Clubhouse made massive waves in early 2021. And while its users definitely did enjoy the drop-in audio chatrooms, a big part of Clubhouse's hype came from how exclusive it was.
Not only did you need to own an iPhone to use Clubhouse (Android support came months later), but you needed an invite from someone who already had the app. For a while, managing to snag a Clubhouse invite was a big deal. Some users even started selling their invites on eBay for up to $100 each.
But it's been more than a year since Clubhouse's debut, and things have changed for the audio chatting app.
You don't need an invite to use Clubhouse anymore
In July 2021, Clubhouse left the beta-testing phase and opened up to the public. Anyone who downloaded the app from that point forward could immediately make an account — no invite required. This included Android users, who now had their own version of the app.
And this is still how Clubhouse works. Although users can send invites to their friends, these invites are just links encouraging people to download the app. Clubhouse accounts aren't exclusive to anyone anymore.
No matter when you joined Clubhouse, you have access to all the same features. The only way to tell the difference between invited beta-test users and new ones is by looking at their profile: If you see a small line of text that says Nominated by, it means they were invited before the app went public.
How to make a Clubhouse account
Signing up for Clubhouse only takes a few minutes. All you need is a phone number that can receive text messages.
1. Download the Clubhouse app on your iPhone from the App Store, or on your Android from the Play Store.
2. Open the app and tap Welcome in!, then enter your phone number.
3. You'll get a text message with a six-digit verification code. Take this code and enter it into the app.
4. Once you're verified, you'll get to pick a username and profile photo.
5. Go through the steps to choose your interests, users that you want to follow, and account information.
You've now got a Clubhouse account of your own, and you can start listening and speaking in chats right away.
