OpenWA

OpenWA is an open-source WhatsApp API gateway for developers who want to own their messaging stack, with no lock-in to a vendor and no hidden paywalls. It exposes WhatsApp sessions through an API and webhooks so you can build bots, notifications and automation, and topics reference WhatsApp Web, indicating it works through that interface.

Its pluggable architecture lets you pick the database engine (SQLite or PostgreSQL), the storage backend for backups and migrations (local or S3) and the cache layer (disabled or Redis) through configuration rather than code changes. Message media is returned inline to API and webhook consumers and is not automatically stored in the backend. A React dashboard manages sessions, webhooks and API keys, and it can run multiple sessions at once.

OpenWA is written in TypeScript and licensed under MIT, with documentation and an API reference. Because it automates WhatsApp through an unofficial route, users should review WhatsApp's terms of service and the risk of account restrictions before relying on it for important accounts. It suits developers prototyping WhatsApp integrations and small-scale automation.