// automation · devlikeapro/waha

waha

WAHA — a WhatsApp HTTP API you can configure in a click: one REST API over WEBJS, NOWEB, GOWS and WPP engines.

★ 7.6k stars⑂ 1.8k forksApache-2.0updated 2026-10
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts

Project facts

waha is an open-source automation project by devlikeapro (devlikeapro/waha on GitHub). It has 7,567 GitHub stars and 1,801 forks, is released under the Apache-2.0 license, and was last updated on GitHub on 7 October 2026.

GitHub stars
7,567
Forks
1,801
License
Apache-2.0
Last updated on GitHub
7 October 2026
Category
Automation
Listing
Full install guide
Official site
Official site
// how it works

How it works

  1. Clarify your goal

    Decide which engine fits you (WEBJS is the documented quick-start default) and which WhatsApp number will be paired as the session.

  2. Get the project

    Clone devlikeapro/waha from GitHub (or use the install path in the run steps below) and skim its README for the parts relevant to your goal.

  3. Install and configure

    Pull the WAHA Docker image and run it on port 3000 — no build step needed for the quick start.

  4. Run your first task

    Start a session through the API, fetch and scan the QR code with the phone, then send yourself a test text message via the REST API.

// features

Why people love it

One REST API for WhatsApp

Send and receive WhatsApp messages over plain HTTP, with a Swagger UI documenting every endpoint.

Multiple engines

Choose WEBJS (browser), NOWEB (websocket Node.js), GOWS (websocket Go) or WPP (browser) under the same API.

Dashboard included

A web dashboard to manage sessions and check status, alongside the API.

QR session flow

Start a session, retrieve the QR code, scan it with WhatsApp, and the API is connected to that account.

Docker-first deployment

Ships as a ready Docker image (devlikeapro/waha) you can run in one command.

MCP support

Includes MCP server capability for WhatsApp, so AI agents can use it as a tool through Model Context Protocol.

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// run it

Run it yourself

  1. Clone the repository

    Get the source from the official GitHub repository for waha.

    git clone https://github.com/devlikeapro/waha.git
    cd waha
  2. Pull and run WAHA

    Download the image and run the container exactly as the README quick start shows.

    docker pull devlikeapro/waha
    docker run -it --rm -p 3000:3000/tcp --name waha devlikeapro/waha
  3. Start a session and pair

    Start a new session via the API/dashboard, get the QR code and scan it with WhatsApp, then send a test message.

    # Start a session and fetch the QR via the API at http://localhost:3000 — see README quick start steps 3-6
// use cases

What you can build

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// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains waha?

devlikeapro, through the devlikeapro/waha repository, with documentation at waha.devlike.pro.

Is waha free to use?

Yes — the project is open source under the Apache-2.0 license as recorded for this listing. See the license terms for any conditions on redistribution.

Does waha need a paid API key?

WAHA itself is free to self-host and needs no WhatsApp API key — it pairs with a real WhatsApp account by QR code. Note it is an unofficial integration, so account and terms risk sit with you; some features sit in the WAHA Plus image.

How does WAHA compare to the official WhatsApp Business Platform?

The official platform is Meta-supported, template-governed and priced per conversation through providers. WAHA is a self-hosted REST wrapper around WhatsApp Web-style engines — fast to start and free, but unofficial and dependent on a paired account session.

How do I get started with waha?

Clone the repository (or use the documented installer), follow the install and configure steps on this page, and run the smallest real task first — start a session through the API, fetch and scan the QR code with the phone, then send yourself a test text message via the REST API.

// keep exploring

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// alternatives

Alternatives in Automation

The most-starred other Automation projects in the LibreAI catalogue — the realistic shortlist if waha is not the right fit.

Get waha

Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.