How can I call more than 8 people on WhatsApp?

With over 2 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to make voice and video calls with your contacts. However, WhatsApp limits group calls to a maximum of 8 participants.

If you need to have a call with more than 8 people at once on WhatsApp, there are a few workarounds and alternative options you can try.

Use WhatsApp Groups

One simple option is to conduct your call through a WhatsApp group. Here’s how it works:

1. Create a WhatsApp group and add all the participants you want to include in the call.
2. Name the group something relevant to your call topic or purpose.
3. Set a time for the call and inform all participants to be available at that time.
4. At the scheduled time, start a voice call through the WhatsApp group. This rings all members of the group at once.
5. As participants answer the call, they will automatically join the group call.
6. You can have up to 256 participants joining through the group call feature.

The advantage of using a WhatsApp group is that it allows more participants. However, there are some limitations to note:

• Only the person starting the call can add or remove others from the call.
• There is no video calling option – only voice calls.
• The call quality may decline with more participants.
• Participants need to have their phone on and Internet connected to receive the call.

Use WhatsApp Broadcast Lists

Another option is to use WhatsApp broadcast lists. Here are the steps:

1. Create a broadcast list on WhatsApp and add the contacts you want to include.
2. You can have up to 256 participants in a broadcast list.
3. Set a time for the call and inform all broadcast list members to be available.
4. At the scheduled time, start a WhatsApp call to the broadcast list.
5. This will ring all members of the list simultaneously.
6. As they answer, they join the group call.

The advantage of using a broadcast list is that you don’t need to create a group. However, similar limitations apply:

• Only voice calling is available.
• Call quality declines with more participants.
• Participants need to have their phones on and Internet connected.

Use a Conference Calling Service

For larger calls with better quality, you can use a dedicated conference calling service. Options like Zoom, Skype, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams allow you to host large conference calls.

Here’s how to conduct a group call using these services:

1. Sign up for a free or paid account with your chosen service.
2. Download the app or access the web platform.
3. Set up your call, invite participants, and send them the joining details.
4. At call time, start the call as host. Participants can join via app, web browser, or phone dial-in.
5. Most services allow 100+ participants on audio/video conference calls.

Conference calling services offer features like:

• No participant limit – calls with 100+ people.
• Video calls with screen sharing.
• Recording options.
• Mute/unmute controls.
• Better call quality at scale.

However, these services may have costs for extended calls or large numbers of participants. But they provide the most flexible and scalable conference calling options.

Use Messenger Rooms (Facebook)

Facebook’s Messenger Rooms is another option that allows calls with up to 50 participants. Here’s how to use it:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of Messenger installed.
2. Open your Messenger app and tap on Rooms.
3. Tap on Create a Room and select if you want video or audio only.
4. Share the room link through Messenger to invite participants.
5. As participants join, they appear in your call screen.
6. Rooms allow up to 50 participants on a single audio/video call.

Advantages of Messenger Rooms include:

• Free to use with no time limits.
• Works across iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
• Seamlessly uses your Facebook friends list.
• Provides video call options.

However, you and your participants need Facebook accounts to use Messenger Rooms.

Comparison of WhatsApp Call Alternatives

Method	Maximum Participants	Video Calling?	Call Recording
WhatsApp Group Call	256	No	No
WhatsApp Broadcast List	256	No	No
Conference Service (Zoom, etc)	100+	Yes	Yes
Messenger Rooms	50	Yes	No

Tips for Large Conference Calls

When conducting a conference call with a large number of participants, follow these tips for best results:

• Test your selected platform and internet connection in advance.
• Make sure participants install required apps beforehand.
• Provide clear schedule and joining details.
• Ask participants to mute when not speaking to minimize background noise.
• Speak slowly and clearly when addressing the full group.
• Announce yourself when speaking, as it can be hard to identify voices.
• Have a facilitator to guide the call and troubleshoot issues.
• Follow up with minutes, action items, and next steps after your call.

Conclusion

While WhatsApp limits groups calls to 8 participants, you have several options to make calls with larger groups, including:

• Leveraging WhatsApp Groups or Broadcast Lists
• Using dedicated conference calling services
• Trying Facebook Messenger Rooms

Each option has trade-offs in terms of features, call quality and scalability. Consider which factors are most important for your use case when selecting a WhatsApp call alternative.

With proper preparation and facilitation, you can absolutely have productive and collaborative calls with more than 8 participants. Give one of these methods a try for your next large group call!