The Best Auto-Reply Messages for WhatsApp Business (Copy-Paste Templates)

A useful auto-reply does four things in two or three short lines:

• Confirms receipt so the customer knows the message landed
• Sets a time expectation — “within 2 hours”, “by tomorrow morning”
• Gives an urgent alternative — a phone number or email for anything that cannot wait
• Sounds like your business — warm, not robotic, and free of jargon

Keep it under about 40 words. Replace every bracketed placeholder below with your real details before you save it.

Sent automatically the first time someone messages you, or after 14 days of no contact.

• General: “Hi! Thanks for messaging [Business]. We have your message and someone will reply within [X] hours. For anything urgent, call us on [number].”
• Online store: “Welcome to [Store]! Send the product name or a screenshot and we will check availability, price and delivery time for you.”
• Salon or clinic: “Hi! Thanks for contacting [Name]. Share your preferred date and service and we will confirm a slot. We reply between [hours].”
• Restaurant: “Hello! Thanks for messaging [Restaurant]. For table bookings, share date, time and party size. For delivery, tell us your area.”
• Services or agency: “Thanks for reaching out to [Business]. Tell us briefly what you need and the best time to call — we will get back within one working day.”

Sent outside the business hours you set — always, on a schedule, or only after hours.

• After hours: “Thanks for your message! We are closed right now. Our hours are [days, hours]. We will reply first thing when we reopen.”
• Weekend: “We have received your message. Our team is away for the weekend and will respond on Monday by [time]. For urgent help, email [email].”
• Festival or holiday: “Thanks for writing in. We are closed for [festival] until [date]. Your message is noted and we will reply in order once we are back.”
• Short break: “We are on a short break and will be back at [time]. Leave your question here and we will reply as soon as we return.”

Use these as a temporary away message on unusually busy days.

• “Thanks for your patience! We are handling a high number of chats and replies may take a little longer than usual today. Your message is in the queue.”
• “We have received your message. Response times are longer than normal right now — expect a reply within [X] hours.”
• “Big response to today’s offer! We are replying to everyone in order and will reach your message shortly. Thank you for waiting.”

These are proactive messages you send when an order status changes. The free WhatsApp Business app cannot send them on its own — they need Meta-approved templates on the WhatsApp Business API — but the wording is the same:

• Confirmed: “Your order [#] is confirmed. Total [amount]. We will message you again the moment it ships.”
• Shipped: “Good news — order [#] has been dispatched and should reach you by [date]. Track it here: [link].”
• Out for delivery: “Your order [#] is out for delivery today. Please keep your phone reachable for the delivery partner.”
• Feedback: “Hope you are enjoying your order [#]! Reply with a rating from 1 to 5 — it helps us a lot.”

Save these as quick replies and insert them with the “/” shortcut while you chat.

• /hours: “We are open [days], [hours]. Closed on [day].”
• /location: “We are at [address]. Map: [link]. Parking is available at [note].”
• /price: “Current prices are here: [link]. Tell us what you need and we will send an exact quote.”
• /payment: “We accept UPI, cards and cash on delivery. We can send a payment link on request.”

The free app gives you exactly three automation tools:

• Greeting message — one message, sent on a first contact or after 14 days of silence
• Away message — one message, sent always, on a schedule, or outside set hours
• Quick replies — up to 50 saved snippets you insert manually

It cannot reply based on what the customer typed (no keyword triggers), ask a follow-up question, branch, hand the chat to a specific person, or send the proactive order updates above. It also runs on one phone.

To set up the two auto-messages: open the WhatsApp Business app, go to Settings → Business tools, then Greeting message and Away message, switch each on and paste your text.

For keyword-triggered replies, multi-step flows, lead qualification and proactive updates, you need the no-code WhatsApp chatbot on the WhatsApp Business API. The WhatsApp vs WhatsApp Business guide explains when that move is worth it.