# WAHA

> Self-hosted WhatsApp REST API configured via Docker in minutes.

WAHA (WhatsApp HTTP API) is an open-source, self-hosted service that provides a REST API interface for interacting with WhatsApp. It supports multiple backend engines—including browser-based (WEBJS, WPP) and lightweight WebSocket implementations (NOWEB, GOWS)—allowing you to automate WhatsApp messaging and bots without paying per-message Cloud API fees.

Website: https://github.com/devlikeapro/waha

## What it is for

- Send automated WhatsApp alerts and notifications from internal software systems
- Build customer service or automated AI chat bots connected via WhatsApp
- Connect AI agents to WhatsApp via Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations
- Automate receiving and processing incoming customer WhatsApp messages via webhooks

## Features

- Full REST API for sending text, media, documents, and voice notes
- Support for multiple underlying engines (WEBJS, NOWEB, GOWS, and WPP)
- Built-in Swagger / OpenAPI interactive documentation
- Web dashboard for session management and QR code scanning
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) server support for AI agent integrations
- Docker-based deployment for quick setup on Linux VPS or local containers
- Prometheus metrics endpoint (/metrics) for server monitoring

## Pricing

Open source. Free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license; optional paid commercial plans available for core maintainer support.

## Details

- Type: GitHub repo
- Category: [Development](https://xiry.app/topics/development.md)
- Open source: yes
- Platforms: Self-hosted, API, Linux
- For: Developers and self-hosters looking for programmatic WhatsApp integration without recurring SaaS fees.
- Alternative to: Twilio WhatsApp API, WhatsApp Business Cloud API, Green API
- Tags: whatsapp, rest api, self hosted, docker, chatbot, mcp

## Why it was saved

- [@GithubProjects, 6 August 2025](https://x.com/GithubProjects/status/1953051169414344924): Enables developers to send/receive WhatsApp messages programmatically without official API costs or a third-party SaaS.

## Related

- [WAHA (WhatsApp HTTP API)](https://xiry.app/resources/waha-whatsapp-http-api): Self-hosted REST API for WhatsApp automations and integrations (Article or course, Open source)
- [Parse](https://xiry.app/resources/parse): Turn any website into a structured REST API using natural language (Web app, Freemium)
- [How to self-host a Next.js app on a Hetzner VM using Kamal](https://xiry.app/resources/how-to-self-host-a-next-js-app-on-a-hetzner-vm-using-kamal): Step-by-step tutorial for deploying Next.js to Hetzner using Kamal (Article or course, Free)
- [Coolify](https://xiry.app/resources/coolify): Open-source, self-hosted platform alternative to Heroku, Vercel, and Railway (Web app, Freemium)
- [n8n Docker Self-Hosting & HTTP Cheat Sheet](https://xiry.app/resources/n8n-docker-self-hosting-and-http-cheat-sheet): Quick command reference for running n8n via Docker and configuring environments. (Tip, Free)
- [OpenWA](https://xiry.app/resources/openwa): Self-hosted WhatsApp API gateway with multi-session support and dashboard (GitHub repo, Open source)

Updated 10 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/waha

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