsApp Business + GPT-4o is an excellent customer support stack. WhatsApp has 98% open rates and is the preferred messaging channel in many markets. The AI agent can handle FAQs, check order status via API calls, collect issue details, and escalate to a human agent when needed — all within the WhatsApp conversation thread.
Custom Builds
Want a custom WhatsApp AI chatbot built for you?
We handle the Meta Business setup, n8n configuration, and AI agent build — end to end. Tell us your use case.
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