--- title: "wa.me Link Generator — WhatsApp click to chat explained" description: "wa.me is WhatsApp's official click-to-chat shortener. Build a link with https://wa.me/, prefill a message with ?text=, and open a chat without anyone saving a contact. Includes a live generator and the wa.me/message and wa.me/c variants." url: "https://api-wa.me/en/blog/wa-me-link" language: "en" og:type: "article" og:site_name: "WAME API" --- [Home](https://api-wa.me/en)/[WhatsApp API Blog](https://api-wa.me/en/blog)/wa.me links explained: click to chat on WhatsApp, with a generator Raphael Serafim· Published on September 12, 2026· 6 min read Share # wa.me links explained: click to chat on WhatsApp, with a generator wa.me is WhatsApp's official click-to-chat shortener. Build a link with https://wa.me/, prefill a message with ?text=, and open a chat without anyone saving a contact. Includes a live generator and the wa.me/message and wa.me/c variants. Copy for LLM[View as Markdown](https://api-wa.me/en/blog/wa-me-link.md) **`wa.me` is WhatsApp's official click-to-chat shortener.** Open a link like `https://wa.me/14155550132` and WhatsApp starts a chat with that number — on a phone or on WhatsApp Web — **without anyone having to save the contact first**. It is the simplest way to turn a phone number into a chat button for a website, a bio link, an ad or a QR code. The rules are short: full international number, **digits only**, and `?text=` if you want the message prefilled. Everything else in this page is detail, edge cases, and the generator below. ## Build one now ### WhatsApp link generator Phone number (country code + area code, digits only) Prefilled message (optional) Your link `Enter a number above…` Copy ## The format Copy ``` https://wa.me/ ``` Country code + area code + number, joined together, with **no `+`, no spaces, no parentheses, no dashes and no dots**. | Number | Link | | --- | --- | | US +1 (415) 555-0132 | `https://wa.me/14155550132` | | UK +44 7911 123456 | `https://wa.me/447911123456` | | Brazil +55 (66) 99685-2025 | `https://wa.me/5566996852025` | ## Prefilling a message Append `?text=` with the message **URL-encoded**. Spaces become `%20`, and punctuation gets encoded too: Copy ``` https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20to%20know%20more%20about%20the%20API ``` That opens the chat with **"Hi, I'd like to know more about the API"** already typed. Most tools encode the text for you; if you are assembling the URL by hand, run it through a URL-encode function or the message will break at the first space. ## wa.me vs api.whatsapp.com/send You will see two shapes of link that do **exactly the same thing**: | Form | Example | | --- | --- | | Short (recommended) | `https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi` | | Long (equivalent) | `https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=14155550132&text=Hi` | Both open the chat and both accept the text parameter. Prefer `wa.me` — it is shorter, easier to say out loud, and a shorter URL makes a less dense QR code, which scans more reliably from print. ## Two variants worth knowing - **`wa.me/message/`** — builds the link from a **short link configured inside WhatsApp Business**. Useful when you would rather not expose the phone number directly in the URL. - **`wa.me/c/`** — opens that number's **WhatsApp Business catalog**, when products are registered on it. ## Mistakes that silently break the link - **Leaving the `+` or formatting in.** `https://wa.me/+1 415 555-0132` does not work. Digits only: `14155550132`. - **Dropping the country code.** Without the `1`, WhatsApp cannot tell which country the number belongs to. - **Dropping the area code.** The number needs it, even locally. - **Unencoded text.** A message with spaces or punctuation that was not URL-encoded gets truncated at the first space. - **A number with no WhatsApp account.** The link only works if that number is actually on WhatsApp. ## Where the link stops A `wa.me` link is built for **one person starting one conversation by hand**. That is its ceiling, and it is a hard one: **it never sends anything on its own**. The user always presses send. If what you need is to **send messages, notifications, order confirmations, media or interactive buttons automatically and at scale**, that is an API job, not a link job. A WhatsApp API lets you: - Send text, images, documents and buttons over HTTP; - Receive incoming messages in real time through a **webhook**; - Automate support, billing reminders and confirmations; - Work from an SDK in [Node.js/TypeScript or PHP](https://api-wa.me/en/docs). The [endpoint reference](https://api-wa.me/en/blog/whatsapp-api-endpoints) is the fastest way to see what that looks like in practice — one `curl` and a message goes out. ### Ready to automate your WhatsApp? Create your free account and start sending messages through the API in minutes. [Start for free](https://portal.api-wa.me/sign-up) ## Frequently asked questions What is wa.me?