Shopify WhatsApp apps are no longer optional; they’re the missing link for many store owners losing sales to abandoned carts. The reality is, traditional email and SMS often get ignored, leaving businesses frustrated and disconnected from shoppers.
Here’s the proof: WhatsApp delivers a 98% open rate and up to 60% conversion rates on promotional messages. Customers prefer the convenience of WhatsApp, yet most Shopify merchants haven’t unlocked its potential.
That’s exactly what this guide will solve.
In this article, we’ll show you:
- How to integrate WhatsApp with your Shopify store in simple steps.
- The top 5 Shopify WhatsApp apps with their features, ratings, and pricing.
- How to set up your WhatsApp automations.
Maximize your store sales within minutes using Retainful’s pre-built omnichannel workflows.
Key takeaways
- 5 Best Shopify WhatsApp apps for instant customer support, recover abandoned carts, and increase sales
- Steps to set up your WhatsApp business account to integrate it with your Shopify store.
- Complete guide to automate WhatsApp messages for recovering abandoned carts.
What is Shopify WhatsApp integration?
Shopify WhatsApp integration is the process of connecting a Shopify store with the WhatsApp Business Platform.
This integration enables businesses to utilize WhatsApp as a central hub for recovering abandoned carts, providing customer support, marketing, and sales.
With WhatsApp marketing apps or the WhatsApp Business API, merchants can automate conversations, send real-time updates, and effectively retain customers.
5 Free Shopify WhatsApp apps comparison chart
| Shopify WhatsApp app | Free plan | Pricing (lowest) | It’s ideal for | Best feature |
| Retainful | ✅ | $14/mo | E-commerce stores requiring WhatsApp and omnichannel workflows | Omnichannel Workflow (WhatsApp+Email+SMS) |
| SB WhatsApp Button ‑ Live Chat | ❌ | $1.99/mo | Basic stores that need a simple, highly customizable chat button | Google Analytics Integration for event tracking |
| Chaty | ✅ | $15/mo | Businesses that want to use multiple chat channels (20+) on one button | Multi-channel chat widget (combining WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.) |
| SeedGrow WhatsApp Chat | ✅ | $6.90/mo | Shops needing a simple chat widget with support for multiple agents | Custom Working Hours and multi-agent support |
| Dondy | ❌ | $6.99/mo | E-commerce stores focused on automating marketing | AI Chatbot and automated marketing campaigns |
5 Best Shopify WhatsApp apps for real-time communication & marketing
Here are the 5 best Shopify WhatsApp apps to automate sales:
Connect your Shopify store with Retainful WhatsApp workflows effortlessly to 7x your conversions
1. Retainful: Best WhatsApp automation software for Shopify
Retainful is a comprehensive, all-in-one e-commerce marketing software solution.
Using Retainful, you can automate your Email, SMS, and WhatsApp marketing.
Shopify rating: 4.8 out of 5.0
Key features:
- Omnichannel Workflows: The ability to build a single automation workflow that can be used for email marketing, WhatsApp marketing, and SMS marketing.
- Pre-built Automation Workflows: Retainful has over 10+ automation templates specifically built for e-commerce requirements.
- Template editor: A user-friendly editor for creating and customizing WhatsApp message templates. These templates can include text, personalization tokens ({{first_name}}), emojis, and buttons.
- Template approval system: Provides a system for submitting message templates to Meta for approval, which is a mandatory step for sending business-initiated messages.
- Interactive buttons: The ability to add interactive buttons to templates. This includes dynamic URLs (e.g.,Cart URL) and static URLs (e.g., to the homepage).
- Sign-up forms and pop-ups: Provides customizable pop-ups and forms (e.g., welcome, exit-intent, add-to-cart) to capture customer emails and phone numbers.
- Customer segmentation: Allows merchants to segment customers based on demographics, purchase history, and engagement. It lets you send personalized and targeted campaigns.
- Attributable revenue tracking: Provides analytics to show the direct revenue generated from specific automation workflows and campaigns.
- Real-time metrics: Tracks key metrics such as recovered carts, recovery rates, and message engagement.
- Customer support: Offers excellent 24/7 migration services and expert technical support.
- Team collaboration: Allows team members to be invited to manage campaigns and contact lists.
- Free plan: 500 email sends, $1 worth of WhatsApp and SMS credits
- Starter plan: $14/mo – 10,000 email sends, $1 worth of WhatsApp and SMS credits
- Growth plan: $69/mo – unlimited email sends, $49 worth of WhatsApp and SMS credits.
2. SB WhatsApp Button ‑ Live Chat: Customizable WhatsApp widget
SB WhatsApp Button ‑ Live Chat is a straightforward Shopify app designed to add a customizable WhatsApp chat widget to your storefront.
