WhatsApp Guest Calling: Invite Anyone to a Call

WhatsApp guest calling lets anyone join a WhatsApp voice or video call without having a WhatsApp account. The host creates a call link in the Calls tab and shares it; the guest opens it in a computer browser, types a name and waits to be let in. WhatsApp announced the feature on 14 October 2026 and says these calls are free, encrypted and have no time limit.

Key takeaways

No account needed to join: guests open your link in a computer browser and type a name.
An account is needed to host: only people with a WhatsApp account can create a call link.
Up to 32 people: guests can join one-to-one calls and group calls of up to 32 participants.
You stay in control: every guest waits in a waiting room until the host approves them, and the host can remove guests at any time.
Limited guest powers: guests can share their screen, react and raise a hand, but can’t see phone numbers, send messages or add people.
Coming later this year: Google Calendar and Outlook integrations, according to WhatsApp.

What is WhatsApp guest calling?

Until now, everyone on a WhatsApp call needed WhatsApp. On 14 October 2026, WhatsApp announced on its official blog that people can now invite anyone to a WhatsApp call, even if that person has no WhatsApp account. The host shares a link; the guest joins from a web browser on a computer.

WhatsApp describes the calls as free, end-to-end encrypted and without a time limit. Social Media Today frames the launch as WhatsApp moving further into group video calling, where Zoom and Microsoft Teams are strong. The Tech Portal adds Google Meet to that list. That competitive angle is the publications’ analysis, not something WhatsApp itself claims.

For marketers and business owners, the practical change is simple: if you already sell, support or coach people over WhatsApp, you can now bring a client, supplier or student who doesn’t use WhatsApp into the same call without asking them to install anything. If you already use features like WhatsApp usernames to keep your number private, guest calling follows the same privacy logic for the people you invite.

How do you create a WhatsApp guest call link?

WhatsApp’s instructions are short. Here is the process for the host, based on the WhatsApp blog and the step-by-step coverage published since:

Update WhatsApp. gHacks recommends updating to the latest version if you don’t see the option. The Tech Portal says the rollout is gradual.
Open the Calls tab in the WhatsApp app.
Tap the “+” icon and choose to create a call link.
Share the link with the people you want on the call, by email, text, LinkedIn or any other channel. One link can go to everyone.
Admit your guests. Each guest lands in a waiting room. Approve the people you expect, and remove anyone who shouldn’t be there.

Neither WhatsApp nor Make Tech Easier describes the call-link screen in detail, so the exact menu wording may differ slightly in your version of the app.

How does a guest join a WhatsApp call without an account?

For the person you invite, there are three steps:

Open the call link in a computer browser.
Type a name so the host can recognise them.
Wait in the waiting room until the host admits them.

WhatsApp only mentions computer browsers. Both gHacks and The Tech Portal point out that mobile-browser support isn’t stated, so for now tell guests to join from a laptop or desktop.

What can guests do on a WhatsApp call, and what can’t they do?

WhatsApp limits what guests can do. This table summarises what the announcement says:

Action	Guest without a WhatsApp account	What WhatsApp says
Join a one-to-one or group call	Yes, after approval	Group calls of up to 32 people
Join without the host’s approval	No	Every guest waits in a waiting room
Share their screen	Yes	Listed as a guest feature
React (thumbs up or heart) and raise a hand	Yes	Listed as guest features
See other participants’ phone numbers	No	Numbers stay hidden from guests
Send messages during the call	No	Guests can’t send messages
Add other people to the call	No	Only the host controls who joins
Create their own call link	No	Only WhatsApp account holders can create links

The host can also remove any guest at any time, which matters if a link gets forwarded beyond the people you meant to invite.

Is WhatsApp guest calling free and secure?

WhatsApp says guest calls are free, end-to-end encrypted and have no time limit. Guests can’t see participants’ phone numbers, send messages or add people, and nobody gets in without the host’s approval.

In the view of gHacks writer Arthur Kay, host approval is the main safeguard, so check names in the waiting room carefully, especially if a link may have been forwarded. We agree: treat a call link like a meeting room key. Share it only with the people you expect, and create a new link for each important meeting rather than reusing one old link everywhere.

