Tech Reference

How to make a call on WhatsApp to a single person or a group of friends

A hand holds a mobile phone displaying the green-and-white WhatsApp logo
WhatsApp can replace your phone's normal calling app. NurPhoto/Getty Images
Updated
Read in app

With millions of daily users around the world, WhatsApp is one of the most popular communication apps around. And while it's mostly known for its group chats, its voice calling feature is just as important.

WhatsApp lets you make free voice calls to your contacts. This is an especially useful feature if your contacts live overseas, as it saves you from the expensive international calling fees that would normally make these calls unaffordable.

Here's how to make a call on WhatsApp — either to a single person, or to a group.

How to make a call on WhatsApp to a single person

To make a WhatsApp call, you'll need to be connected to the internet. Luckily, you can use either Wi-Fi or a mobile 4G/LTE connection.

1. Open WhatsApp and in the Chats section, tap the conversation with the person that you want to call. If you don't already have a conversation open with them, you'll have to start one.

2. In the upper-right corner of the conversation screen tap the call icon, which looks like a phone. WhatsApp will dial their number, and if they answer, you'll be connected on a call.

How to make a call on WhatsApp
Tap the call button.  Isabella Paoletto/Business Insider

How to make a group call on WhatsApp

You can have up to eight people (including yourself) in one voice call.

1. Open WhatsApp and call someone using the same steps outlined above.

2. Once you're in the call, tap the Add Participant icon, which looks like a small figure with a "+" sign in the upper-right corner of the screen. 

How to make a call on WhatsApp
Add someone to the call by tapping the icon in the upper-right corner.  Jennifer Still/Business Insider

3. Once your Contacts list appears, choose the person that you want to add to the call and then tap Add

How to make a call on WhatsApp
You can add up to seven other people.  Jennifer Still/Business Insider

Read next

Jennifer is a writer and editor from Brooklyn, New York, who spends her time traveling, drinking iced coffee, and watching way too much TV. She has bylines in Vanity Fair, Glamour, Decider, Mic, and many more. You can find her on Twitter at @jenniferlstill.
ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.