Is there a truly free WhatsApp chatbot?
The WhatsApp Business app is free and offers simple automatic replies. An AI agent on the official API is a paid service, because it needs software, AI models and sometimes Meta fees.
It depends on what you call a “chatbot”.
Free: the WhatsApp Business app
It offers a greeting, an away message and quick replies. It is free and enough for a lone shopkeeper, but it is not artificial intelligence: the text is always the same.
Paid: an AI agent on the official API
An agent that understands questions and answers from your information relies on an AI model, software and Meta's official API. Those have a cost. Beware of “free” offers based on a QR code or unofficial tools: they expose your number to being blocked.
Try before you pay
WhatzAI offers a 24-hour free trial for the AI agent and a 3-day one for the inbox, with no credit card.
Updated 18 October 2026. Meta's rules change: if in doubt, check WhatsApp Business's official documentation.