No WhatsApp? No Problem – Guest Chats May Be Coming Soon

Imagine being able to message someone on WhatsApp without even having the app. That’s exactly what WhatsApp is experimenting with, thanks to a new feature called Guest Chats.

Chat Without an Account

Spotted in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android by WABetaInfo, the feature allows users to invite non-WhatsApp users into a secure chat. The idea is simple: if your contact doesn’t use WhatsApp, you can still send them a link to join a private, one-on-one conversation—no app download or account needed.

How It Works

To get started, a WhatsApp user sends an invite link to someone who isn’t already on the platform. Clicking the link opens a web-based, encrypted chat—likely similar to WhatsApp Web—where both people can talk securely.

Limitations to Know

Guest chats are text-only for now. That means no sharing of images, videos, voice notes, or joining group conversations. It's all about keeping things simple and secure with plain text messaging between two individuals.

Why This Matters

This move seems to be part of Meta’s broader efforts to meet the EU’s upcoming rules on cross-platform messaging. WhatsApp has already been working on integrating with other services like iMessage, Signal, and Telegram, and guest chats could be another step in making messaging more open and interoperable.

When Can We Expect It?

There’s no official release date yet, but if testing goes smoothly, guest chats could arrive in a future update for both Android and iOS.