To build a WhatsApp catalog, install the WhatsApp Business app, tap the three-dot menu, choose Business tools, then Catalog, and tap Add new item. Enter photos, a name and a price, then save. WhatsApp reviews each item before customers can see it, and approval usually takes up to 24 hours, according to The Convert Way.
Check whether WhatsApp fits your customers first
A catalog only helps if shoppers already message you on WhatsApp. It may not be the app every one of your customers uses, so look at where your inquiries come from today: text messages, Instagram, email or the phone. If WhatsApp is already part of your daily conversations, the catalog saves you from sending the same photos and prices again and again. If it is not, the time may go further on a channel your customers already use. Our guide on how to sell on Instagram covers one such option.
You also need the right app. The Convert Way says a standard WhatsApp app will not work for a catalog, so install WhatsApp Business, the separate app for companies.
What to prepare before you start
Having the material ready makes the setup go faster:
- clear product photos, up to 10 per product, according to The Convert Way;
- a product name your customers would recognize;
- a price for each item;
- a short description;
- optional details, such as a link to the product page or an item code, according to Rasayel.
How to add products on your phone
The menu names below follow Rasayel and The Convert Way, and they can differ slightly by app version and device.
- Open WhatsApp Business and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose Business tools, then Catalog.
- Tap Add new item.
- Upload product images, then enter the name, price and a short description.
- Add optional details if you want them, such as a link to your website or an item code.
- Tap Save. The Convert Way describes the final button as Save and review, so check the details before you confirm.
Repeat the steps for every product. Rasayel notes that WhatsApp spends a moment preparing the catalog the first time you open it, so wait for the screen to load.
Review and approval
After you save, the item goes to review. The Convert Way says approval usually takes up to 24 hours before customers can see it, and Rasayel says it can take up to a few hours. Plan accordingly: add products at least a day before a promotion, not the morning of.
Neither article lists specific rejection reasons. Rasayel advises following WhatsApp’s commerce policies to avoid restrictions on your catalog or account. Meta’s developer documentation says items are reviewed automatically and policy-violating items are flagged. If you sell anything in a sensitive category, read the current policy before you add the product.
Organize the catalog with collections
Once you have more than a handful of products, group them. Rasayel describes the path: open Catalog Manager, tap Add new collection, name it and pick the items to include. Collections appear on the main page of your catalog. The Convert Way suggests groups such as Best Sellers, New Arrivals or Sale Items, and says you can open the Catalogue section, tap Edit and drag items to rearrange them.
A practical tip: name collections the way a customer would ask for something. “Gifts under $25” is easier to browse than an internal product line name.
How to share the catalog
Rasayel gives this route: open Business tools, tap Catalog, select a product or the whole catalog, tap the Share icon and choose how to send the link. The Convert Way says you can share the catalogue in a chat, broadcast or group, and use the link in campaigns or customer conversations. Putting the link in your email signature or in a social profile is a simple way to give people a direct path to your products.
Add to cart and hiding the catalog
Rasayel describes two settings in Catalog Manager. To turn on a cart, open the top-right menu, go to Catalog settings and switch on Show add to cart button. To hide the catalog for a while, go to the settings and turn off visibility. Meta’s documentation adds that customers can add up to 99 units of each catalog item to a cart, and that a cart belongs to one chat on one device.
What the free app does not do
The catalog is free to create, according to Rasayel, but it has limits. Rasayel caps it at 500 items, and The Convert Way recommends showing no more than 500. Neither source describes a payment step inside the catalog, so you still agree on how to pay in the chat. The free app’s automatic replies are also basic, as our guide to WhatsApp Business auto replies explains. Meta also documents a separate catalog setup through Commerce Manager and its API, which is a bigger project than the app route. For a small local seller starting out, the app is the simpler place to begin.
Frequently asked questions
Does a WhatsApp Business catalog cost anything?
Rasayel describes the catalog as free. Neither source lists a fee for creating or keeping one, but check your app for paid options before you rely on that.
How many products can I add?
Rasayel says up to 500 items. The Convert Way recommends showing no more than 500 and allows up to 10 images per product.
Can I make a catalog in the regular WhatsApp app?
No. The Convert Way says a standard WhatsApp app will not work for a catalog, so you need WhatsApp Business.
How long until customers see a new item?
Usually up to 24 hours, according to The Convert Way. Rasayel says a few hours.
