WhatsApp Calls Now Supports Guests Without an Account

WhatsApp is adding support for guest calling today, which means that users can invite other people to a call even if they don’t already use WhatsApp. Guests can join WhatsApp calls using call links, and there are security and privacy protections in place to prevent people from abusing the system.

“Anyone joining as a guest always needs the call host’s approval,” the WhatsApp team explained. “Guests will enter a waiting room until the host lets them in and guests can be removed from the call at any time. Guests can’t see other participants’ phone numbers, send messages, or add anyone else directly to the call.”

Guest calling works with both 1:1 and group calls with up to 32 people, and guests get access to standard WhatsApp calling features such as screen sharing. WhatsApp calls are always end-to-end encrypted, and there are also no time limits.

Later this year, WhatsApp plans to roll out a new WhatsApp plugin that will make it easier to plan a WhatsApp call from a Google or Outlook calendar. Thanks to guest calling support, people receiving the WhatsApp call link won’t need to create an account to join the call.