WhatsApp Auto Reply Message Examples: 30 to Copy

A good WhatsApp auto reply thanks the customer, says when a person will answer, and gives one useful next step, such as a link or a menu. Below are 30 examples to copy: greeting messages, away messages, after-hours and holiday replies, and quick replies, plus how to set each one up in the WhatsApp Business app.

What is a WhatsApp auto reply?

A WhatsApp auto reply is a message sent for you when a customer writes. The free WhatsApp Business app has two built-in types, and a third tool for typing faster:

Type	When it sends	Set it in
Greeting message	A customer's first message, or their first after 14 days of no chat	Tools, then Greeting message
Away message	Any message while you are away, on a schedule you choose	Tools, then Away message
Quick replies	When you type "/" and pick a saved message (not automatic)	Tools, then Quick replies

Sources: WhatsApp Help on greeting messages, away messages and quick replies. These features are in the WhatsApp Business app, not regular WhatsApp.

What is a good automatic reply message?

Keep it short and make it do three jobs:

1. Acknowledge. "Thanks for messaging [Business]."
2. Set expectations. "We reply within 2 hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m."
3. Offer a next step. A link to prices, booking or order tracking, or "Reply 1 for X, 2 for Y."

Use the customer's language, sign with your business name, and avoid promises you cannot keep. If you say "within an hour," answer within an hour.

WhatsApp greeting message examples

Greeting messages go to new customers, so introduce yourself and point them somewhere useful.

1. "Hi, thanks for messaging [Business]! How can we help today? You can also see our menu here: [link]"
2. "Welcome to [Business]. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll reply shortly. Prices and opening hours: [link]"
3. "Hello and thanks for reaching out. Reply 1 for orders, 2 for bookings, 3 for anything else."
4. "Hi! You're chatting with [Business]. We usually answer within an hour during business hours."
5. "Thanks for your message. To book an appointment right away, use [link]. For anything else, just reply here."
6. "Hi there! Ask us anything about [product or service]. A real person will answer soon."
7. "Welcome back! It's been a while. What can we help you with today?" (sent after 14 days of no chat)

WhatsApp away message examples

Away messages cover the times you cannot answer. Say when you'll be back.

1. "Thanks for your message! We're away right now and will reply as soon as we're back."
2. "Hi, we're busy with customers at the moment. We'll get back to you within [time]."
3. "We're on a short break and back at [time]. Your message is saved and we'll answer then."
4. "Thanks for writing. Our team is offline, but we read every message. Expect a reply by [time]."
5. "Hello! We're out on deliveries today. Leave your order details and we'll confirm shortly."

After-hours auto reply examples

If you set business hours in your profile, the away message can send only outside them (WhatsApp Help).

1. "Thanks for messaging [Business]. We're closed now and open [days] from [time] to [time]. We'll reply first thing."
2. "Hi! Our hours are [hours]. Leave your question and we'll answer when we open."
3. "We're closed for the night. For order tracking, use [link] anytime. Everything else, we'll handle tomorrow morning."
4. "Thanks for your message. It's after hours, but here are our most asked answers: [link]"
5. "Closed now, back at [time]. If it's urgent, call [phone number]."

Holiday and vacation auto reply examples

Use the away message's custom schedule for dates you are closed.

1. "Happy holidays from [Business]! We're closed from [date] to [date] and will reply when we're back."
2. "We're on vacation until [date]. Orders placed now ship on [date]. Thank you for your patience!"
3. "Thanks for writing. We're closed today for [holiday] and back tomorrow at [time]."
4. "Our team is taking a short break until [date]. You can still shop online: [link]"

Quick reply examples for common questions

Quick replies are saved messages you send by typing "/" in a chat. They are not automatic, but they make answering the same question many times much faster. WhatsApp allows up to 50 stored quick replies (WhatsApp Help).

1. /hours: "We're open [days], [time] to [time]."
2. /price: "Our prices start at [price]. The full list is here: [link]"
3. /ship: "We ship in [number] working days. Delivery costs [price], free over [amount]."
4. /book: "You can book a time here: [link]. Pick any open slot."
5. /track: "Track your order with this link and your order number: [link]"
6. /pay: "We accept [payment methods]. Here's how to pay: [instructions]"
7. /address: "Find us at [address]. Map: [link]"
8. /thanks: "Thank you for your order, [Name]! We'll send an update as soon as it ships."
9. /review: "Glad we could help! Would you leave us a quick review? [link]"

The app also builds default quick replies from your business profile, such as your hours and address.

How to set up auto reply in WhatsApp Business

These steps come from WhatsApp Help for the WhatsApp Business app.

Greeting message (WhatsApp Help):

1. From the Tools tab, tap Greeting message.
2. Turn on Send greeting message.
3. Tap the message to edit it, then tap OK.
4. Tap Recipients and pick Everyone, Everyone not in address book, Everyone except, or Only send to.
5. Tap Save.

Away message (WhatsApp Help): from Tools, tap Away message, turn on Send away message, edit the text, then choose a Schedule (Always send, Custom schedule, or Outside of business hours) and the Recipients, and save.

Three things trip people up:

• The 14-day rule. Greeting messages only go to first-time customers or those who have not messaged in 14 days. If you test with a recent chat, nothing will arrive.
• Your phone must be online. WhatsApp says your device needs an internet connection to send greeting and away messages.
• AI turns them off. If you connect Meta's own AI agent in the Business app, greeting and away messages are disabled automatically (WhatsApp Help).

When built-in auto replies are not enough

Greeting and away messages send the same text to everyone. They cannot answer the actual question, and they run from one phone. Once you get many messages a day, you need replies that understand what was asked.

That is what the WhatsApp Business API is for. With SociaHive's WhatsApp automation, you can:

• Reply with AI. Answer questions from your own business information, at any hour, and hand the chat to a person when needed.
• Run keyword flows. "Reply PRICE" sends your price list, "BOOK" sends a booking link, and a menu routes the rest.
• Collect details. Ask for a name, email or order number in the chat and save it to the contact.
• Work as a team. Every chat lands in one shared inbox.

The API has its own rules: you can send free-form replies within 24 hours of the customer's last message, and need an approved template after that, per Meta's pricing documentation. Auto replies answer inbound messages, so they almost always fall inside that window. WhatsApp automation is on SociaHive's Studio plan and up. To message many customers at once, read the WhatsApp broadcast guide, and for the full picture, the WhatsApp automation guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set up automatic message replies on WhatsApp?

Use the WhatsApp Business app. Go to Tools, then Greeting message for new customers or Away message for when you are unavailable, turn it on, write your text, choose recipients and a schedule, and save. Regular WhatsApp does not have these features.

Why is my WhatsApp greeting message not sending?

Greeting messages only go to customers writing for the first time or after 14 days without a chat, so recent contacts will not get one. Also check your recipient settings, that your phone is online, and that Meta's AI agent is not connected, since that disables greeting messages.

Can I set different auto replies for different questions?

Not in the WhatsApp Business app, which has one greeting and one away message. To reply differently by keyword or topic, you need the WhatsApp Business API through a platform, which can run keyword flows and AI replies.

Can I schedule an away message for a holiday?

Yes. In Away message, choose Custom schedule and set the start and end times. The message only sends during that period.

What is the best auto reply message for a small business?

One that tells customers when you will answer and gives them something to do now: "Thanks for messaging [Business]! We reply within 2 hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prices and booking: [link]."

Sources

1. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use greeting messages
2. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use away messages
3. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use quick replies
4. WhatsApp Help Center, Greeting and away messages are disabled when AI is onboarded
5. Meta for Developers, Pricing on the WhatsApp Business Platform, 2026