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 — 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 (⋮) → Business Tools → 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 → Catalog → pick the item. The customer sees a product card with photo and price.
Share your full catalog link: Go to your catalog → tap Share → 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? · WhatsApp greeting message examples · WhatsApp Business API pricing
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people ask most.
- Open the WhatsApp Business app → tap the three dots (More) → Business Tools → Catalog → 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 — 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 → 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 — a regular WhatsApp account works.
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