AI workflow in n8n with WhatsApp: node, webhook and templates

Step by step

1. 1

   Install the community node

   In n8n, open Settings > Community Nodes > Install, type n8n-nodes-zapzap and accept. It is a community node, published on npm (version 0.1.3, from 27 Oct 2026) and open source on GitHub. On n8n Cloud, check n8n's documentation to see whether your account accepts community nodes; if it does not, use HTTP Request in the last step.

2. 2

   Create the credential with API key and secret

   In the ZapZap panel, open Settings > API and copy the API Key and API Secret. In n8n, create a ZapZap API credential, paste both values and save: n8n tests the credential when you save and shows a green message on success. Leave the Base URL as it is. Default Country Code is optional: with 55, the number 11 99999-0001 becomes 5511999990001.

3. 3

   Send your first message

   Add the ZapZap node, keep Resource = Message and Operation = Send Text, pick the instance from the list (an instance is a connected WhatsApp number; if the list is empty, create and connect one in the panel first), enter a number and a text, and run it. For several items, turn on Continue On Fail.

4. 4

   Receive messages with the ZapZap Trigger

   Add the ZapZap Trigger, pick the credential and the instance and activate the workflow: the node registers its URL on the instance and removes it when you deactivate. n8n needs a public HTTPS address (set WEBHOOK_URL). The output has ready fields such as from, text, type, chatId, isGroup, fromMe and messageId. Every delivery is signed (X-ZapZap-Signature, HMAC-SHA256 with a timestamp) and the node rejects forged ones or ones older than 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Build the AI flow

   Connect the ZapZap Trigger to an n8n AI Agent node (with the model you choose there) and its output to a ZapZap node on Send Text. Turn on Ignore My Own Messages in the Trigger so the automatic reply does not fire the flow again. The ZapZap node can also be used as a tool by an n8n AI agent.

6. 6

   Or use HTTP Request and Webhook, installing nothing

   In HTTP Request, POST to https://api.zapzapapi.com/api/v1/{instanceId}/send/text with the x-api-key and x-api-secret headers and a JSON body with number and text. To receive, create a Webhook node, copy the Production URL and register it on the instance through the webhook endpoint (POST /{instanceId}/webhook, with the events you want). Activate the workflow so the Production URL answers.

// ILLUSTRATIVE example of the HTTP Request node in n8n (POST), if you do not use the community node
// Exact fields and path: https://api.zapzapapi.com/llms.txt
POST https://api.zapzapapi.com/api/v1/{instanceId}/send/text
Headers:
  x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
  x-api-secret: YOUR_API_SECRET
  Content-Type: application/json
Body:
{
  "number": "5511999999999",
  "text": "Hi! Your appointment is confirmed."
}