Joining a WhatsApp call currently requires users to be part of the platform, but that restriction could eventually change. WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new Guest Calls feature that may allow people to participate in calls even if they do not have a WhatsApp account or the app installed on their device.

The proposed feature could make WhatsApp calling more accessible for families, workplaces and groups where not everyone uses the messaging platform. Instead of asking someone to install WhatsApp and create an account, a host may simply be able to send them a call link.

The recipient could then open the link through a web browser and request to join the conversation.

However, Guest Calls is reportedly still under development. WhatsApp has not announced a public release date, and the feature is not currently described as being available to beta testers.

WhatsApp Guest Calls: What Is the New Feature?

According to information reported by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, Guest Calls could extend the company's existing link-based communication approach to people who are not registered WhatsApp users.

The idea is relatively straightforward: a WhatsApp user creates a special link for a call and shares it with other participants.

People who already use WhatsApp could join normally. More importantly, someone without a WhatsApp account may also be able to open the invitation link and participate as a guest.

This could remove one of the biggest barriers when organising calls with people who use different messaging platforms.

No WhatsApp App? The Call Could Open in a Browser

The most interesting part of the proposed feature is its potential web-based access.

According to the reported implementation, a person receiving a Guest Call link may be able to open it directly through a compatible web browser. The call could then run through WhatsApp's web experience without requiring the guest to download the mobile application.

The guest may not need to create a new WhatsApp account either.

If implemented this way, joining a WhatsApp call could become closer to the link-based experience already familiar to users of online meeting platforms.

How Could Users Create a Guest Call Link?

The feature is expected to work through WhatsApp's Calls section.

A host may first choose the type of call they want to start and then generate a shareable invitation link. That link could be sent to friends, relatives, colleagues or anyone else who needs to participate.

When a non-WhatsApp user receives the invitation, they may be able to open the link in their browser and request access to the call.

The exact interface and steps could change because the feature is still being developed.

Host Could Decide Who Gets Into the Call

Allowing people without WhatsApp accounts into calls naturally creates questions about unwanted participants. WhatsApp's proposed system reportedly addresses this by giving the host control over guest admission.

When someone attempts to join through a guest link, the host may receive a request and decide whether to accept or reject that person.

This would prevent possession of the link alone from necessarily guaranteeing immediate entry into a conversation.

Once the call has started, the host could also receive additional management controls.

These may include the ability to add or remove participants and, when required, end the entire call for everyone.

Such controls could be particularly important if Guest Calls are used for professional meetings or larger conversations where invitation links may be shared with multiple people.

Guest Calls Could Help Families and Work Teams

The feature could solve a common problem when organising group calls.

Imagine a family where most members use WhatsApp but one or two people do not. At present, bringing everyone onto the same WhatsApp call can be inconvenient. Guest access could allow those people to participate without registering for the platform.

The same benefit could apply to work-related conversations.

A team could potentially organise a WhatsApp call and invite an external colleague, customer or other participant through a link, even if that person does not normally use WhatsApp.

It could also be useful for temporary conversations where asking someone to install another application merely to join one call would be unnecessary.

What About Privacy and Encryption?

Privacy is an important consideration when access is extended to people without regular WhatsApp accounts.

According to the reported development details, WhatsApp is expected to retain end-to-end encryption for Guest Calls. If implemented as described, this would allow WhatsApp to extend guest participation while attempting to preserve the security model associated with its calling service.

However, because the feature remains under development, users should wait for WhatsApp's official documentation before making assumptions about exactly how encryption, guest identity and metadata will be handled in the final version.

Is WhatsApp Guest Calls Available Now?

No general rollout has been announced based on the information currently available in the report.

The Guest Calls feature is described as being in development, and even beta testers reportedly do not yet have access to a working prototype.

That distinction is important. Features discovered during development can undergo significant changes before release. Some may be delayed, redesigned or never reach the stable version of the application.

WhatsApp has also not announced when, or whether, Guest Calls will become available to all users.

Could WhatsApp Become More Competitive With Meeting Platforms?

If Guest Calls eventually launches with browser-based participation, it could make WhatsApp more convenient for conversations involving people outside its existing user base.

Services such as Zoom and Google Meet have made invitation links a familiar way of joining online meetings. WhatsApp's reported feature could bring a similar level of flexibility to its calling experience while keeping the conversation connected to an app that many people already use daily.

The biggest advantage would be simplicity: the host could remain on WhatsApp while an invited guest might participate without creating an account or installing another application.

For now, though, users should treat Guest Calls as an upcoming feature under development rather than an available WhatsApp capability. More details—including supported devices, participant limits, browser requirements, security controls and the rollout timeline—should become clearer if WhatsApp moves the feature into beta testing and eventually releases it publicly.