{"id":100173,"date":"2026-10-07T13:06:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T13:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/glossary\/whatsapp-broadcast-list\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T13:06:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T13:06:35","slug":"whatsapp-broadcast-list","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/mailrelay.com\/en\/glossary\/whatsapp-broadcast-list\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp broadcast list"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A WhatsApp broadcast list<\/strong> is a feature that sends the same message to several contacts at once, each in their own individual chat.<\/p>\n\n

To the recipient, it looks as if you had written to them alone.<\/p>\n\n

It’s the simplest way to tell your customers about an offer or a change in opening hours without creating a group. No one sees who else received it, and replies arrive in private conversations.<\/p>\n\n

What is a WhatsApp broadcast list?<\/h2>\n\n

Think of it as the email blind carbon copy (BCC)<\/a> applied to WhatsApp. You write once and the app sends the message separately to each person on the list.<\/p>\n\n

It’s available in WhatsApp<\/a> and WhatsApp Business<\/a>. Small businesses use it a lot because it costs nothing and doesn’t require any extra tools.<\/p>\n\n

That said, it has its own rules. The most important one: only contacts who have your number saved in their address book receive the message.<\/p>\n\n

How does a broadcast list work?<\/h2>\n\n

The process is simple. You create the list, choose the contacts and write the message. Each recipient sees it in the chat they already have with you, with your name and photo.<\/p>\n\n

If someone replies, the reply comes only to you, in their private conversation. The rest of the list doesn’t see it. And if someone doesn’t have your number saved, your message won’t reach them, even if they’re on the list.<\/p>\n\n

This is how WhatsApp prevents anyone from sending mass messages to strangers.<\/p>\n\n

How do you create a WhatsApp broadcast list?<\/h2>\n\n

Creating one takes less than a minute. On Android, these are the steps:<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots in the top right corner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Choose “New broadcast”.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Select the contacts you want to include.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Tap the confirm button to create the list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Write your message and send it as you would in any chat.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    On iPhone, the option is in the Chats tab. To edit a list you’ve already created, open it and go to “Broadcast list info”: there you can change the name and add or remove contacts.<\/p>\n\n

    Before sending anything, remember to ask for permission. The GDPR<\/a> requires consent for commercial communications, just as with email.<\/p>\n\n

    You can collect it with a checkbox on your subscription form<\/a> and confirm it with a double opt-in<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

    \"How<\/figure>\n\n

    What is the difference between a broadcast list, a group and a channel?<\/h2>\n\n

    WhatsApp has three ways to talk to many people. Each one serves a different purpose.<\/p>\n\n

    <\/th>Broadcast list<\/th>Group<\/th>Channel<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Who sees the others<\/td>No one<\/td>All members<\/td>No one<\/td><\/tr>
    Replies<\/td>Private, in individual chats<\/td>Visible to the whole group<\/td>Only reactions and polls<\/td><\/tr>
    Limit<\/td>256 contacts per list<\/td>Up to 1,024 members<\/td>No follower limit<\/td><\/tr>
    Who receives it<\/td>Only those who have your number saved<\/td>All members<\/td>Whoever follows the channel<\/td><\/tr>
    Best for<\/td>Personal notices and offers<\/td>Communities that talk to each other<\/td>One-way updates<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

    For a business, the broadcast list is usually the most respectful option. No one is exposed to strangers, and each customer feels you’re talking to them.<\/p>\n\n

    What are the limits of a broadcast list?<\/h2>\n\n

    It works well for a small business, but it has several caps worth knowing about:<\/p>\n\n