WhatsApp Catalog: How to Set Up and Use It for Your Business (2026)

Published: June 8, 2026
The WhatsApp Business catalog turns your profile into a mini storefront. Customers can browse products or services, ask questions, and place orders โ all without leaving WhatsApp. Here is the full setup and what to do when you outgrow the basics.
What the WhatsApp catalog is (and is not)
The catalog is a product and service showcase built into the WhatsApp Business app. Think of it as a digital menu or lookbook that lives on your business profile.
What it does:
- Shows your products or services with photos, prices, and descriptions
- Lets customers browse from your profile or from a shared link
- Lets you send individual items in a chat conversation
- Gives each item a shareable direct link
What it does not do:
- Process payments (except WhatsApp Pay in Brazil and India)
- Track inventory or sync with your e-commerce store
- Automatically answer product questions
How to set up your WhatsApp Business catalog
- Open the WhatsApp Business app
- Tap More (โฎ) โ Business Tools โ Catalog
- Tap Add New Item
- Add at least one photo (up to 10 per item)
- Enter the item name (required)
- Add price, description, item code, and website link (all optional)
- Tap Save
Your catalog goes live immediately. Customers see the "View Catalog" button on your business profile.
Tip: Use consistent photo dimensions (1:1 square works best). Add your website link to every item so customers can check out directly if they want to skip the chat.
Catalog limits
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Max items | 500 |
| Photos per item | 10 |
| Image size | Up to 5MB (JPEG or PNG) |
| Item name length | Up to 100 characters |
| Description length | Up to 500 characters |
How to share your catalog
Share individual items in a chat: Tap the paperclip/attachment icon in any conversation โ Catalog โ pick the item. The customer sees a product card with photo and price.
Share your full catalog link: Go to your catalog โ tap Share โ copy the link. Share it in your Instagram bio, email signature, or website. Customers can view it in a browser without needing WhatsApp Business.
Show your catalog in your WhatsApp link: If you have a wa.me link set up, customers arrive at a chat with your business and can tap to view the catalog from there. See our WhatsApp link generator guide for the exact URL format.
Taking catalog further: automated product replies
The WhatsApp Business app shows your catalog but cannot answer questions about it automatically. When a customer asks "Do you have this in size M?" or "Can I get a bulk discount?", someone has to reply manually.
With the WhatsApp Business API connected to an AI inbox like Instant Reply, you can:
- Train the AI on your product catalog so it answers product questions automatically
- Route product inquiries to the right team member
- Book consultations or schedule product demos inside the chat
- Sync customer interest to HubSpot or Pipedrive as leads
Setup takes under 15 minutes. 10-day Pro trial, no credit card required.
Related: What is WhatsApp Business? ยท WhatsApp greeting message examples ยท WhatsApp Business API pricing
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people ask most.
- Open the WhatsApp Business app โ tap the three dots (More) โ Business Tools โ Catalog โ Add New Item. Add a photo, name, price, description, and a link to your website. Customers can view your full catalog by tapping 'View Catalog' on your business profile, or you can share individual items in any chat conversation.
- The WhatsApp Business app allows up to 500 catalog items. Each item can have up to 10 photos, a name (required), price, description, product code, and a website link. There is no limit on how many items you share with customers in chats.
- WhatsApp catalog itself does not process payments โ it is a browsing and discovery tool. Customers view items, then message you to place an order. You can add a website link to each item for direct purchase. WhatsApp Pay (available in Brazil and India) allows in-chat payments in those markets.
- You can share the full catalog link from your profile, send individual items in a chat using the attachment icon โ Catalog, or copy the catalog link and share it anywhere (Instagram bio, email signature, website). Customers do not need WhatsApp Business to browse your catalog โ a regular WhatsApp account works.
10-day Pro trial ยท no credit card
Your DMs are leaking money right now.
Instant Reply answers every WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger DM in seconds ยท automatically. Most teams see their first booked appointment from an AI reply within 24 hours of connecting.
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