What are the options for a WhatsApp chatbot?
| WhatsApp Business app | WhatsApp Business Platform (API) chatbot | Terabot AI worker on WhatsApp Web | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Greeting and away messages, quick replies | Automated flows and replies at scale | Reads each chat and writes a real answer, checks your systems |
| Set-up | Free app, in minutes | Through Meta or a provider, needs approval and set-up | Give the worker your WhatsApp Web session and your FAQs |
| Cost | Free | Per-message fees from Meta plus provider fees | Terabot monthly plan |
| Understands open questions | No | Depends on the provider | Yes |
| Can look things up (orders, stock, bookings) | No | With integration work | Yes, in your web apps on its own computer |
| Bulk / marketing messages | Broadcast lists only | Yes, with approved templates | No: replies to customer chats only |
How does a Terabot AI worker answer WhatsApp?
A Terabot worker has its own computer, a private virtual machine that stays on. On it, the worker opens WhatsApp Web with your business number, the same way a staff member would at a desk. When a customer sends a message, the worker reads the whole conversation, works out what the customer needs, and writes a reply in your tone using your price list, policies and FAQs. If the answer depends on your systems, it checks them first: an order in your online store, stock in your inventory sheet, or a slot in your booking calendar. Anything it is unsure about, or anything sensitive such as a complaint or a refund, goes to your team with a short summary instead of a guess. Because the worker never sleeps, chats that arrive at 2am or on a public holiday get an answer in minutes rather than the next working day.
What does WhatsApp allow?
WhatsApp's Terms of Service prohibit bulk messaging, auto-messaging and auto-dialing, and accounts that break the rules can be restricted or banned. The official WhatsApp Business Platform is Meta's route for automated messaging at scale, with approved message templates and per-message pricing.
Terabot is designed for conversations your customers start: it replies one chat at a time, never sends blasts, and hands sensitive cases to people. Using WhatsApp Web through an AI worker is not the official Business Platform, so use a dedicated WhatsApp Business number, keep to genuine customer conversations, and choose the Business Platform if you need high-volume or marketing automation.
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost in Malaysia?
The WhatsApp Business app is free. On the WhatsApp Business Platform, Meta charges per message delivered, based on the message category (marketing, utility, authentication or service) and the recipient's country, and publishes its rates; providers usually add their own platform fee. A Terabot worker is part of a monthly plan with unlimited digital workers; prices are announced at launch.
What should a good WhatsApp chatbot do for a Malaysian business?
- Reply within minutes, including nights, weekends and public holidays.
- Answer in your tone, from your real prices and policies.
- Check order, stock or booking details instead of saying "please wait for our staff".
- Hand complaints, refunds and anything unclear to a person with a summary.
- Keep a record of every conversation and what was promised.
- Never send unsolicited bulk messages.
Which businesses benefit most?
Retailers and online sellers answering product and delivery questions, clinics and salons handling bookings, trading companies replying to quotation requests, property and education businesses following up enquiries, and any team whose WhatsApp fills up after office hours. See use cases by industry.