diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5e1d3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+name: release
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      release_type:
+        description: "`alpha`, `alpha-minor`, `alpha-major` release?"
+        required: true
+        default: "alpha"
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: ${{ github.repository == 'pedroslopez/whatsapp-web.js' }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - run: git config --global user.email "hello@wwebjs.dev"
+      - run: git config --global user.name "WWebJS Bot"
+      - name: Bump version and publish to NPM
+        id: publish
+        run: ./tools/publish ${{ github.event.inputs.release_type }}
+        env:
+          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_NPM_TOKEN }}
+      - name: Create GitHub Release
+        id: create_release
+        uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1
+        with:
+          prerelease: ${{ steps.publish.outputs.PRERELEASE }}
+          generateReleaseNotes: true
+          tag: v${{ steps.publish.outputs.NEW_VERSION }}
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 13f41c0..46ce339 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "whatsapp-web.js",
-  "version": "1.17.1",
+  "version": "1.18.0-alpha.1",
   "description": "Library for interacting with the WhatsApp Web API ",
   "main": "./index.js",
   "typings": "./index.d.ts",
diff --git a/tools/publish b/tools/publish
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c3a6a97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/publish
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")"
+cd '..'
+
+BRANCH=`git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD`
+RELEASE_MODE=$1
+
+echo ""
+echo "-----> CHECK INPUTS"
+echo ""
+
+if [[ "$RELEASE_MODE" == "alpha" ]]
+then
+  PRERELEASE='true'
+  VERSION_ARGS="prerelease --preid alpha"
+  DIST_TAG="next"
+elif [[ "$RELEASE_MODE" == "alpha-minor" ]]
+then
+  PRERELEASE='true'
+  VERSION_ARGS="preminor --preid alpha"
+  DIST_TAG="next"
+elif [[ "$RELEASE_MODE" == "alpha-major" ]]
+then
+  PRERELEASE='true'
+  VERSION_ARGS="premajor --preid alpha"
+  DIST_TAG="next"
+else
+  echo 'Release Mode required'
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ -f ~/.npmrc ]; then
+  echo "Found existing .npmrc"
+else
+  if [[ -z "$NPM_TOKEN" ]];then
+    echo "No NPM_TOKEN or ~/.npmrc, exiting.."
+    exit 1;
+  else
+    echo "//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=$NPM_TOKEN" >> ~/.npmrc
+  fi
+fi
+echo "Publishing as NPM user: `npm whoami`"
+
+if [[ $BRANCH != 'main' ]]; then
+  echo "Not on 'main' branch.  Exiting"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [[ -n $(git status -s) ]]; then
+  echo "There are uncommitted changes on this branch. Exiting..."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "-----> BUMP VERSION"
+echo ""
+
+npm version $VERSION_ARGS || exit 1
+git push && git push --tags || exit 1
+
+NEW_VERSION=`cat package.json | jq -r .version`
+echo "New Version: $NEW_VERSION"
+
+echo ""
+echo "-----> PUSH TO NPM"
+echo ""
+
+npm publish --tag $DIST_TAG
+
+
+echo ""
+echo "-----> Done!"
+echo "Version $NEW_VERSION published to $DIST_TAG tag"
+echo ""
+
+echo "::set-output name=NEW_VERSION::$NEW_VERSION"
+echo "::set-output name=PRERELEASE::$PRERELEASE"
+
+exit 0