WhatsApp Group vs WhatsApp Broadcast: How these two of the ‘most-used’ WhatsApp features are different – Times of India

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging platforms across the globe. With over 2 billion active users worldwide, the Facebook-owned platform is the default chat app of most smartphone users. However, many users are still not clear about several of the features that the platform offers. One such feature is Broadcast. It allows users to send a message to multiple users at same time. Many users often confuse it with WhatsApp Group. While both Broadcast and Group features on WhatsApp allow users to share messages and media with multiple users at the same time, they have different purposes as well as function differently. Here’s how WhatsApp Broadcast and WhatsApp Group features are different.
What is a WhatsApp Group
As the name suggests, a WhatsApp Group is a group of users under a single umbrella. In a WhatsApp Group, a message that you share is received by all the members of the group in a single window. The messages sent by other users of the group are also seen in the same window. WhatsApp Group is similar to a group of friends sitting in a room where everything you say or hear can be heard by other people in the room as well.
What is a WhatsApp Broadcast
A WhatsApp Broadcast allows you to send a message or media to several contacts at once. The message sent by you will appear as an individual message in the chat. A WhatsApp Broadcast can be considered as a flyer that is shared to a list of people individually. A broadcast message is usually shared by WhatsApp Business users. It can also be used to share invites or wishes to multiple people.
What is the difference between WhatsApp Group and WhatsApp Broadcast
Although both of them are used for the similar purpose of sharing messages with multiple users (up to 256 users), there is a huge difference between both the features. Here are the key differences:
You can send messages to users not in your contact list through WhatsApp Group, but not via Broadcast list
WhatsApp Group allows users to send messages to other users who are not even in your contact list but you have to be in a similar group. On the other hand, you can only use a broadcast to message users who are in your contact list. In a WhatsApp Group, your message is also received by users even if they had blocked you but that is not the case with WhatsApp Broadcast.
Replies in WhatsApp groups can be read by all users in the group, not in Broadcast list
In a WhatsApp Group, if someone replied to your message or a user replied to another message, it will be seen by all the members of the group. However, when someone replies to your broadcast message, you will receive the message as an individual chat.
You can make video or voice calls to people in a WhatsApp Group, not in a Broadcast list
WhatsApp Group gives you the ability to start a group call with up to 8 members. As WhatsApp Broadcast sends messages individually, you can not use the group call feature.
All WhatsApp group members can see other members, while in Broadcast list you cannot
If you send a message through a broadcast list, the recipient of the message will not be able to know who else is the part of the broadcast. On the other hand, WhatsApp Group members can be aware of other members in the group who have received the message.