How to Add a WhatsApp Button to Your Shopify Store (Free)

Many shoppers would rather send a quick message than fill in a contact form and wait for an email, especially on a phone and in countries where WhatsApp is the main way people chat. A WhatsApp button on your Shopify store lets them ask "does this ship to my country?" in one tap, while they are still looking at the product.

This guide shows two ways to add one: a free wa.me link you place yourself, and a floating button app. It covers the exact steps, the phone number format that trips most people up, and what to check when the button does not show.

First: How a WhatsApp Button Works

Every WhatsApp button, whatever tool makes it, is a link to https://wa.me/<number>. When a shopper taps it, WhatsApp opens on their own phone or computer with your number, and optionally a first message you wrote, already filled in. Nothing is sent until they press send, and the conversation stays inside WhatsApp, not in your store.

The number goes in international format, digits only: the country code followed by the number, with no +, spaces, dashes or leading zeros. For example:

A wrong number format is the most common reason a WhatsApp button "does nothing", so check this first whichever method you use.

Option 1: A wa.me Link or Button Yourself (Free, No App)

This is the simplest way and costs nothing. It gives you a link or a button inside your page, not a floating button that follows the shopper down the page.

1. In your Shopify admin go to Online Store → Themes → Customize.
2. Open the page where you want the button, for example Home page or Products → Default product.
3. Click Add section (or Add block) and choose Custom Liquid. If your theme does not offer it, choose a Button or Rich text block and set the link instead.
4. Paste this, with your own number and message, then click Save:

<a href="https://wa.me/14155552671?text=Hi%2C%20I%20have%20a%20question"
   target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chat with us on WhatsApp</a>

In the link, %20 stands for a space and %2C for a comma, so the first message reads "Hi, I have a question". To pre-fill a different message, write it in the same way after ?text=.

The limits are simple: it only appears where you place it, it is a plain link unless you style it yourself, and you have to add it to each page or template you want it on. Pages that use a different template need their own copy.

Option 2: A Floating Button App

A floating button stays in a corner of the screen on every page, so a question can start from anywhere in the store. We built WA Float WhatsApp Button, available on the Shopify App Store. The free plan has no time limit and needs no card.

Step 1: Install the app

Add WA Float from the Shopify App Store and open it from Apps in your admin.

Step 2: Enter your number and message

Type your WhatsApp number in the international format from the table above, write the message shoppers start with, and pick a button color and the bottom-left or bottom-right corner.

Step 3: Turn on the app embed

One click opens your theme editor with the button switched on. Click Save and it shows on your storefront. There is no theme code to edit, and because it works through Shopify's app embed it works with Online Store 2.0 themes and keeps working when you update your theme.

Step 4: Add the chat popup (Starter plan)

The free plan opens WhatsApp straight away with your message. The Starter plan ($2.99 per month or $19.99 per year, with a 7-day free trial) opens a small chat popup first, with your own greeting. On Starter you can also:

• List up to 5 agents, such as Sales and Support, each with a name, role, WhatsApp number and starting message.
• Set business hours for each day, with an offline note in the popup, or hide the button until you are open again.
• Choose the pages and devices where the button shows.
• Add the product name and link to the message on product pages, so you know what the shopper is asking about.

Finally, open your store on a phone, tap the button and check that WhatsApp opens with your number and message.

Which Option Fits You?

If you only need one contact link, the free wa.me method is enough. If you want a button that follows shoppers around the store, the free plan does that. Starter is for stores that want a greeting, a team of agents or opening hours.

Is It Okay for Privacy?

The WA Float button opens WhatsApp on the shopper's own device through a wa.me link. The app does not read, collect or store the conversation or any customer data. You are still responsible for your own store's privacy policy and for how you handle the chats you receive in WhatsApp, so mention WhatsApp as a contact channel in your policy if you are in a country where that is required.

Troubleshooting

• The button does not show. The most common cause is that the app embed is off. Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize → App embeds, switch it on and save. Check that you did this in the published theme, that your WhatsApp number is saved in the app, and, on Starter, that the current page and device are selected. Then test in a private window.
• Tapping it does not open the right chat. Almost always the number format. Use the country code and digits only, with no +, spaces or dashes.
• The message is cut off or looks strange. In a hand-made link, spaces and special characters must be encoded (%20 for a space). The app does this for you.
• It does not open on a computer. WhatsApp opens in WhatsApp Web or the desktop app. If neither is signed in, the shopper sees WhatsApp's own sign-in page, which is outside your store's control.

Our help center has the full setup and troubleshooting steps with screenshots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free way to add a WhatsApp button to Shopify?

Yes, two. You can place a free wa.me link yourself (Option 1), or use the free plan of WA Float for a floating button, with no time limit and no card.

Do I need a WhatsApp Business account?

No. The button opens a chat with whichever WhatsApp number you enter, personal or business. A WhatsApp Business account has extra features such as a business profile and quick replies, which are useful if you will answer shoppers regularly, but it is not required for the button.

Can I show different numbers for different teams?

Yes, on the Starter plan: add up to five agents, such as Sales and Support, each with their own number, and shoppers pick who to message in the popup.

What if I use WordPress or WooCommerce instead?

See how to add a WhatsApp button to WordPress with our free plugin.

Want the WhatsApp chat to do more, such as confirming Cash on Delivery orders before you ship them? Tell us what you need and we can build it.