WhatsApp now lets guests join calls without an account

WhatsApp is opening its calls to people who do not have WhatsApp accounts. Its new guest-calling feature lets an account holder create a call link and invite anyone to join a one-to-one or group call, with no account required.¹

The rollout is designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to joining a WhatsApp call: having the app in the first place. Guests can open the link in a computer browser, enter their name and wait for the host to approve them. WhatsApp says calls remain free and end-to-end encrypted, with no time limit.¹

How WhatsApp guest calling works

Only people with a WhatsApp account can create a call link. Once it has been shared, guests wait in a holding area until the host lets them in. The host can remove a guest at any time, while guests cannot see other participants’ phone numbers, send messages or invite more people directly.

Guest calling supports one-to-one conversations and group calls with up to 32 participants. WhatsApp says guests can use core calling features such as screen sharing, emoji reactions and hand-raising. That makes the feature useful for meetings, classes and family calls where not everyone uses the same messaging service.

To create one, open WhatsApp’s Calls tab, choose the plus icon, create a call link and send it to the people you want to invite. A guest can join from a computer browser without installing the app, although the host still needs WhatsApp to create and manage the call.

The company also says calendar integrations are coming later this year. A WhatsApp plugin for Google Calendar and Outlook will let users create call links from calendar invitations, so people can join with or without a WhatsApp account.¹

Our opinion

Guest calling is a small but sensible change because it treats an account as a requirement for organising a call, rather than a tollgate for everyone invited. The waiting room and host controls matter here: removing the sign-up step is useful only if the person who created the call remains in control of who enters.

The browser option also makes WhatsApp more practical for occasional callers. It will not replace Zoom or Google Meet for every meeting, but it gives WhatsApp users a lower-friction way to bring in classmates, colleagues or relatives who do not want another account. The calendar integration could make that difference more visible once it arrives.

¹ WhatsApp’s official announcement describes guest calling, its privacy controls, browser access and planned calendar integrations.