Autoresponder for WA: Set Up Automatic WhatsApp Replies on Your Own Number

An autoresponder for WA (WhatsApp) is a tool that replies automatically to inbound WhatsApp messages. You can use the WhatsApp Business app's built-in away and greeting messages, a phone-based auto-reply app, or a platform such as WaSMS that links your own number by QR and adds AI answers trained on your content.

Autoresponders range from one fixed away message to AI answers grounded in your own content. For the difference between a scripted bot and an AI agent, see AI agent vs chatbot. This guide compares the three routes, gives five questions to choose between them, and shows the setup in WaSMS.

Key facts

| Item | Detail | Source | |---|---|---| | Channels | WhatsApp, SMS and email in one inbox | wasms.net/features, 2026-09-23 | | Number linking | Your own WhatsApp number by QR; no Meta Business Manager or API account required | wasms.net/features/whatsapp-api | | AI Brain | Trained on your content; reads the recent messages in the chat | wasms.net/features/ai-brain, 2026-11-15 | | Connect | Free; up to 500 contacts, 2 team members | wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23 | | Reach | $10/month or $84/year; 1,000 contacts, 20 team members | wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23 | | Grow | $40/month or $336/year; 5,000 contacts, 100 team members | wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23 | | Custom | Everything unlimited; talk to the team | wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23 | | Billing | Annual billing saves 30%; start free, no card | wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23 |

Three ways to get automatic replies on WhatsApp

You can use built-in messages, a phone-based app, or a platform on your own number. Each fits a different size of job.

Built-in away and greeting messages

Built-in messages are the greeting message and the away message in the WhatsApp Business app (WhatsApp Help Center, 'How to use greeting messages' and 'How to use away messages', faq.whatsapp.com, 2026-11-15). Each one is text you write in advance. They suit one person who needs a greeting and an away note, and nothing more.

A phone-based auto-reply app

A phone-based auto-reply app is software installed on your phone that sends replies for you. Searching for this term mostly returns app listings, so read each app's own store listing for price, permissions and ratings before you install. This page does not review any specific app.

A platform on your own number

A platform keeps your own WhatsApp number and moves the replying into one shared workspace. WaSMS is WhatsApp-first, with SMS and email beside it. You link your own WhatsApp number by QR, with no Meta Business Manager or API account required (wasms.net/features/whatsapp-api). The AI Brain is trained on your content, so replies can address the specific question a customer asks.

Which one fits your business? Five questions to decide

Answer five questions and the right route is usually clear.

How many people answer messages?

One person can often stay with built-in messages or a phone-based app. A team needs a shared place: WaSMS includes 2 team members on Connect, 20 on Reach and 100 on Grow (wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23).

Do replies need to know your products and policies?

If replies must quote prices, hours or return rules, you need answers grounded in your content, not one fixed text. A fixed message sends the same words to every sender. The AI Brain trained on your content is "grounded in YOUR content" and reads the recent messages in the chat (wasms.net/features/ai-brain, 2026-11-15).

Do you also use SMS or email?

If customers also write by SMS or email, a platform keeps all three in one place. WaSMS shows WhatsApp, SMS and email in one inbox (wasms.net/features, 2026-09-23). This guide covers automatic replies on WhatsApp.

How many contacts do you have?

Contacts set the plan: Connect holds up to 500, Reach 1,000 and Grow 5,000 (wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23). Above that, talk to the team about Custom.

Do you need follow-ups, not just a first reply?

If you need follow-ups, check that the tool lists them as a feature before you commit. WaSMS lists follow-ups among AI agent actions (wasms.net/features, 2026-11-15), and the section below covers them.

In short: one person with a few fixed replies may not need a platform, because built-in messages can cover a greeting and an away note. Several people, product questions, other channels or follow-ups point to a platform.

Set up an autoresponder for WA on your own number with WaSMS

Setup needs no Meta Business Manager or API account (wasms.net/features/whatsapp-api): you sign up, link your number, add your content and test.

Sign up on the free plan

Create a WaSMS account on the Connect plan. It is free and you can start with no card (wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23). More than 1,000 businesses have signed up (wasms.net/about, 2026-11-15).

Link your WhatsApp number by QR

Link the WhatsApp number you already use for customers. On the free QR route you download the WaSMS gateway app to a computer, open it, then scan the QR code from WhatsApp on your phone (Settings, Linked devices, Link a device). The app runs on a computer, not on a phone, and messages send while it is running, so keep that computer on during the hours you want automatic replies (wasms.net/docs/whatsapp/connect-local-gateway, updated 2026-10-11). If the code does not appear, read WhatsApp QR code not loading.

