Create a free WhatsApp bot in minutes, no code
If you're answering the same questions on WhatsApp over and over, this guide is for you. You'll see what a WhatsApp bot actually does, what you need before connecting your account, and the exact steps to build the conversation flow in Mavibot, without writing a line of code.
Short answer: to get a WhatsApp bot running, connect WhatsApp to a platform like Mavibot, either by scanning a QR code for regular WhatsApp or by logging in with Facebook for the WhatsApp Business API, then build the conversation flow by dragging blocks in a visual builder. Unverified Meta accounts on the API route are capped at 50 template messages a day; verified accounts aren't.
What a WhatsApp bot does and who needs one
A WhatsApp bot answers messages coming into your WhatsApp Business account automatically, without someone typing a reply in real time. It can handle FAQs, qualify a lead before handing it to a salesperson, book appointments, send reminders, and, depending on the platform, close a sale inside the conversation itself.
For a small business running WhatsApp off a personal phone, the practical difference is simple: the bot replies instantly, at 2am or while you're mid-task, and only pulls in a human when the conversation actually needs one.
What you need before you start
Mavibot connects to WhatsApp in two ways, and the one you pick decides what you need to have ready.
The simplest route is regular WhatsApp: you scan a QR code with the phone number you want the bot to use, the same way you'd link WhatsApp Web. No Facebook Business account, no verification, nothing to approve. It's the fastest way to get a bot running today.
The other route is the WhatsApp Business API (WABA), which needs an active Facebook Business account and a phone number dedicated to your WhatsApp Business profile. This route is worth it once you're sending real volume, since it supports message templates and higher sending limits, but it comes with a tradeoff: unverified Meta accounts are capped at 50 template messages a day and can't message outside the 24-hour customer service window without an approved template. Business verification in Meta Business Suite removes that ceiling.
Step by step: build the bot in Mavibot
1. Connect WhatsApp to Mavibot
Inside your Mavibot project, go to the channels section. For regular WhatsApp, choose that option and scan the QR code with the phone number you want the bot to use. For the API route, choose "WhatsApp Business API," click "Connect via Facebook," and log in with your Facebook Business credentials. Either way, you don't need to keep your phone on after that: the bot runs stably in the cloud, independent of the phone.
2. Build the conversation flow with blocks
Mavibot's builder works with visual blocks connected by arrows. Every flow starts with a start block (green), triggered by a specific keyword the customer types. From there, you connect chat blocks (white), where most of the conversation logic lives: messages, questions, reply options.
Connections between blocks can carry conditions: if the customer answers "yes," they go down one path; "no" sends them down another. You can also set a delay before a message goes out, to build automated sequences.
3. Organize bigger flows into lists
If your bot grows into a lot of steps, you can split the blocks across separate workspaces within the same flow, and they stay connected automatically. This keeps things readable when the bot handles several kinds of requests at once.
4. Test in the built-in test mode, then publish
Before handing the number to customers, run the whole flow through Mavibot's built-in test mode, checking the replies a real customer would get at every branch. Small wording fixes usually only show up once you've run the flow end to end.
5. Optional: launch the bot straight from your website
If a visitor on your site submits their phone number, the bot can start a WhatsApp conversation with them automatically, without them having to open WhatsApp first. This runs through Mavibot's whatsapp_callback integration, so a lead capture form on your homepage can turn straight into a WhatsApp chat.
Don't want to build the blocks yourself? Mavi will do it for you
If dragging out every block isn't really your thing, you can skip that part. Mavi, Mavibot's AI agent, builds a complete conversation flow from a single written request, without you touching the builder. In real tests we ran with Mavi, it took just minutes to build entire funnels from scratch, qualification and payment steps included.
No-code bot vs. connecting straight to the WhatsApp API
| No code (Mavibot) | Direct WhatsApp API | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can build it | Anyone, no programming needed | Needs a developer |
| Time to first working bot | Minutes to hours | Days to weeks |
| Editing after launch | Drag and drop, on the spot | Back into the code |
| Message templates | Create and send from the platform | Approval flow needs manual integration |
| Upfront cost | Just the platform plan | Development plus maintenance |
Get answering on WhatsApp without writing code
If you're tired of typing the same answer for the tenth time today, Mavibot's chatbot builder lets you build, test, and publish a WhatsApp bot today, no developer required. Start free.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to code to create a WhatsApp bot?
No. With a visual builder like Mavibot's, you build the conversation flow by dragging blocks and connecting them with arrows, no code involved.
How much does it cost to create a WhatsApp bot?
It depends on the platform. You can start on a free or low-cost plan; the cost grows with message volume and team size.
Do I need to verify my account with Meta to use a bot?
Only if you connect through the WhatsApp Business API. If you connect regular WhatsApp by scanning a QR code, there's no Meta account or verification involved at all. On the API route, unverified accounts are capped at 50 template messages a day and can't send messages outside the 24-hour window without an approved template.
Does the bot need my phone to stay on?
No. Once connected, the bot runs stably on its own, independent of whether your phone is online.
Can the bot hand a conversation off to a human?
Yes. You can set up the flow to route the conversation to a human agent once it goes beyond what the bot can handle on its own.