n8n
Send WhatsApp messages into n8n workflows for AI, database queries, lead routing, alerts and custom business automation.
Universal WhatsApp External Webhooks
Connect WhatsApp to Any Automation, App or Backend
Connect your official WhatsApp Cloud API number to n8n, Make, Zapier, Supabase, your CRM, ERP or any custom application. BotLinkd sends the incoming message to your HTTPS endpoint and can deliver the returned response back to WhatsApp.
- Works with any HTTPS endpoint
- Synchronous WhatsApp replies
- Optional HMAC signing
Live external webhook flow
Customer message
Received through WhatsApp Cloud API
BotLinkd External Webhook
Secure JSON POST to your endpoint
Your workflow or application
n8n, Make, CRM, ERP, code or custom API
WhatsApp reply
BotLinkd sends your returned reply
No platform lock-in. Use the automation service, database, AI model and programming language that already fit your business.
Connect your existing stack
One webhook feature. Almost unlimited integrations.
BotLinkd External Webhook is not limited to one automation provider. If your platform can receive an HTTPS POST request and process JSON, it can connect with BotLinkd.
Make
Trigger Make scenarios from incoming WhatsApp messages and connect your existing apps without building a full backend.
Zapier
Start Zaps from WhatsApp conversations and move customer data into sales, support, forms and productivity tools.
Supabase Functions
Process messages with Supabase Edge Functions, query your database and return a personalised WhatsApp response.
CRM and ERP
Connect WhatsApp conversations with customer records, tickets, orders, inventory, sales pipelines and internal operations.
Laravel and PHP
Receive signed JSON requests in your Laravel or PHP application and return a reply using a simple response contract.
Node.js
Use Express, Fastify, NestJS or another Node.js framework to build real-time WhatsApp automation and integrations.
Python
Connect Flask, FastAPI, Django or your own Python service to process messages, AI tasks and business logic.
Custom API or Server
Use any public HTTPS endpoint that accepts JSON. Your technology stack stays completely under your control.
Easy explanation
What does External Webhook do?
When a customer sends a WhatsApp message, BotLinkd can forward that message to your external automation or application as JSON. Your system can check a database, call AI, create a lead, update an order, open a ticket or run any business logic you need.
In Synchronous Reply mode, your endpoint returns one simple JSON response and BotLinkd sends the reply to the customer. Your external system does the thinking; BotLinkd manages the WhatsApp connection and message delivery.
Choose how it works
Two modes for chatbots and business automation
Select the mode that matches your workflow. Use a direct response for conversations or event delivery for background processing.
Best for chatbots
Synchronous Reply
BotLinkd sends the incoming WhatsApp message to your endpoint and waits for a simple JSON reply. BotLinkd then sends that reply back to the customer on WhatsApp.
{"ok":true,"reply":"Your reply text"}
Best for workflows
Events Only
BotLinkd delivers the event and your external system continues processing independently. This is useful for CRM updates, alerts, queues, reporting and longer-running automation.
Receive event → process asynchronously
How it works
From WhatsApp message to automated response
BotLinkd keeps the WhatsApp connection simple while your external system handles the business workflow.
-
01
A customer sends a WhatsApp message
The message arrives through your official WhatsApp Cloud API connection in BotLinkd.
-
02
BotLinkd sends a secure POST request
BotLinkd delivers a structured JSON payload to the HTTPS endpoint saved in Platform Settings.
-
03
Your system runs the workflow
n8n, Make, Zapier, Supabase, your CRM or your own application processes the message and business logic.
-
04
The customer receives the result
In Synchronous Reply mode, your endpoint returns JSON and BotLinkd sends the response to WhatsApp.
Built for real integrations
Flexible enough for developers. Simple enough for clients.
Start with a no-code workflow or connect your own production backend without changing your WhatsApp Cloud API connection.
Works with almost any platform
You are not locked into one automation provider. Connect any service that can receive an HTTPS POST request and work with JSON.
Simple Platform Settings
Choose External Webhook as the Auto Reply Method, add your URL, select the mode and set the timeout.
Secure request signing
Enable per-platform HMAC signing so your receiving system can verify that the request came from BotLinkd.
Duplicate protection
Stable event identifiers help your workflow avoid repeating the same business action more than once.
Configurable timeout
Set a response timeout from 3 to 20 seconds for synchronous chatbot and automation use cases.
Keep your existing technology
Continue using your current database, AI provider, CRM, ERP, server, cloud functions and development framework.
Simple response contract
Return JSON. BotLinkd sends the WhatsApp reply.
In Synchronous Reply mode, your endpoint only needs to return a successful JSON response with the text that BotLinkd should send to the customer.
- Receive the incoming message as structured JSON.
- Run your AI, database, CRM or business logic.
- Return ok: true and a non-empty reply.
- BotLinkd sends the returned text to WhatsApp.
Incoming POST from BotLinkd
application/json
{
"event": "message.received",
"event_id": "evt_example_01",
"occurred_at": "2026-07-25T10:30:00Z",
"data": {
"message": {
"type": "text",
"text": "Hi, I need order help"
},
"sender": {
"wa_id": "923001234567",
"name": "Customer"
},
"platform": {
"uuid": "platform_example"
}
}
}
Your endpoint returns
HTTP 200
{
"ok": true,
"reply": "Your order is being prepared."
