WhatsApp Auto Reply: Setup Guide + 20 Message Examples

How to set up auto reply on the WhatsApp Business app and the API — greeting, away and keyword replies, AI replies — plus 20 ready-to-copy message examples.

Short answer: on the free WhatsApp Business app, open Settings → Business tools and switch on a Greeting message (for first-time chats), an Away message (for when you're closed) and Quick replies (saved answers you insert by typing /). For anything smarter — replies that depend on what the customer asked, menus with buttons, or AI answers — you need the WhatsApp Business API and a platform such as MotherBot.

Below: both setups step by step, when each one is enough, and 20 auto-reply messages you can copy.

Auto reply on the WhatsApp Business app

The app has three built-in tools. They're free and take five minutes.

Greeting message

Sent automatically when a customer messages you for the first time, or after 14 days without any messages between you.

1. Open WhatsApp Business → Settings → Business tools → Greeting message.
2. Switch on Send greeting message.
3. Write the message and choose who gets it: everyone, people not in your address book, everyone except some people, or only some people.
4. Save.

Away message

Sent when a customer messages you while you're away.

1. Settings → Business tools → Away message.
2. Switch on Send away message and write the message.
3. Choose the schedule: always, a custom schedule, or outside your business hours (set your hours in your business profile first).
4. Choose the recipients and save.

Quick replies

Saved answers for questions you get every day. Create one under Settings → Business tools → Quick replies, give it a shortcut like /price, and type / in any chat to insert it. Quick replies aren't automatic — you still press send — but they save a lot of typing.

Where the app stops

The app sends the same greeting to everyone, whatever they asked. It can't show menus or buttons, understand a question, look up an order, or hand a chat to a colleague. Only you and a few linked devices can use it. That's when businesses move to the API.

Auto reply on the WhatsApp Business API

On the API, replies are run by your platform. In MotherBot there are four kinds, from simplest to smartest. New accounts start with every automatic reply switched off, so nothing is sent until you turn it on.

1. Away message

In Settings, switch on your business hours first — that's how MotherBot knows you're closed — then switch on Away message and write the text. It goes out at most once an hour in each conversation, so a customer who sends five messages at midnight gets one reply, not five.

2. Welcome message with a menu

Create a chatbot with the First Message trigger. It answers the first time someone ever messages you, with a short greeting and buttons: Prices · Order status · Talk to us. Each button leads to its own answer. How to build a WhatsApp chatbot.

3. Keyword replies

Use the Keyword trigger for questions people type: "price", "timings", "location", "menu". The message can contain the word, start with it or match it exactly. Add several spellings — customers write "pric", "rate" and "cost" too.

4. AI auto reply

An AI Reply step answers whatever the customer types, using your own AI account (OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic and others) and, on plans with a knowledge base, your own documents and website. It's the most natural auto reply, and the one that needs the most care. How to train a WhatsApp AI chatbot.

Which one do you need?

20 WhatsApp auto reply message examples

Copy these and change the details. Keep them short — two or three lines read best on a phone.

Greeting messages

1. Hi! 👋 Thanks for messaging Sharma Electronics. How can we help today? Tap a button below or type your question.
2. Namaste! Welcome to Green Leaf Café. Reply MENU for today's menu or BOOK to reserve a table.
3. Hi {{name}}, thanks for reaching out to Bright Coaching. Which course are you interested in — JEE, NEET or Foundation?
4. Hello! You've reached Glow Salon. Reply 1 to book an appointment, 2 for prices, 3 to talk to us.
5. Hi there! Thanks for contacting Urban Homes. Tell us the city and budget you have in mind and we'll share matching flats.

Away messages

1. Thanks for your message! We're closed right now and open again at 10 am. We'll reply first thing.
2. Hi! Our team is offline (Mon–Sat, 10 am – 7 pm). Leave your question here and we'll get back to you tomorrow morning.
3. Thanks for writing to us. It's a Sunday, so the shop is closed — we'll reply on Monday. For order status, type ORDER.
4. We're away for lunch (1–2 pm) and will reply shortly after. Thanks for your patience!
5. Hi! We've received your message. Our team replies within 2 working hours.

Holiday and festival messages

1. Happy Diwali from all of us! 🪔 We're closed until 3 November and will reply when we're back.
2. Our office is closed for Holi on 14 March. Orders placed today ship on 15 March. Happy Holi! 🎨
3. We're closed for the public holiday today. Your message is safe with us — we'll answer tomorrow.

FAQ and keyword replies

1. Price: Our classes start at ₹499 a month. See all prices here: [link]. Want a call back? Reply YES.
2. Timings: We're open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm. Sundays 11 am to 5 pm.
3. Location: We're at Shop 12, MG Road, Pune — near the metro station. Map: [link]
4. Delivery: We deliver across India in 3–5 days. Orders above ₹999 ship free.

After an order

1. Thanks for your order, {{name}}! 🎉 We'll send your tracking link as soon as it ships.
2. Your order is on its way! Track it here: [link]. Reply HELP if anything looks wrong.
3. How was your order? Reply with a number from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) — it really helps us.

On the API, messages 18 and 19 are usually sent as approved utility templates triggered by your store, rather than as replies. WhatsApp automation for online stores.

Mistakes to avoid

• Pretending to be a person. Customers forgive a bot that's honest. They don't forgive one that pretends.
• No way to reach a human. Always add "Reply AGENT to talk to us" or a button.
• Promising what you can't keep. "We'll reply in 5 minutes" at midnight is a broken promise.
• Forgetting holidays. Update your away message before a festival closure.
• Auto-replying to everything. A customer mid-conversation with your team shouldn't get the welcome menu again.
• Using auto-reply apps that control WhatsApp. Third-party "auto responder" apps that drive the WhatsApp app break WhatsApp's rules, and numbers using them get banned.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up auto reply on WhatsApp Business?

Open the WhatsApp Business app, go to Settings → Business tools, and switch on Greeting message and Away message. Write your messages, choose when they're sent and to whom, and save.

Can I set up auto reply on normal WhatsApp?

No. Personal WhatsApp has no auto reply. Move to the free WhatsApp Business app, or use the WhatsApp Business API for chatbots and AI replies.

How do I send an automatic reply outside business hours?

In the app, set an Away message with the schedule "Outside of business hours". In MotherBot, switch on your business hours in Settings, then switch on the Away message.

Can WhatsApp reply automatically based on keywords?

Not in the app. On the WhatsApp Business API, a chatbot can answer keywords like "price" or "timings" with the right reply, and AI can answer questions in the customer's own words.

Do WhatsApp auto replies cost money?

On the app, no. On the API, Meta charges for replies after the first 1,000 each month on each WhatsApp number (₹0.115 each in India), billed to your own WhatsApp Business Account. AI replies also use your AI provider's charges. What replies cost.

Can I use ChatGPT for WhatsApp auto replies?

Yes, through the WhatsApp Business API. In MotherBot, an AI Reply step uses your own OpenAI account — or Gemini, Anthropic and others — to answer customers. See the best WhatsApp AI chatbots.