How can businesses and marketers use WhatsApp guest calling?

WhatsApp’s announcement talks about everyday uses such as calls with colleagues and tutors. It doesn’t mention the WhatsApp Business app or the WhatsApp Business Platform, so don’t assume guest calling is part of your API setup or automation tools. With that caveat, here is how we expect small businesses and marketers in Lebanon and the Gulf to use it:

Discovery calls with new clients. A corporate client who only uses email can join from their office laptop with one link.
Reviewing a client’s screen. Because guests can share their screen, a client can show you their ad account, website or analytics while you talk them through fixes.
Small group sessions. Consultations, coaching or a short workshop for up to 32 people, with no software for attendees to install.
Supplier and freelancer calls. Bring in a designer, photographer or printer who doesn’t use WhatsApp, without swapping phone numbers.

In our view, guest calling won’t replace a proper webinar platform: 32 people is a small ceiling and guests can’t chat. It works best as a low-friction way to move a WhatsApp lead into a live conversation. If you’re building WhatsApp into your sales process, read our guides to WhatsApp Business API pricing and Meta Business Agent, and see how to get more leads from social media.

What’s still unclear about WhatsApp guest calling?

Rollout timing: The Tech Portal describes a gradual rollout and says WhatsApp hasn’t named which countries have it. An updated app doesn’t guarantee the option appears straight away.
Mobile browsers: WhatsApp only mentions computer browsers.
Business accounts: the announcement doesn’t mention the WhatsApp Business app or the Business Platform.
Calendar plugins: WhatsApp says Google Calendar and Outlook integrations are coming “later this year”, with no exact date.

If you want WhatsApp’s other recent changes in one place, our explainer on WhatsApp Plus covers the subscription features.

What to do now

Update WhatsApp and check the Calls tab for the option to create a call link.
Test a call with a colleague who joins from a laptop browser before you use it with a client.
Write a short invite message: “Open this link on your computer, type your name, and I’ll let you in.”
Admit only names you recognise, and remove anyone you don’t expect.
Create a fresh link for each important meeting instead of reusing one link.
Keep big events on a webinar tool: guest calls cap at 32 people.
Watch for the Google Calendar and Outlook plugins later this year.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone join a WhatsApp call without having WhatsApp?

Yes. With WhatsApp guest calling, a WhatsApp user creates a call link and shares it. The guest opens the link in a computer browser, types a name and joins once the host lets them in. No WhatsApp account is needed to join, but you do need one to create the link.

How many people can join a WhatsApp guest call?

WhatsApp says guests can join one-to-one calls and group calls with up to 32 people. In our view, that makes it better suited to client calls and small workshops than to large webinars.

Can guests join a WhatsApp call from their phone?

WhatsApp’s announcement says guests open the link in a computer browser. It doesn’t say whether mobile browsers are supported, and early coverage notes that this is still unclear, so plan for guests to join from a laptop or desktop.

Is WhatsApp guest calling free?

Yes. WhatsApp says guest calls are free, have no time limit and are end-to-end encrypted. There is no paid tier mentioned for the feature.

Can guests see my phone number on a WhatsApp guest call?

No. WhatsApp says guests can’t see other participants’ phone numbers. They also can’t send messages in the call or add anyone else to it.

What can guests do during a WhatsApp guest call?

According to WhatsApp, guests can share their screen, react with a thumbs up or a heart and raise their hand. The host must approve each guest from a waiting room and can remove a guest at any time.

When will WhatsApp calls work with Google Calendar and Outlook?

WhatsApp says calendar integrations for Google Calendar and Outlook are coming later this year. You will install a WhatsApp plugin, connect your account and add a call link to your invitations.

Is WhatsApp guest calling available in my country?

WhatsApp hasn’t published a list of countries. Coverage of the launch describes a gradual rollout, so update the app and check the Calls tab; if you don’t see the option yet, it may simply not have reached your account.

Sources

Feature details as of 18 October 2026. WhatsApp is rolling guest calling out gradually, so availability and menu wording may change.

Turn WhatsApp conversations into a real marketing system

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Written by the Gradezilla team · Reviewed by Bashar Amin

WhatsApp Guest Calling: How to Invite Anyone to a Call Without an Account