WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. One of the main draws of WhatsApp is that it allows users to send messages, make voice and video calls for free. But is this really the case? Here we’ll take a closer look at whether WhatsApp calls and texts are really free.
Are WhatsApp texts free?
The short answer is yes – sending messages via WhatsApp is free. WhatsApp uses your phone’s Internet connection to send messages, whether that’s over WiFi or your cellular data. As long as you have an Internet connection, you can send unlimited texts over WhatsApp without being charged for SMS or data usage. There are no per-message fees or subscription costs.
This works because WhatsApp uses an Internet connection and sends data back and forth between users. So instead of relying on your cell provider’s SMS network, it relies on the Internet. As long as you have a data plan or are connected to WiFi, sending and receiving WhatsApp messages will not incur any extra fees.
There are a few caveats though:
- If you don’t have a data plan, any WhatsApp messages sent over cellular data could incur overage charges from your cell provider.
- Sending messages over WiFi is always free.
- Sending messages while roaming internationally could incur roaming data charges.
- You may be charged for downloading the app itself in some countries.
In general though, if you have an active Internet connection, the messages themselves are free. WhatsApp does this to encourage messaging and does not monetize messages.
Are WhatsApp calls free?
Voice and video calls made over WhatsApp are also free. Like messaging, WhatsApp uses your WiFi or cellular data connection to make the calls. There are no per-minute charges or fees associated with making WhatsApp calls.
However, similar caveats apply:
- Cellular data used during a WhatsApp call could incur overage charges if you exceed your plan’s data limits.
- WhatsApp calls made over WiFi are 100% free.
- International WhatsApp calls while roaming may incur roaming charges.
In general, WhatsApp calls are free as long as you have an Internet connection. Note that while the calls themselves are free, they can use up your monthly data allowance. A 1 hour video call could use up to 500MB of data for example. So keep this in mind when making long calls without WiFi.
Why are WhatsApp calls and texts free?
WhatsApp is able to allow free calling and messaging by relying on your existing Internet connection and data plan. This allows them to provide a messaging and calling service without charging per-use fees like a traditional carrier. But how does WhatsApp benefit?
WhatsApp makes money in a few key ways:
- Targeted ads – Users see targeted ads when using WhatsApp’s Status feature. Businesses also pay for the ability to send targeted ads directly to WhatsApp users who have opted in.
- Business tools – WhatsApp charges businesses to use some of its advanced messaging tools to manage customer communication.
- Customer support – Users can message business accounts directly for customer support, which is paid service for businesses.
So while calls and texts are free for users, WhatsApp monetizes its large user base in other ways. The free calling and messaging helps attract and retain users, which then creates opportunities to generate revenue.
Limitations on free WhatsApp calls
While WhatsApp calls are free, there are some limitations:
- Video calls are limited to 4 participants maximum.
- Group voice calls are limited to 8 participants maximum.
- Calls are encrypted end-to-end, which comes with tradeoffs in call quality and reliability.
- Calls over WiFi can experience quality issues versus cellular data.
- No conference call features for large groups or calls.
Due to these limitations, free WhatsApp calls may not be suitable for business conference calls or situations where call quality is critical. The encryption and data usage also mean quality won’t perfectly match a normal cell network call.
For large conference calls, many businesses opt for dedicated conferencing software or services that provide better quality and more robust features. But for personal calls, WhatsApp provides free voice and video chat sufficient for most situations.
Is WhatsApp truly free?
While WhatsApp does not charge any per-use fees like a traditional phone carrier, some critics argue it’s not truly free. Here are some of the counterarguments:
- Users pay for data plans and smartphones to use WhatsApp, so it is not free.
- User data, metadata and behavior on WhatsApp is monetized for target ads and business tools.
- Spam messages are common on WhatsApp and can be annoying.
- Businesses sometimes message users without consent.
- WhatsApp conducts more invasive data collection and tracking versus other messengers like Signal.
Essentially, while WhatsApp does provide free calls and texts in a direct sense, users do “pay” in other ways like with their data privacy and by viewing ads. There are always tradeoffs involved, even if no monetary amount is changing hands for calls and messages specifically.
WhatsApp call and message statistics
To get a sense of the scale of free WhatsApp calls and messages, here are some usage statistics:
| Daily messages sent | 100 billion |
| Daily video calls | 5 billion |
| Daily voice calls | 8 billion |
| Photos shared daily | 4.5 billion |
As these numbers show, the volume of free calls and messages handled by WhatsApp is enormous. It has eliminated SMS fees and calling rates for most of its 2 billion+ users worldwide.
WhatsApp usage by country
WhatsApp usage and popularity varies significantly by country. Here is a breakdown of the top countries by users:
| Country | Users |
| India | 530 million |
| Brazil | 130 million |
| Indonesia | 115 million |
| Mexico | 105 million |
| U.S. | 100 million |
This shows WhatsApp’s particular dominance in highly populated countries like India, Brazil and Indonesia. In these countries, WhatsApp is used by the majority of smartphone users as their primary communications app.
Conclusion
In summary, WhatsApp calls and text messages are free in the sense that users do not have to pay any additional per-message or per-minute fees. However, users do pay indirect costs like data charges, reduced privacy and viewing ads. While not completely free, WhatsApp has still eliminated most fees associated with messaging and calls for its 2+ billion users worldwide.
This communications revolution has been made possible by the ubiquity of smartphones and mobile Internet access. And while there are some limitations, WhatsApp has undoubtedly transformed personal and business communication in many countries. The days of paying carrier charges for each SMS and phone call now seem antiquated compared to free apps like WhatsApp.