Train the AI Brain on your content

The AI Brain is trained on your content. Begin with the answers you give most often: hours, prices, delivery and returns. Write each one in plain words, the way you would say it to a customer.

Test the replies and decide when a person takes over

Message your own number from another phone and ask what customers ask. Check each answer against your content. If the AI does not reply, read why the AI isn't replying. Then list the topics a person should answer, such as refunds, complaints and custom quotes.

Beyond the first reply: hand-offs, follow-ups, SMS and email

An autoresponder is where a workflow starts. WaSMS covers WhatsApp plus SMS and email in one inbox, with broadcasts, AI agents, an API and integrations (wasms.net/features, 2026-09-23). The features page lists book, follow up, escalate, tag and route among the actions AI agents can take (wasms.net/features, 2026-11-15).

Hand off to a person when it matters

Some messages need a person: refunds, complaints, anything with money or safety attached. Decide those topics before you go live. The guide on when to hand off to a human helps you choose them.

Automatic follow-ups

A first reply opens the chat, and a follow-up keeps it moving. The guide to automatic follow-ups explains how to plan them.

One inbox for WhatsApp, SMS and email

Customers may write on more than one channel. WaSMS shows one inbox for WhatsApp, SMS and email (wasms.net/features, 2026-09-23). People who search for a whatsappcrm often want contacts next to the chat. The features page describes contacts created from every conversation, with tags, custom fields and a deals pipeline (wasms.net/features, 2026-11-15).

Broadcasts and text campaigns

WaSMS lists broadcasts among its features (wasms.net/features, 2026-09-23). If you are comparing text campaign software or group text messaging software, treat that as a separate decision from auto-replies. Broadcasts send to many people. An autoresponder answers the people who write to you.

What it costs: plans in USD

WaSMS starts free: Connect costs $0, Reach costs $10 a month and Grow costs $40 a month (wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23).

| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Contacts | Team members | |---|---|---|---|---| | Connect | Free | Free | 500 | 2 | | Reach | $10 | $84 | 1,000 | 20 | | Grow | $40 | $336 | 5,000 | 100 | | Custom | Talk to the team | Talk to the team | Unlimited | Unlimited |

Connect (free)

Connect includes up to 500 contacts, 2 team members and 1 SMS device, with AI and API enabled. If you are also looking for free text messaging software, that SMS device sits next to WhatsApp on the same plan.

Reach and Grow

Reach has 1,000 contacts and 20 team members. Grow has 5,000 contacts and 100 team members. Both have AI and API enabled. Custom is tailored, with everything unlimited.

Annual billing

Annual billing saves 30%: $84 a year on Reach and $336 a year on Grow, against $120 and $480 billed monthly.

Start free, no card

What is an autoresponder for WA, and how is it different from a chatbot?

An autoresponder for WA (WhatsApp) sends automatic replies to inbound WhatsApp messages, from a fixed away message to an AI answer. A rule-based chatbot follows scripted paths. The WaSMS AI Brain is trained on your content, grounded in your content and reads the recent messages in the chat.

Can I set up automatic WhatsApp replies on my own number without a WhatsApp API account?

Yes. WaSMS links your own WhatsApp number by QR, and no Meta Business Manager or API account is required (wasms.net/features/whatsapp-api). On the free QR route, you run the WaSMS gateway app on a computer and scan the QR code from WhatsApp on your phone.

Can an auto-reply answer questions about my business instead of sending one fixed message?

Yes. The WaSMS AI Brain is trained on your content and its answers are grounded in YOUR content, so it can reply to specific questions instead of sending one fixed message (wasms.net/features/ai-brain, 2026-11-15). It also reads the recent messages in the chat.

Can more than one person handle the same WhatsApp number?

Yes. WaSMS puts WhatsApp, SMS and email in one inbox, and each plan includes team members: 2 on Connect, 20 on Reach and 100 on Grow (wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23). A team can work from the same inbox instead of passing one phone around.

Is there a free way to start?

Yes. The WaSMS Connect plan is free, with up to 500 contacts and 2 team members, and you can start free with no card (wasms.net/pricing, 2026-09-23). Paid plans start at $10 a month on Reach.