Yes, you can now call people who don't have WhatsApp. WhatsApp's new guest calling lets you send anyone a call link; they open it in a computer web browser, type their name, and join once you approve them. No account, no app, no cost.
WhatsApp announced the feature on October 14, 2026, and says guest calls are free, end-to-end encrypted and have no time limit, for one-on-one calls and groups of up to 32 people. It is rolling out gradually now.
How to start a WhatsApp guest call
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version on Android or iPhone.
- Open the Calls tab.
- Tap the plus (+) icon.
- Choose create a call link.
- Send the link to the people you want to invite: by text, email, Slack or anywhere else.
- When a guest opens the link, they enter a name and land in a waiting room.
- Admit them from the call. You can remove a guest at any time.
Only someone with a WhatsApp account can create the link. Guests can join; they can't start calls.
Do guests need a WhatsApp account?
No. That's the point of the feature. A guest needs only a web browser on a computer and the link. They don't install anything or sign up.
So far, WhatsApp has described guests joining from a computer browser. It has not said whether guests can join from a phone's browser.
Are guest calls encrypted?
Yes. WhatsApp says guest calls are end-to-end encrypted, the same as its regular calls.
There are also privacy limits on what guests can see and do:
- Guests can't see anyone's phone number.
- Guests can't send messages in the call.
- Guests can't add other people.
- Every guest needs the host's approval, and that can't be turned off.
Guests can share their screen, send reactions and raise a hand.
One safety tip
Anyone who has the link can knock. If a link gets forwarded, a stranger could reach your waiting room. Check the name before you admit someone, and don't post call links publicly.
How it compares
WhatsApp is pitching this against Zoom and Google Meet, and it's similar to the FaceTime links Apple added a few years ago, which let people on Android and Windows join from a browser.
| WhatsApp guest calls | FaceTime links | Google Meet (free) | Zoom (free) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guest needs an account? | No | No | No | No |
| Guests join from | Computer browser | Web browser | Browser or app | Browser or app |
| Max people | 32 | 32 | 100 | 100 |
| Time limit | None | None | 60 min for group calls | 40 min |
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes | Yes | Not by default | Optional |
| Who can host | Anyone with WhatsApp | Apple device owners | Google account holders | Zoom account holders |
Meet and Zoom limits are for their free personal plans; paid plans differ. Check each service's current terms.
WhatsApp's pitch: no time cap and encryption on by default, at no cost.
When will I get WhatsApp guest calling?
It is rolling out gradually on the latest versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS. If you don't see the call-link option, update the app; WhatsApp hasn't given a date for every account.
What's next: calendar invites
WhatsApp says Google Calendar and Outlook integrations are coming later this year. With a WhatsApp plugin installed, you'll be able to add a WhatsApp call link to a calendar invite, and invitees will be able to join with or without an account.
Published Sunday, October 18, 2026. Details are from WhatsApp's announcement and reporting by 9to5Mac, WABetaInfo, gHacks and GSMArena. Comparison figures for FaceTime, Google Meet and Zoom reflect those services' standard free offerings and may change.
