WAHA - WhatsApp HTTP API (REST API) that you can install on your own server and run in less than 5 minutes!
- Documentation: https://waha.devlike.pro/
- Dashboard Example: https://waha.devlike.pro/dashboard
- Swagger Example: https://waha.devlike.pro/swagger
Only thing that you must have - installed docker. Please follow the original instruction how to install docker ->.
When you are ready - come back and follows the below steps to send the first text message to WhatsApp via HTTP API!
Let's go over steps that allow you to send your first text message via WhatsApp HTTP API!
Assuming you have installed Docker, let's download the image.
docker pull devlikeapro/wahaLooking for WAHA Plus? It's now part of the main devlikeapro/waha image - all Plus features are included.
Read more: WAHA 2026.6 - Plus is now Core
Run WhatsApp HTTP API:
docker run -it --rm -p 3000:3000/tcp --name waha devlikeapro/waha
# It prints logs and the last line must be
# WhatsApp HTTP API is running on: http://[::1]:3000Open the link in your browser http://localhost:3000/ and you'll see API documentation (Swagger).
To start a new session you should have your mobile phone with installed WhatsApp application close to you.
Please go and read how what we'll need to a bit later: How to log in - the instruction on WhatsApp site
When your ready - find POST /api/sessions, click on Try it out, then Execute a bit below.
The example payload:
{
"name": "default"
}By using the request with different name values you can start multiple sessions (WhatsApp accounts) inside the single docker container.
Find GET /api/screenshot and execute it, it shows you QR code.
Scan the QR with your cell phone's WhatsApp app.
Execute GET /api/screenshot after a few seconds after scanning the QR - it'll show you the screenshot of you Whatsapp
instance. If you can get the actual screenshot - then you're ready to start sending messages!
Let's send a text message - find POST /api/sendText in swagger and change chatId this
way: use a phone international phone number without + symbol and add @c.us at the end.
For phone number 12132132131 the chatId is 12132132131@c.us.
The example payload:
{
"chatId": "12132132130@c.us",
"text": "Hi there!",
"session": "default"
}Also, you can use curl and send POST request like this:
# Phone without +
export PHONE=12132132130
curl -d "{\"chatId\": \"${PHONE}@c.us\", \"text\": \"Hello from WhatsApp HTTP API\" }" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/sendTextGo and read the full documentation!
- Clone the repository
- Make sure you're using node>=22 (check .nvmrc to get the version)
- Install the whatsapp-rust-bridge prerequisites:
# Bun runtime used by whatsapp-rust-bridge prepare scripts
curl -fsSL https://bun.sh/install | bash -s -- bun-v1.3.9
# Rust nightly toolchain used for whatsapp-rust-bridge
curl -fsSL https://sh.rustup.rs | bash -s -- -y --default-toolchain nightly-2026-01-30
rustup target add wasm32-unknown-unknown
cargo install wasm-pack --vers 0.14.0 --locked- Run the following commands:
# Install dependencies
yarn install
# Fetch and compile proto files
yarn gows:proto
# Run
yarn start
# open http://localhost:3000