+ wa.me is WhatsApp's official link shortener for click-to-chat links, short for 'WhatsApp Me'. Opening a wa.me link starts a direct chat with the number in it, on mobile or on WhatsApp Web, without the person having to save the number as a contact first. How do I create a wa.me link?+ Use https://wa.me/ with the full number in international format: country code, area code and number, digits only. No plus sign, no spaces, no parentheses, no dashes. For the US number +1 (415) 555-0132 the link is https://wa.me/14155550132. How do I prefill a message in a WhatsApp link?+ Add the ?text= parameter with the message URL-encoded. https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20to%20know%20more opens the chat with 'Hi, I'd like to know more' already typed, so the person only has to hit send. Spaces become %20 and punctuation is encoded too. What is the difference between wa.me and api.whatsapp.com/send?+ Nothing functional — they open the same chat and both accept the text parameter. https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi and https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=14155550132&text=Hi are equivalent. Prefer wa.me: it is shorter, easier to remember, and produces a denser QR code. What are wa.me/message and wa.me/c?+ wa.me/message/ builds a link from a short link configured inside WhatsApp Business, which is useful when you do not want to expose the phone number directly. wa.me/c/ opens that number's WhatsApp Business catalog, when products are registered. Can a wa.me link send messages automatically?+ No. A wa.me link only opens the chat — the user is always the one who presses send. To send messages, notifications, media or interactive buttons automatically and at scale you need a WhatsApp API, which is a different thing entirely. ## Keep reading [### Official vs unofficial WhatsApp API: how to actually choose The official WhatsApp Cloud API needs an approved dedicated number, pre-approved templates outside the 24-hour window, and is billed per delivered message. The unofficial API connects through your own number by QR code, starts in minutes and runs flat-rate — with no Meta support and a real ban risk. Which fits which job.](https://api-wa.me/en/blog/official-vs-unofficial-whatsapp-api)[### WhatsApp API endpoints: the reference you can hold in your head The WAME WhatsApp API uses https://us.api-wa.me with the pattern /{key}/... where {key} is your instance key and doubles as authentication — no auth header. Endpoints group into instance, messages, groups, contacts and webhooks. Full list with curl examples.](https://api-wa.me/en/blog/whatsapp-api-endpoints)[### WhatsApp API pricing: what Meta actually charges you for Meta bills the WhatsApp Cloud API per delivered template message, not per 24-hour conversation — that changed on July 1, 2025. Marketing, Utility and Authentication are paid; Service replies inside the customer's 24-hour window are free. Rates vary by recipient country.](https://api-wa.me/en/blog/whatsapp-api-pricing) [Back to blog](https://api-wa.me/en/blog) ## Structured data ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "WAME API", "alternateName": "Official and Unofficial API for WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger", "url": "https://api-wa.me", "inLanguage": "pt-BR", "publisher": { "@id": "https://api-wa.me/#organization", "@type": "Organization", "name": "WAME API", "url": "https://api-wa.me" } } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://api-wa.me/#organization", "name": "WAME API", "alternateName": [ "WAME", "Wame API", "wame.api.br", "api-wa.me" ], "url": "https://api-wa.me", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://api-wa.me/images/web-app-manifest-512x512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 }, "disambiguatingDescription": "WAME API é uma empresa brasileira de software, fundada em 2017 e parceira oficial da Meta (Meta Business Partner), que fornece APIs de WhatsApp, Instagram Direct e Messenger. Não tem relação com o wa.me, que é o encurtador de links operado pela WhatsApp LLC.", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "INPI-BR", "name": "Pedido de registro de marca (INPI, classe NCL 42)", "value": "944724159" }, "foundingDate": "2017", "slogan": "Official Meta Partner — WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger in a single instance. Since 2017.", "description": "Brazilian platform and Official Meta Partner (Meta Business Partner) for the official WhatsApp (Cloud