WhatsApp is opening up its calling feature to people who don't even have an account. The messaging platform has officially announced a guest calling feature that lets anyone join a WhatsApp call through a simple link — no sign-up required.
The company revealed the feature in an official blog post, making official what had long been rumored: calls on WhatsApp are no longer limited to its own users.
Free, account-free and unlimited
Under the new system, a WhatsApp membership is no longer a requirement to join a call. Guests can take part completely free of charge, with no time limit on how long they stay.
The mechanics are simple: whoever starts the call creates a link in the app and shares it with anyone they want. Guests who receive the link simply enter their name in a computer browser and join the conversation.
Security stays in the host's hands
Control rests entirely with the call's organizer. Guests can't barge straight in — they're held in a "Waiting Room" until they're approved.
Guests also can't see other participants' phone numbers, send messages, or add other people to the call. The organizer can remove them at any time. And like standard WhatsApp calls, all conversations are end-to-end encrypted.
How to create a link
Only users with an active WhatsApp account can generate a call link. In the app, head to the Calls tab, tap the "+" icon to create a call link, and share it with whoever wants to join.
The links support both one-on-one conversations and group calls with up to 32 participants.
Calendar integration on the way
Later this year, WhatsApp plans to roll out calendar integrations as well. The update will let users create WhatsApp calls directly from Google or Outlook calendars. An add-on attached to the invite will automatically include the call link, so invitees — whether or not they have an account — can join with a single click.
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