WhatsApp Catalogue or Online Store: Which Fits Your Business?
The WhatsApp catalogue is free and easy, but it can't calculate an order or remember a customer. This comparison helps you choose based on the size of your business today.
The WhatsApp Business catalogue is a free tool for showing your products inside WhatsApp. An online store is a page with its own link where customers browse and order. The question isn't which one is better, but which one fits the size of your business right now.
What is the WhatsApp Business catalogue?
A list of products with photos and prices on your WhatsApp Business profile. Customers browse it, send you a product in the chat, then finish the order with you by talking.
What is an online store with WhatsApp orders?
A single-link page with categories, search and a cart. The customer picks quantities and a delivery option, the total is calculated, the order is saved, and then it reaches you on WhatsApp as a tidy message.
The comparison
| WhatsApp catalogue | Online store with WhatsApp orders | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Usually a monthly subscription; some have a free plan |
| Reach | Inside WhatsApp only | A link that opens from Instagram, Facebook, Google and WhatsApp |
| Cart and multiple items | Limited; the order is finished by chat | A full cart with quantities |
| Selling by weight | Not supported | Possible, such as a quarter or half kilo |
| Delivery fee | You calculate it by hand | Calculated by area |
| Order record | Only inside the chat | Saved with a number before it reaches you |
| Following up | Searching the chat | A list with statuses and a reminder for pending orders |
| Best sellers | Not available | Product and order analytics |
When is the WhatsApp catalogue enough?
- You have a few products that rarely change.
- Most customers know you and message you directly.
- You get a few orders a week and can track them by hand.
When do you need an online store?
- You have many products or several categories.
- You sell by weight, by the box or in different quantities.
- You deliver to several areas with different fees.
- You've lost an order, or replied late because a chat scrolled away.
- You want numbers: visits, orders and best sellers.
Can you use both?
Yes, and many sellers do: the catalogue inside WhatsApp for people browsing there, and the store link in your bio, stories and saved replies. Just keep prices the same in both places.
How to move from the catalogue to a store without confusion
- Export or copy your products into a sheet with name, price and category.
- Prepare photos with the same background and lighting.
- Set your delivery areas and their fees.
- Put the store link in your greeting reply and your bio.
- Keep the catalogue running for a while and gradually point customers to the link.
On Tajrova, the OBELIX team uploads your products the first time from your catalogue or sheet. See how Tajrova works.
Once the store is live, you need new customers to find it. Read the social media marketing guide for Egypt from OBELIX Agency.
Frequently asked questions
Does an online store replace WhatsApp?
No. Orders still reach you on the same WhatsApp, just organised, calculated and recorded.
Does the customer need an account to order?
Not on Tajrova. They only enter their name, number and address.
How many products can a WhatsApp catalogue show?
That depends on WhatsApp's current policies. Check the settings in your WhatsApp Business app.