Shopify rating: 4.8 out of 5.0
Key features:
- Customizable widget: Allows you to customize the widget’s title, image, position, and agent image.
- Instant communication: Enables website users to contact you instantly via WhatsApp.
- Google Analytics integration: Tracks custom event clicks on the WhatsApp chat button.
- Customization: Supports custom text, colors, and fonts.
- Display control: Configure the widget to appear on specific pages or devices (mobile, desktop, or both).
- Multiple agents: Allows you to manage chats with multiple agents.
Pricing:
- Basic plan: $1.99/month
- Premium plan: $4.99/month
- Special plan: $29.99/month
3. Chaty – WhatsApp and other channel chat buttons
Chaty is a versatile tool that consolidates over 20 chat channels into a single button, boosting sales and improving support.
Shopify rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
Key features:
- Multi-channel support: Chaty’s standout feature is its ability to integrate over 20 different chat platforms, including WhatsApp, SMS, and more.
- Traffic source: Target visitors coming from specific sources like social media or Google.
- Time & date: Schedule the widget to appear only during specific days and hours (business hours).
- Google Analytics integration: It tracks customer interactions and clicks on the chat button, providing data on which channels are performing best.
- Multiple agents: You can add multiple agents to a single channel, allowing different team members to handle specific inquiries. (e.g., pre-sales vs. support)
Pricing:
- Free plan: Includes up to 500 visitors per month with unlimited chat channels and basic customization.
- Basic plan: Starting at $15/month for up to 10,000 visitors per month, this plan includes more advanced targeting features.
- Pro plan: Starts at $39/month for up to 50,000 visitors, with additional features.
- Growth plan: $79/month for up to 150,000 visitors.
- Custom plans are also available for higher visitor counts.
4. SeedGrow WhatsApp Chat – WhatsApp chat button for your store
SeedGrow WhatsApp Chat is a simple and lightweight Shopify app designed to add a floating, customizable WhatsApp chat button to your store.
Shopify rating: 4.9 out of 5.0
Key features:
- Custom working hours: You can set specific operating hours for each support agent.
- Auto-hide offline agents: The app automatically hides agents from the chat widget when they are outside of their designated working hours. This prevents customers from sending messages and expecting a quick reply when no one is available to respond
- Metrics tracking: It can integrate with Google Analytics to track chat button clicks and user interactions.
Pricing:
- Free plan: Includes the basic WhatsApp floating widget, support for multiple agents, pre-filled messages, and the ability to show the button on product pages.
- Pro plan – $6.90/month: This plan includes all the features of the Free plan, plus custom working hours, the ability to auto-hide offline agents, custom styling, event tracking, and VIP support.
5. Dondy – WhatsApp marketing and automation platform for Shopify
Dondy is a comprehensive WhatsApp marketing and automation platform for Shopify stores.
It goes beyond a simple chat button by leveraging AI and automated workflows to recover abandoned carts and more.
Shopify rating: 4.7 out of 5.0
Key features:
- WhatsApp chat widget: Provides a highly customizable floating chat button for your store. You can customize its design, position, and pre-filled messages.
- Automated workflows: You can build automated WhatsApp message flows for order confirmations, shipping updates, and review requests.
- Marketing campaigns & bulk messaging: Allows you to send bulk promotional messages and run targeted marketing campaigns to customer segments.
- AI chatbot & live chat: An AI agent that can answer common questions and a live chat feature for humans to take over conversations.
Pricing:
- Free plan: Includes the basic WhatsApp floating widget, unlimited conversations, and pre-filled messages.
- Pro plan: Starting at $6.99/month. Includes the Free plan features, plus premium button designs and custom hours.
- Advanced plan: Starting at $14.99/month. This plan introduces automated one-click messages for abandoned cart recovery, order messages, and customer support.
- Power automation plan: Starting at $79.99/month. Includes all Advanced features plus a personal WhatsApp API account, automated and customizable messages, and bulk messaging capabilities.
- Elite plan: Starts at $159.99/month. Includes all Power Automation features, plus an AI chatbot for sales and support, and a shared inbox with unlimited agents.
How to set up the WhatsApp Business App?
- Create a WhatsApp Business account: Register with a dedicated business phone number and set up your profile.
- Install a Shopify WhatsApp app: Pick an app from the Shopify App Store that fits your needs (chat widget, automation, campaigns, etc.).
- Connect your WhatsApp account: Link your WhatsApp Business account to the app with a quick setup (QR code or verification code).
- Set up messaging & automations: Customize your chat widget and enable automations like abandoned cart recovery, order updates, and shipping alerts.
