Key takeaways
- On the WhatsApp Business API, the catalogue lives in Meta Commerce Manager and is linked to your WhatsApp Business Account.
- Single-product and multi-product messages show catalogue items in the chat; multi-product messages can hold up to 30 items.
- Customers can add items to a cart and send it as one structured order message.
- Checkout is completed with a payment link or, where eligible in India, payments inside WhatsApp.
- Products must follow Meta's Commerce Policy, and prices and stock should stay in sync with your store.
Your customers already ask "Do you have this in blue?" and "What's the price?" on WhatsApp. A WhatsApp catalogue lets you answer with the product itself, photo, price, description and an add-to-cart button, right inside the chat.
What is a WhatsApp catalogue?
A WhatsApp catalogue is a structured list of your products or services that customers can browse in WhatsApp. Each item has an image, name, price, description and a unique ID (usually your SKU).
- On the WhatsApp Business app, you build the catalogue in the app itself.
- On the WhatsApp Business API, the catalogue is created in Meta Commerce Manager and connected to your WhatsApp Business Account. The same catalogue can also power your Facebook and Instagram shops.
How does a WhatsApp catalogue work on the API?
- Create or reuse a catalogue in Meta Commerce Manager: upload products manually, by data feed or through a store integration.
- Connect it to your WhatsApp Business Account.
- Share products in conversations with commerce messages.
- Receive orders when customers send a cart back to you.
- Collect payment with a payment link or WhatsApp payments where available.
- Confirm and update the customer with order status messages.
Which catalogue messages can you send?
| Message type | What it shows | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Single-product message | One item with a View button | Answering a question about a specific product |
| Multi-product message | Up to 30 items in up to 10 sections | Collections, bestsellers, "you may also like" |
| Catalogue message | A button that opens your whole catalogue | Main menu "Browse products" option |
| Catalogue or product templates | Approved templates that feature products | Starting a conversation, such as a new launch |
Single-product, multi-product and catalogue messages are interactive messages, so they need an open 24-hour window. To reach customers first, use an approved template.
What happens when a customer places an order?
When customers add items and tap send, you receive an order message with each product ID, quantity and price. From there, a well-built flow:
- Confirms the items and asks for the delivery address (or pulls it from the contact profile).
- Offers payment: a Razorpay link, UPI or cash on delivery.
- Sends an order confirmation, then shipping and delivery updates. See WhatsApp order tracking notifications.
- Routes exceptions, out-of-stock items, custom requests, to an agent in the team inbox.
How do customers find your WhatsApp catalogue?
A catalogue only sells if people open it. The most effective entry points are:
- The chatbot menu. Add a "Browse products" option to your welcome menu that sends the catalogue message.
- Click-to-chat links. Put a link from the WhatsApp link generator with a pre-filled "Show me the new collection" message on your website, Instagram bio and emails.
- Click-to-WhatsApp ads. Send ad traffic straight into a chat where the bot replies with the relevant collection. See Click-to-WhatsApp ads.
- Broadcasts to opted-in customers. Announce a launch with an approved product or catalogue template, browse examples in the WhatsApp template library.
- Agent replies. Agents in the inbox can share a single product in answer to a question instead of typing the details.
Starting a conversation with a product template is charged at the marketing rate, approximately ₹0.58 per message in India, as listed on Chatbox AI's pricing page, while product messages sent inside an open service window are free. Estimate a launch campaign with the WhatsApp pricing calculator.
Who should use a WhatsApp catalogue?
- D2C brands selling fashion, beauty, electronics or home goods, especially to customers who prefer chatting over browsing a site.
- Restaurants and cloud kitchens sharing menus for direct orders. See WhatsApp for restaurants.
- Retailers taking local orders for pickup or delivery. See WhatsApp for retail.
- B2B wholesalers sharing price lists and taking bulk orders from distributors.
- Service businesses: salons, clinics, tutors, listing packages and prices.
What are the best practices for a WhatsApp catalogue?
- Use real, clear photos. Square images crop best on phones.
- Write for mobile. Put the key detail (size, weight, colour) in the first line of the description.
- Keep stock and prices in sync. Nothing breaks trust faster than ordering an item that isn't available. Chatbox AI's Shopify integration hides out-of-stock products automatically.
- Curate, don't dump. Send a multi-product message of five relevant items rather than your entire range.
- Recommend at the right moment. Suggest accessories after purchase, not before checkout.
- Recover carts. Remind customers who built a cart but did not pay, see abandoned cart recovery on WhatsApp.
- Follow Meta's Commerce Policy. Restricted categories can get items rejected.
How does Chatbox AI support WhatsApp commerce?
Chatbox AI's WhatsApp catalogue lets you connect an existing Commerce Manager catalogue or upload products from the dashboard, share products from the chatbot or inbox, receive carts as structured orders and send payment links. Product catalogue, cart and order tracking, and payment link sharing are included on the Growth (₹2,999/month) and Scale plans.
Read next: WhatsApp payments and UPI and WhatsApp for e-commerce.
Start a 7-day free trial and turn your WhatsApp chats into a storefront.
Frequently asked questions
Creating and connecting a catalogue in Meta Commerce Manager has no fee. Sending catalogue messages follows normal WhatsApp pricing: free inside the customer service window, and charged by template category when you start the conversation. Chatbox AI includes the catalogue on its Growth and Scale plans.
Is the WhatsApp catalogue free? Creating and connecting a catalogue in Meta Commerce Manager has no fee. Sending catalogue messages follows normal WhatsApp pricing: free inside the customer service window, and charged by template category when you start the conversation. Chatbox AI includes the catalogue on its Growth and Scale plans.
Can I sync my Shopify products to the WhatsApp catalogue? Yes. Chatbox AI's Shopify integration keeps the WhatsApp catalogue in step with your store, so products that go out of stock on Shopify are hidden on WhatsApp. You can also connect an existing Commerce Manager catalogue or add products manually.
How many products can I show in one WhatsApp message? A single-product message shows one item. A multi-product message can show up to 30 items arranged in up to 10 sections, which is ideal for collections, bestsellers or personalised recommendations.
Can customers pay inside WhatsApp? Customers can pay through a payment link sent in the chat, for example via Razorpay. In India, eligible businesses can also accept payments inside WhatsApp using UPI and supported payment gateways. See our guide to WhatsApp payments and UPI.
What products are not allowed in a WhatsApp catalogue? Meta's Commerce Policy restricts items such as weapons, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, adult products, live animals and certain healthcare or financial products. Review the policy before uploading, because violations can lead to rejected items or restricted commerce features.
