WhatsApp widget for a website: the complete guide
A WhatsApp widget is a floating button on your website that opens a chat with your WhatsApp number in one tap, usually with a prefilled message. On Shopify it is installed as a Theme App Extension so it works on any Online Store 2.0 theme without code. This guide covers the settings worth configuring and how to measure the result.
By Mousa Alhelo, founder, E-SAFQA · Updated · 6 min read · How we write and test these guides
What happens when a shopper taps the widget
The widget opens a small WhatsApp-style panel with your default message. When the shopper sends it, the browser opens WhatsApp (the app on mobile, WhatsApp Web or the desktop app on a computer) with your number and the message prefilled. No message is sent until the shopper presses send in WhatsApp, and the shopper's number is never shared with the website.
Settings that actually change results
- Position and offsets: bottom-right is the convention; move it away from your cart drawer or cookie banner.
- Greeting tooltip: a short line such as 'Questions about sizing? Chat with us' invites the first tap.
- Prefilled message plus the current page URL: you instantly know which product the shopper is asking about.
- Page targeting: product and collection pages convert; the checkout cannot show widgets.
- Device visibility: show on mobile where WhatsApp lives, and decide separately for desktop.
- Colors: keep the WhatsApp green for recognition, match the hover color to your theme.
Measuring it
Count clicks per day and per page, not impressions. WhatsApp Pilot records a click when the shopper opens WhatsApp from the button and shows the top pages in Analytics, without storing any personal data about the shopper.
Free vs paid widgets
Most widget-only apps are free or a few dollars a month. WhatsApp Pilot's widget is free on the homepage with basic styling; Pro unlocks all page types, full appearance controls and the greeting tooltip, and adds the automations that a widget-only app does not have.
Frequently asked questions
Does the widget slow down the store?
A well-built widget loads a small script after the page content. WhatsApp Pilot's extension loads its settings through Shopify's app proxy and does not block rendering.
Can I use one widget for several numbers?
WhatsApp Pilot uses one number per store, which is the number your automations also send from.
Ready to put WhatsApp to work on your store?
Start with the free widget. Upgrade to Pro for order messages, cart recovery, the smart product button, back-in-stock alerts and Product Demand.