- Go live & track performance: Activate your workflows, monitor results in the dashboard, and use team inboxes to manage conversations.
How to integrate WhatsApp with Shopify?
Integrating WhatsApp with your Shopify store is a powerful way to enhance customer communication, automate marketing, and increase sales.
You can effortlessly automate your Shopify WhatsApp marketing using software like Retainful.
Here are the steps to integrate WhatsApp into your Shopify store using Retainful:
- Log in to your Retainful Account
- Create a new WhatsApp template
- Use the Template Editor and Submit for Approval
- Use Approved Templates in Automations
Install Retainful for free in your Shopify store.
Step 1: Log in to your Retainful account
In your Retainful dashboard, navigate to Settings and select WhatsApp.
Here, you’ll find a centralized hub to:
- View and manage your approved WhatsApp phone numbers.
- Monitor your account quality and status to ensure your messaging capabilities are healthy.
- Create new message templates and submit them directly to Meta for approval.
Step 2: Create a new template
In the WhatsApp Settings page, click the “Create New Template” button. You’ll be presented with a variety of pre-designed templates tailored for e-commerce, which can significantly speed up the approval process.
Available categories include:
- Cart reminder: Sends a simple reminder to customers who have abandoned their carts.
- Cart reminder with exclusive coupon: This adds an incentive to the reminder, encouraging a quick purchase.
- Thank you + coupon: Builds loyalty by thanking customers for their purchase and offering a discount on their next order.
- Remind customers to redeem the coupon: Encourages coupon usage before it expires.
- Last chance urgency: Creates a final nudge for a limited-time offer.
Step 3: Use the template editor and submit for approval
The Template Editor is where you design, customize, and submit your WhatsApp message templates to Meta.
These templates must be approved before they can be used in your live automations. Each template includes your text, personalization tokens, interactive buttons, and a required unsubscribe footer.
Here’s how to navigate the editor:
- Template details: Assign a title (e.g., abandoned_cart_reminder_1) and select the language of your message.
- Content: This is the core of your message. You can add:
- An optional header (text, image, or document)
- Main body with personalization tokens like {{first_name}}
- Short footer for opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”).
- Buttons: Add up to two interactive buttons. You can choose a Dynamic URL (personalized coupons) or a Static URL (store URL).
Live preview: You can see a real-time preview of your message to check how it will look on a customer’s device before submission.
Once you’re satisfied, click “Send for Review” to submit your template to Meta.
Step 4: Use approved templates in automations
Once Meta approves your template, it becomes available for use in your automation workflows.
- Go to the Automation section in your Retainful dashboard.
- Open or create a new workflow (e.g., Abandoned Cart, Welcome Series, Order Follow-up).
- Click the ‘+’ icon to add a new block to your workflow.
- Select the ‘send WhatsApp message’ block from the options.
- Choose one of your newly approved templates to assign to that automation step. This step connects the approved message with the specific trigger, such as a customer abandoning their cart or an order being placed.
- After adding the WhatsApp message blocks and customizing them with your approved templates, you can activate the workflow.
Acquire, nurture, and retain your customers effortlessly – all using a single platform, Retainful
Wrap up!
WhatsApp isn’t just another messaging app; it’s a high-converting sales and support channel that Shopify merchants can no longer afford to ignore.
With Shopify WhatsApp apps, you can recover abandoned carts, send instant order updates, and engage customers with personalized promotions.
The best part? You don’t need coding or a complex setup. Just pick the right app, connect it to your store, and start automating conversations that drive sales.
Whether you’re focused on customer support, marketing, or customer retention, WhatsApp gives your Shopify store a direct line to your audience.
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- 10 Free black friday email templates (examples + tips)
Frequently asked questions
It’s a third-party app from the Shopify App Store (or sometimes via WhatsApp Business API) that connects your Shopify store to WhatsApp.
Largely no (or limited), depending on your country and app. Usually, WhatsApp is used for communication + links. Payments are typically redirected to the Shopify store or payment gateway.
Not always. Many apps let you use the WhatsApp Business App for simpler tasks. But if you want to scale (lots of messages, automations, multiple agents), then the API version is preferable.
Yes. Shopify WhatsApp apps like Retainful provide automations for abandoned cart reminders. These can be triggered when a customer leaves items in the cart. The message can be automated via the app.
Use approved message templates for business-initiated messages, ensure customers opt in, respect time zones, and avoid spamming. Apps like Retainful help with template creation and compliance.
Yes. Most apps include a chat widget/button so visitors can initiate conversations via WhatsApp. Then you see/respond via phone or via the app’s dashboard/shared inbox in API-based ones.
Yes. Many apps allow sending order status updates or shipping notifications automatically. You may use message templates or automations tied to order status changes.
