Free tool by Ikaroa
WhatsApp link builder.
Type a phone number, type a message, get a click-to-chat link and a printable QR code. No signup, no tracking, no API keys. Built for shop owners, sales teams, and anyone who wants a customer to open WhatsApp with one tap.
Enter the number without the country code. Spaces and dashes are fine, we strip them out.
WhatsApp formatting: *bold*, _italic_, ~strike~, ```code```. 57 characters.
Preview
Renders the way WhatsApp shows it on mobile. Bold, italic, strikethrough and monospace all match.
QR code
How wa.me links work
The format is straightforward: https://wa.me/<number>?text=<message>. The number is the international dial code plus the local number, with no spaces, dashes, or plus sign. The message is URL-encoded.
When a customer taps the link, WhatsApp on their phone (or web.whatsapp.com on desktop) opens a chat with your number and drops the pre-filled message into the compose field. They still have to hit send, so you are not spamming anyone, you are removing the typing step.
The QR code is the same URL encoded into a scannable image. Phone cameras decode it automatically and open the link.
Where these links earn their keep
Retail signage
Stick the QR on the shop window. After-hours customers ask about availability from the pavement instead of walking off.
Packaging
Print the QR on the box insert. Returns, reviews, and repeat orders all land in WhatsApp, where reply rates beat email by an order of magnitude.
Lead magnets
Replace "fill in this form" with "message us on WhatsApp." The conversation starts warmer and routes straight to a person, not a queue.
Field sales
Sales reps share their personal link at trade shows. Prospects scan once and message later when they actually have time to talk.
Frequently asked
What is a WhatsApp click-to-chat link?â–¼
A wa.me URL that opens WhatsApp pre-loaded with the recipient and an optional message. Customers tap once, the chat opens, the message is already typed for them. No phone number needs to be saved first.
Do I need a WhatsApp Business account?â–¼
No. Click-to-chat links work with any WhatsApp number, personal or business. A Business account gives you a profile, away messages, and quick replies, but the link itself is the same.
How do I format the pre-filled message?â–¼
WhatsApp supports four formatting tokens: *bold*, _italic_, ~strikethrough~, and triple-backtick for monospace. The preview on this page mirrors how it actually appears on mobile.
Is there a character limit on the pre-filled message?â–¼
WhatsApp does not publish a hard limit, but URLs over roughly 2,000 characters get truncated by some platforms. Keep the opener short and let the conversation take over from there.
Can I track clicks on a wa.me link?â–¼
Not directly. WhatsApp does not expose click data. Wrap the wa.me link in a tracked short URL (Bitly, Linktree, your own analytics redirect) if you need conversion attribution.
Where should I put the QR code?â–¼
Anywhere a customer can scan with a phone: shop window, packaging, receipts, business cards, the bottom of an Instagram story, table tents, vehicle livery. The link works the same regardless of placement.
Going further
Need WhatsApp doing real work, not just opening chats?
Our WhatsApp AI service hooks the API up to your CRM, qualifies leads automatically, books appointments, and routes conversations to humans when intent gets serious. Same channel, ten times the throughput.
See WhatsApp AI