Web catalog vs. WhatsApp Business catalog
By Santiago Griman (wickz) · · 3 min read
If you sell on WhatsApp, you probably already know the WhatsApp Business catalog: a list of products with photos and prices inside the app. It’s free and it works. So why have a web catalog?
The short answer: the WhatsApp catalog works for people who are already talking to you; a web catalog also works for people who don’t know you yet.
What each one is
WhatsApp Business catalog. A feature of the app where you upload products with a photo, description and price. Your contacts see it from your WhatsApp profile.
Web catalog. Your own page, for example yourbusiness.com, with all your products organized. It opens in any browser from a link, and when someone wants to buy, a button takes them to your WhatsApp.
Comparison
| WhatsApp Business | Web catalog | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Development + domain |
| Where it’s seen | Inside WhatsApp | In any browser |
| Shows up on Google | No | Yes, if it’s built well |
| Search and filters | Limited | Whatever you need |
| Design and branding | WhatsApp’s | Yours |
| Own address | No | Yes (yourbusiness.com) |
| Depends on | Meta’s rules | You |
Advantages of the WhatsApp Business catalog
- Free and quick to set up. You can have your products uploaded in an afternoon.
- It’s where your customers already are. Anyone who messages you is one tap away from it.
- Great for getting started or if you have few products that rarely change.
Advantages of a web catalog
- People find you on Google. Someone searching for “phone parts near me” can land on your catalog without knowing you. The WhatsApp catalog doesn’t show up in those searches.
- Better for large catalogs. With categories, search and filters, customers find one product among hundreds without endless scrolling.
- It looks like your brand. Your colors, your logo, your domain. That builds trust, especially with new customers.
- It’s yours. If an app changes its rules tomorrow or suspends your account, your catalog stays online.
- It works everywhere. The same link goes in your Instagram bio, in an ad, on a QR code or in a message.
Which one is right for you?
Stick with WhatsApp Business if:
- You have few products.
- Almost all your sales come from customers who already know you.
- You’re just starting and want to test before investing.
Move to a web catalog if:
- You have many products or several categories.
- You want new customers to find you on Google.
- You answer “what do you have in stock?” or “can you send me prices?” every day.
- You want to look more professional than your competitors.
The usual combination is using both: the web catalog attracts people and shows everything organized, and each product’s button opens WhatsApp with the message already written. You keep closing sales over chat as always, but the customer arrives knowing what they want.
If you’ve outgrown your WhatsApp catalog, see how I build web catalogs, the catalog for a hardware store with over 400 products and some demos, or email me and we’ll look at your business.
Frequently asked questions
Is the WhatsApp Business catalog free?
Yes, it comes with the WhatsApp Business app. With a web catalog you pay for the development and, depending on the case, the domain and hosting.
Can I have both at the same time?
Yes, and it's the most common setup. The web catalog helps people find you and see everything organized, and WhatsApp is still where you close the sale.
Does a web catalog need a shopping cart and online payments?
No. Many catalogs just show the products and have a button that opens WhatsApp with the product already written in the message. Payment is agreed over chat as usual.
Have a project in mind?
Tell me what you need. I usually reply within 24 hours.