HandovarIf your customers message you on WhatsApp, you already know the problem: questions arrive at all hours, most of them are the same few questions, and every slow reply is a customer who might buy somewhere else. An AI agent on your WhatsApp Business number fixes that, without making your business feel robotic. (You'll also hear it called a WhatsApp chatbot; an AI agent is the smarter kind that understands plain language, remembers the conversation and knows when to bring in a person.)
What a WhatsApp AI agent actually does
A good WhatsApp AI agent sits on your business number and replies to customers for you. It should:
- Answer instantly, any hour. Prices, delivery areas, opening hours, how to pay: the questions you answer twenty times a day.
- Answer from your information. It should reply from your own price list, FAQs and website, not make things up.
- Hand over to a person. When a customer asks for a human, or the question needs one, your team takes over with the full conversation.
- Stay out of your way. When you reply to a customer yourself, the bot should step back for that chat.
Can I keep my existing WhatsApp Business number?
Yes, and you should. Your customers already have your number saved. With Handovar you can connect the number you use on the WhatsApp Business app and keep using the app on your phone. You and the bot share the same chats: you reply when you want to, and the bot covers everything else.
Is it safe? Official vs unofficial WhatsApp bots
Use a tool that connects through Meta's official WhatsApp Business Platform. Unofficial apps that "automate" the regular WhatsApp app break WhatsApp's rules and can get your number banned. Handovar connects through Meta's official sign-up window, so your number stays in good standing.
What does it cost?
There are two parts:
- The chatbot. On Handovar, WhatsApp is included in the Starter and Growth plans, with a 14-day free trial. You can pay monthly, or once for 30 days by card, bank transfer or USSD if you'd rather not auto-renew.
- Meta's WhatsApp fee. Since 1 October 2026, Meta charges businesses for WhatsApp replies after the first 1,000 each month per number. Meta bills this directly to your WhatsApp account, so add a payment method in WhatsApp Manager to keep replies flowing.
How to set it up in about 10 minutes
- Step 1: Create your free account and give your bot a name and personality.
- Step 2: Teach it your business. Paste your price list, FAQs and policies, or add your website link.
- Step 3: Connect WhatsApp. Click Connect, sign in with Facebook in the secure Meta window, and choose your business and number. About 3 minutes.
- Step 4: Send yourself a test message from another phone and watch it reply.
Tips for a bot customers actually like
- Keep your info current. Update prices and stock in your knowledge as they change.
- Make handover easy. Tell customers they can ask for a person at any time.
- Read the chats. The questions customers ask are your best guide to what to add next.
Ready to try it? Start your free trial and connect your WhatsApp number in minutes, or read how Handovar's WhatsApp chatbot works.
