WhatsApp link generator

Type a number, add a message if you like, and copy a wa.me link that opens a chat with that number. No sign-up, nothing stored.

Published by Airtime Media · facts checked 18 September 2026

How the link is built

WhatsApp calls this feature click to chat. The format is public and simple, so you can also write a link by hand:

Chat only: https://wa.me/14155550132
Chat with a pre-filled message: https://wa.me/14155550132?text=Hi%2C%20I%20have%20a%20question

The part after ?text= has to be URL-encoded: spaces become %20, a comma becomes %2C, a line break becomes %0A. The generator above does that for you, which is the only fiddly part of the job.

Getting the number right

Almost every broken wa.me link has the same cause: the number is not in full international format. WhatsApp wants the country code first and digits only.

You have	Use in the link	Why
(415) 555-0132, United States	14155550132	Country code 1, then the ten digits
07700 900123, United Kingdom	447700900123	Country code 44, and the leading 0 is dropped
+61 412 345 678, Australia	61412345678	No plus sign, no spaces

No plus sign, no brackets, no dashes, no leading zeros. The form strips the punctuation for you and warns you when a number still starts with a zero.

Where to use it

On your website, behind a "Chat with us on WhatsApp" button.
In a bio or email signature, where a phone number alone would need to be saved first.
On paper: turn the link into a QR code with any QR generator for a shop window, menu or flyer.
In ads: a pre-filled message such as "I saw your offer for..." tells you which campaign the chat came from.

Running this for a business? A link gets people into the chat; answering them at scale is the next problem. See WhatsApp for business for shared inboxes, auto-replies and chatbots.

Questions people ask

Is a wa.me link free?

Yes. wa.me is WhatsApp's own short address for click-to-chat links and costs nothing to use. This generator only assembles the link for you; it does not shorten, track or store it.

Does the person need my number saved?

No. That is the point of click to chat: the link opens a conversation with the number inside it even when neither side has the other in their contacts.

Can I use a link like this for my business?

Yes. Put it behind a "Chat with us" button on your website, in your email signature or your Instagram bio, or print it as a QR code. If you use the WhatsApp Business app, the app can also create a short link with your business profile attached.

Why does the link open a page instead of the chat?

On a computer without the WhatsApp app installed, wa.me first shows a page with a "Continue to chat" button, then offers WhatsApp Web. On a phone with WhatsApp installed it opens the app directly.

Do you see the number or the message I type?

No. The link is built inside your browser by a few lines of script. Nothing you type in the form is sent to this site or to anyone else.

Related guides

Sources

WhatsApp Help Center: How to use click to chat (checked 18 September 2026)

Checked against WhatsApp's own help pages on 18 September 2026. WhatsApp changes its apps often; if a menu has moved, the official Help Center has the last word.