The link format
The structure is simple and standard.
- wa.me/<full-number-in-international-format> opens the chat
- Add ?text=hello for a prefilled first message
- Space becomes %20 or + in the URL
- Any valid number works — app and API alike
Glossary
WhatsApp wa.me Link: What It Is and How to Build One
What a wa.me link is, how to build one, and where it converts best.
The short answer
A wa.me link is a plain URL that opens a WhatsApp chat with a specific number — no QR scan needed. Written as wa.me/966500000000 or with a prefilled message, it is the simplest way to turn any surface into a WhatsApp conversation: links, ads, email, bio, and packaging.
Building a prefilled message
The first message shapes the conversation.
- Prefill with intent: 'Hi, I want to order the abaya from your catalog'
- Ask a specific question instead of 'hi'
- Use the phone number formatter to normalize digits for the URL
- Test the link on a phone before publishing
Where wa.me links convert
The link is a door; placement decides who walks in.
- Product pages and checkout error pages
- Ads and social media bios
- Email signatures and order emails
- Printed materials where QR scanning is awkward
wa.me vs. QR vs. Click to WhatsApp
Three doors to the same chat.
- wa.me: a URL for links, ads, and email
- QR: for physical surfaces — packaging, tables, storefronts
- Click to WhatsApp: Meta's tracked format for ads and pages
- All three open a service conversation — free inside 24 hours
Last updated 5 August 2026
Common questions
No. A wa.me link works with any WhatsApp number, including the free Business App.
Append ?text= followed by the URL-encoded message to the link.
Yes. The link is free, and the conversation it opens is a free service conversation inside 24 hours.
Full international format with country code, digits only — no plus sign, spaces, or dashes.
Master the WhatsApp terms that matter
Plain-English answers to the WhatsApp terms merchants ask about every week.
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