}Quick setup
Connect your webhook in four easy steps
You do not need to change the Meta callback URL. External Webhook is configured separately inside your BotLinkd WhatsApp Platform Settings.
Get integration assistance-
1
Create or copy your HTTPS webhook URL
Use the production webhook URL from n8n, Make, Zapier, Supabase or your own public server endpoint.
-
2
Open WhatsApp Platform Settings
Inside BotLinkd, open the connected WhatsApp platform and go to Auto Reply Settings.
-
3
Select External Webhook
Enable auto reply, choose External Webhook, paste the URL, select Synchronous Reply or Events Only and set the timeout.
-
4
Send a real WhatsApp test message
Keep Auto Reply enabled for the chat, send a message from another number and confirm the workflow execution and reply.
BotLinkd Platform Settings
Recommended starting configuration
- Send auto reply
- Yes
- Auto reply method
- External Webhook
- Webhook URL
- Your production HTTPS endpoint
- Webhook mode
- Synchronous Reply
- Timeout
- 3–20 seconds
- Webhook signing
- Enabled for production
Secure by design
Protect every webhook connection
Unique platform secret
Use a different generated secret for each WhatsApp platform instead of sharing one secret across clients.
HMAC-SHA256 signing
Verify the request signature in your receiving system before trusting or processing the payload.
HTTPS endpoint validation
Use a valid public HTTPS endpoint and keep internal or private services behind a secure gateway.
Event identifiers
Use the event ID and idempotency information to prevent duplicate replies, records or business actions.
Controlled timeouts
Keep synchronous processing fast and move slow tasks into a queue or background workflow.
Operational logging
Monitor delivery failures and latency without exposing unnecessary customer data in routine logs.
Business use cases
Turn WhatsApp messages into real business actions
Use External Webhooks for customer conversations, internal operations, AI, databases and systems that BotLinkd does not need to own or replace.
AI assistants
Send a message to your preferred AI model, business knowledge base or agent workflow and return the generated response.
Lead capture
Create leads, qualify prospects, assign sales owners and trigger follow-up tasks directly from WhatsApp conversations.
Support automation
Open tickets, check customer records, classify requests and route urgent conversations to the right support team.
Orders and commerce
Look up orders, payment status, shipping updates, returns, products or inventory using your existing systems.
Bookings and appointments
Check availability, create appointments, send confirmations and update schedules from a WhatsApp conversation.
Alerts and internal workflows
Notify staff, update dashboards, store messages, start approval flows or trigger operational processes in real time.
Use the right BotLinkd tool
External Webhook, Chat Flow and Trained AI have different roles
| Method | Best for | Who controls the logic? |
|---|---|---|
| External Webhook | n8n, Make, Zapier, databases, CRM, ERP and custom applications | Your external workflow or server |
| Chat Flow | Visual menus, questions, buttons and structured WhatsApp conversation paths | BotLinkd Chat Flow Builder |
| Trained AI | AI answers based on configured training data and the selected AI provider | BotLinkd AI configuration |
| Auto Response | Simple rule-based replies for common messages and keywords | BotLinkd response rules |
Already have a workflow or backend?
Keep it. External Webhook lets BotLinkd connect your official WhatsApp number to the tools and systems your team already uses.
External Webhook FAQ
Common questions, answered simply
Is BotLinkd External Webhook only for n8n?
No. It is a universal HTTPS webhook feature. You can connect n8n, Make, Zapier, Supabase Functions, a CRM, an ERP, Laravel, PHP, Node.js, Python or any custom API/server that can receive JSON.
Do I need to change my Meta WhatsApp callback URL?
No. The Meta callback URL continues to deliver WhatsApp events from Meta to BotLinkd. The External Webhook URL is a separate setting used by BotLinkd to send an incoming message to your automation or application.
What does my endpoint return in Synchronous Reply mode?
Return HTTP 200 with JSON in this format: {"ok":true,"reply":"Your reply text"}. BotLinkd then sends the reply text to the WhatsApp customer.
Can I use External Webhook without writing code?
Yes. No-code and low-code platforms such as n8n, Make and Zapier can receive webhook requests and run workflows. Custom code is only needed when your integration requires it.
What is the difference between Synchronous Reply and Events Only?
Synchronous Reply waits for your endpoint to return the WhatsApp response. Events Only delivers the event so your external system can process it independently, which is useful for background workflows, CRM updates and longer tasks.
Is webhook signing required?
Signing can be disabled for compatibility, but enabling it is recommended in production. BotLinkd can generate a unique secret for each WhatsApp platform and sign requests with HMAC-SHA256.
Can External Webhook run together with Chat Flow or Trained AI?
External Webhook is an independent Auto Reply Method. Select the reply method that should control the conversation: External Webhook, Chat Flow, Trained AI, Auto Response or the default method.
What happens if my endpoint is slow or unavailable?
BotLinkd applies the configured timeout and records failures for troubleshooting. Your endpoint should respond quickly in Synchronous Reply mode and move slower work into background processing.
Connect without platform lock-in
Bring your WhatsApp number. Keep your existing systems.
Use BotLinkd External Webhooks to connect WhatsApp with automation platforms, cloud functions, databases, CRMs, ERPs and custom applications.