A new open-source project called whatsapp-mcp lets AI agents like Claude read and search personal WhatsApp messages through a read-only MCP server running on Cloudflare Workers. Built by a developer who wanted their mobile Claude to access WhatsApp without requiring WhatsApp Business or a self-hosted server, the tool links to a personal WhatsApp account similarly to WhatsApp Web.
The server connects once to import message history, then syncs daily via a linked device protocol using the open-source Baileys library. Messages are stored in a SQLite database within a Cloudflare Durable Object, ensuring privacy. It also integrates with Google accounts to map contact names to phone numbers for better searchability.
Setup requires a Cloudflare Workers Paid plan account, Node.js 20+, and a phone. Users deploy via Wrangler, scan a QR code or enter a phone number to link WhatsApp, then connect their MCP client to the /mcp endpoint. While not officially supported by WhatsApp and potentially against its terms, the read-only nature keeps risk low.
The project emphasizes single-user use due to privacy concerns and limitations in what WhatsApp provides to new devices. First imports may not include full history, and relinking is needed for re-imports.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing