WhatsApp Business catalogue or a business page?

By the Chowkly team · Checked against official sources on 19 October 2026

Short answer: the WhatsApp Business catalogue is free and works well for showing products to people who are already chatting with you. A business page is a normal web link that anyone can open without starting a chat, and it can also show your timings, location and payment details. Most small shops benefit from using both, plus a free Google Business Profile.

Chowkly makes business pages, so we have an interest here. We've tried to be fair, and every fact about other products links to its official source.

What the WhatsApp Business catalogue gives you

It's free. The WhatsApp Business app is free to download and use, with a mix of free and paid features (Google Play listing).
Up to 500 items, each with up to 10 photos or videos. You can hide items and share an item or the whole catalogue in a chat or on your status (WhatsApp Business: catalog).
It lives where your customers already are. Nobody has to open a browser.

Where a business page helps

It opens from anywhere. Instagram bio, Google, a printed QR code, an SMS, a poster. The visitor sees your menu before deciding to message you.
It answers the questions before the order. Timings with "open now", address and directions, delivery area and fee, minimum order, and how to pay.
The order arrives already written. On a Chowkly page the customer picks items and taps send, and WhatsApp opens with the items, total, name and address filled in.
It can appear in search results if you choose, which a chat app cannot.

Side by side

	WhatsApp Business catalogue	One-page business website (e.g. Chowkly)
Cost	Free app (some paid features)	Chowkly: ₹199/month + ₹999 setup; other options vary
Who can see it	People who open your WhatsApp profile or a shared item	Anyone with the link or QR code
Timings, map, delivery rules	Business profile shows some details; not alongside each item	On the same page as the menu
How orders arrive	As WhatsApp chats	As WhatsApp chats (pre-filled message)
Payments	In-app payments are not available in all markets	Customer pays you directly, cash or UPI
Search engines	No	Optional

How to use both, step by step

Keep your WhatsApp catalogue for regulars who already chat with you.
Create or update your free Google Business Profile. Google says listing your business is free (Google Business Profile). You can add a website link and a menu or services list there (Google help), and food businesses can add a menu link and ordering links (Google help).
Put your business page link in your Google profile, Instagram bio and WhatsApp status, and the QR code on your counter.
Let every path end in WhatsApp. Whichever way a customer finds you, the order or booking reaches the same chat you already use.

When you don't need a business page

If almost all of your customers are regulars who message you directly, and you have no shop people walk into, the WhatsApp catalogue alone may be enough. If you need card payments, stock tracking and shipping labels, look at a full online store builder instead.

Get a business page with WhatsApp orders See a demo page