How to Set Up WhatsApp Auto Reply
Works with regular WhatsApp — no business account, no API, no coding.
Open Auto Reply in WhatsClaw
After installing, go to the Auto Reply section. Tap "New Rule" to create your first automatic response.
Set Your Trigger & Reply
Choose a keyword trigger ("price", "hours", "order"), a regex pattern, or leave it blank to reply to all messages. Write your reply message.
Choose Contacts & Enable
Apply the rule to all contacts, specific people, or WhatsApp groups. Toggle the rule on — WhatsClaw replies instantly to every matching message.
Powerful Auto Reply Features
Reply only when a message contains "price", "stock", "timing" — multiple keywords per rule, exact or partial match.
Reply "We're closed right now" only outside business hours. Active only on weekdays from 9am–6pm, or any custom window.
Use {name} in your reply and WhatsClaw fills in the sender's contact name — making automated replies feel human.
Different auto-reply content for individual chats vs WhatsApp groups. Silence groups entirely or respond selectively.
Add 10–60 seconds of random delay before firing the auto reply — avoids the instant-robot feel.
See exactly how many times each rule fired. Optimise your keywords based on what customers actually ask.
Use Cases for WhatsApp Auto Reply
"We're away until Monday. Leave your message and we'll respond first thing." Set active hours so it only fires outside business hours.
Trigger on "price", "cost", "how much" — instantly send your price list or catalogue PDF so customers get immediate answers.
Auto-reply with a payment link or order tracking URL whenever a customer messages "order" or "status".
Greet every new enquiry with a welcome message and ask a qualifying question to start the conversation automatically.
WhatsClaw vs WhatsApp Business Auto Reply
| Feature | WhatsClaw (Free) | WhatsApp Business |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword-triggered replies | ✓ Yes | Basic only |
| Works on regular WhatsApp | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Time-window (business hours) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Personalise reply with {name} | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Different rules per contact group | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Also automates Telegram & Instagram | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Cost | Free | Free (but limited) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn on auto reply in WhatsApp?
WhatsApp's built-in auto reply (in WhatsApp Business) is very limited — it only offers an away message and greeting message. For full keyword-based auto reply on regular WhatsApp, install WhatsClaw, go to Auto Reply, and create your first rule. It takes about 2 minutes to set up.
Can I set different auto replies for different keywords?
Yes. WhatsClaw lets you create unlimited auto reply rules, each with its own keyword trigger, reply text, and contact scope. For example: "price" triggers your price list, "hours" triggers your business hours, "order" triggers your order form link.
Does WhatsApp auto reply work on groups?
Yes, WhatsClaw's auto reply works on WhatsApp groups. You can set group-specific rules — for example, only auto reply in certain groups, or turn off auto reply for groups entirely. You can also set different replies for group messages vs individual DMs.
Can I auto reply on WhatsApp without WhatsApp Business?
Yes. WhatsClaw's auto reply works with the regular WhatsApp app on Android — no WhatsApp Business account needed. This is its biggest advantage: hundreds of millions of people use regular WhatsApp and can now have full auto reply capability.
Will auto reply get my WhatsApp account banned?
WhatsClaw uses Android's Accessibility Service to monitor and respond to messages on-device. It does not use unofficial WhatsApp APIs or third-party servers. The built-in random reply delay makes responses indistinguishable from human typing. Hundreds of thousands of users use it daily with no issues.
Set Up WhatsApp Auto Reply in 2 Minutes — Free
Stop missing messages. Let WhatsClaw reply instantly, 24/7 — even when you're asleep or offline.