API), Instagram Direct and Messenger APIs — all three in a single instance, with the same endpoints and one webhook format. Also offers the unofficial QR Code API on the same platform. On the market since 2017, with over 50,000 instances created, 99.9% uptime and 24/7 human support. Official SDKs for Node.js/TypeScript and PHP.", "knowsAbout": [ "WhatsApp Cloud API oficial (Meta)", "API oficial de Instagram (Direct)", "API oficial de Messenger", "API multicanal Meta", "Meta Business Partner", "WhatsApp API", "API não oficial de WhatsApp", "automação de WhatsApp", "números virtuais", "webhooks" ], "sameAs": [ "https://github.com/wame-api", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/wameapi", "https://www.instagram.com/wame.api/", "https://www.youtube.com/@wameapi" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "url": "https://api-wa.me/contact", "availableLanguage": [ "Portuguese" ] } } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "wa.me links explained: click to chat on WhatsApp, with a generator", "description": "wa.me is WhatsApp's official click-to-chat shortener. Build a link with https://wa.me/, prefill a message with ?text=, and open a chat without anyone saving a contact. Includes a live generator and the wa.me/message and wa.me/c variants.", "image": "https://api-wa.me/en/blog/wa-me-link/opengraph-image", "datePublished": "2026-09-12", "dateModified": "2026-09-12", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raphael Serafim", "url": "https://github.com/raphaelvserafim", "sameAs": [ "https://github.com/raphaelvserafim" ] }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "api-wa.me", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://api-wa.me/images/screenshot.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://api-wa.me/en/blog/wa-me-link" }, "keywords": "wa.me, wa.me link, whatsapp click to chat, wa.me link generator, wa.me/message, whatsapp link with message, api.whatsapp.com/send", "inLanguage": "en" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://api-wa.me" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "WhatsApp API Blog", "item": "https://api-wa.me/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "wa.me links explained: click to chat on WhatsApp, with a generator", "item": "https://api-wa.me/en/blog/wa-me-link" } ] } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is wa.me?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "wa.me is WhatsApp's official link shortener for click-to-chat links, short for 'WhatsApp Me'. Opening a wa.me link starts a direct chat with the number in it, on mobile or on WhatsApp Web, without the person having to save the number as a contact first." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I create a wa.me link?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Use https://wa.me/ with the full number in international format: country code, area code and number, digits only. No plus sign, no spaces, no parentheses, no dashes. For the US number +1 (415) 555-0132 the link is https://wa.me/14155550132." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I prefill a message in a WhatsApp link?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Add the ?text= parameter with the message URL-encoded. https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi%2C%20I%27d%20like%20to%20know%20more opens the chat with 'Hi, I'd like to know more' already typed, so the person only has to hit send. Spaces become %20 and punctuation is encoded too." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between wa.me and api.whatsapp.com/send?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Nothing functional — they open the same chat and both accept the text parameter. https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi and https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=14155550132&text=Hi are equivalent. Prefer wa.me: it is shorter, easier to remember, and produces a denser QR code." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are wa.me/message and wa.me/c?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "wa.me/message/ builds a link from a short link configured inside WhatsApp Business, which is useful when you do not want to expose the phone number directly. wa.me/c/ opens that number's WhatsApp Business catalog, when products are registered." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can a wa.me link send messages automatically?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. A wa.me link only opens the chat — the user is always the one who presses send. To send messages, notifications, media or interactive buttons automatically and at scale you need a WhatsApp API, which is a different thing entirely." } } ] } ```