WhatsApp lets account holders invite non-users into voice and video calls
WhatsApp users can now send a call link to anyone, including people without an account, who join once the host approves them. The free feature has no time limit, and guests can join from a computer browser without installing the app.
Guest calling goes live
WhatsApp has introduced guest calling, a feature that lets account holders invite people without a WhatsApp account into individual and group voice or video calls. Meta announced the rollout on 14 October 2026. The company says guest calls are free, protected by end-to-end encryption and have no time limit. Group calls support up to 32 participants. Only users with a WhatsApp account can create a call link, so the host must still have an account.
How guests join
To invite someone, a user opens the Calls tab, taps the '+' icon, creates a call link and sends it on. The recipient opens that link in a web browser on a computer, enters a name and waits in a waiting room. The host must approve each guest before admission, and can remove guests from a call at any time. Once inside, guests cannot see other participants' phone numbers, send messages or add anyone else to the call. They can share their screen, raise a hand and react with emojis such as thumbs up and heart.
Limits and earlier testing
Guests cannot start a call themselves; they can only receive and accept invitations. The launch follows a test WhatsApp expanded earlier in 2026 for text chats, which let users exchange end-to-end encrypted messages with people lacking an account. That text version did not support voice or video calls. Browser calling, added to WhatsApp's web version earlier this year, is what allows guests to skip installing the app. The timeline below lists the milestones.
- WhatsApp expands testing of guest messaging for users without an account, without voice or video
- Guest calling announced and rolled out to users
- Google Calendar and Outlook integrations expected to launch
Calendar integrations and other 2026 changes
WhatsApp plans integrations with Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook later in 2026. Users will need to install a WhatsApp plugin and connect their account before creating call links from their calendars. Those links can then be added to event invitations. Earlier in 2026, Meta also added call transfers between devices, improved high-definition video and background noise suppression. Group chats gained mentions of all members and anonymous polls. Google Meet and Zoom, by contrast, do not require participants to have an account, which WhatsApp did not offer until now. The approach is comparable to joining a FaceTime call without an Apple account or device.