Send WhatsApp Messages from Shell Script - Complete Guide

Automate WhatsApp messaging using the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API

Posted on February 16, 2016   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: January 28, 2026  

🚀 Automate WhatsApp Messaging with Shell Scripts

Looking to automate WhatsApp notifications, alerts, or messages directly from your terminal? This guide walks you through sending WhatsApp messages using a simple shell script and the WhatsMate WA Gateway REST API. Perfect for system administrators, developers, and automation enthusiasts who want to integrate WhatsApp into their workflows.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A WhatsMate WA Gateway account - Required for API access
  2. Recipient registration - Each recipient must register with the Gateway first
  3. Basic shell scripting knowledge - Familiarity with terminal commands

⚠️ Important: Recipients must register with the WhatsMate WA Gateway before they can receive messages. Unregistered users will not receive any messages from the Gateway. Registration instructions are available on the official WhatsMate site.

🎥 Video Walkthrough

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to send your first WhatsApp message from a shell script:

1. Copy the Script Template

Start by copying the following source code into your script file:

2. Configure a few Parameters

Customize these key parameters in the script:

  • Line 3: Replace with your gateway instance ID
  • Lines 4-5: Update with your Client ID and Secret
  • Line 10: Specify the target phone number (including the country code, e.g., 12025550108)
  • Line 11: Provide your message content

3. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your script:

chmod 755 send-whatsapp.sh

4. Send Your Message

Run the script to deliver your WhatsApp message:

./send-whatsapp.sh

🔧 Common Use Cases

This automation approach is ideal for:

  • System monitoring alerts - Get notified when servers go down
  • Scheduled reminders - Send daily or weekly notifications
  • Automated reports - Deliver regular updates via WhatsApp
  • Integration with cron jobs - Combine with scheduled tasks

🚀 Get Started Today

Ready to automate your WhatsApp messaging? You’ll need a trial account to access the API. Sign up for a 2-week trial and start sending messages within minutes!

Next Steps: Once you’ve mastered basic message sending, explore advanced features like sending images, documents, or group messages through the WhatsMate API documentation.