Create No-Code WhatsApp Chatbot: Easy Builder Guide

Method 2: Build a WhatsApp Chatbot Using the WhatsApp Business API

This approach is for teams that want full control over how the chatbot works.

Instead of using a visual builder, you directly work with the WhatsApp Business API and build the chatbot logic yourself.

This means that you have to involve developers and manage your own backend and integrations.

It’s more flexible, but also more effort.

Here’s what the process looks like:

Step 1: Get Access to the WhatsApp Business API

Before you build anything, you need access to the WhatsApp Business API.

Unlike the WhatsApp Business app, the API isn’t something you can just download and start using.

You need to apply for it through a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP) or directly via Meta. And then, your business has to go through a verification process.

This step alone can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how quickly your business details are approved.

Once approved, you’ll get credentials that allow your system to send and receive WhatsApp messages programmatically.

Step 2: Set Up Your Backend to Handle Messages

Once you have API access, you need a backend service that can listen to incoming WhatsApp messages and decide what to do with them.

For example:

• A user sends “Hi”

• WhatsApp forwards that message to your webhook

• Your backend processes it and decides the next reply

• A response is sent back to the user via the API

This is where development work starts. You’ll need to write logic to handle different message types, manage conversation state, and store user data if required.

At this point, your “chatbot” is essentially a combination of backend code, APIs, and business rules.

Step 3: Build Conversation Logic and Integrations

Now comes the actual chatbot behavior.

You’ll need to define how conversations flow. This includes handling edge cases like invalid inputs or unexpected replies.

You can also integrate the bot with internal systems like these:

• CRMs

• Ticketing tools

• Order or inventory systems

All of this has to be built and maintained manually, which gives you flexibility but also increases complexity.

Step 4: Manage Templates, Compliance, and Scaling

WhatsApp has strict rules around messaging, especially for outbound communication.

You’ll need to:

• Create and get approval for message templates

• Handle opt-ins properly

• Stay compliant with WhatsApp’s policies

As your usage grows, you’ll also need to think about scaling infrastructure, monitoring message delivery, and handling failures or downtime.

Step 5: Test, Deploy, and Maintain

Once everything is built, you test the chatbot in a controlled environment, deploy it to production, and monitor how it behaves with real users.

Unlike a visual builder, even small changes will require developer time, testing, and redeployment.

This makes ongoing iteration slower but gives you full ownership of the system.

The only issue is that this method is developer-heavy. Plus, it takes longer to launch (like around 1-ish week) and requires ongoing maintenance.

⚠️ A Note on Unofficial Libraries & “Quick Hacks”

Some developers use WhatsApp Web-based libraries (like those built on WhatsApp Web) to get a bot running quickly.

They might look tempting, but they come with  risks:

• Accounts can get blocked or banned

• Bots can break when WhatsApp updates its web client

• No official support or long-term reliability

If you’re building for a business, these shortcuts rarely age well. (There’s a Reddit thread where people  have discussed this issue.)

Final Thoughts (With Some Advice)

If you’re thinking about building a WhatsApp chatbot, here’s the honest takeaway:
You don’t need to overengineer this.

If your goal is to move fast and avoid maintenance headaches, then a chatbot builder is the most sensible place to start.

You’ll learn what your users actually ask, where automation helps, and where humans still matter.

If, later on, you need to customize it further, you can always go the API-heavy route.

See… the key is to treat your WhatsApp chatbot like a product, not a one-time setup.

Tools like WotNot are built exactly for this approach. You can take a 14-day free trial to explore and create your WhatsApp chatbot.