5 critical questions you need answered before using WhatsApp free voice calls
WhatsApp is one of those Instant Messaging applications that worked across all mobile operating systems which made it really popular over the OG of messages, BlackBerry BBM (RIP). Over the years the application has grown in users and facilities keeping its users really happy and engaged. From WhatsApp Groups to animated gifs, free WhatsApp voice calls and many more WhatsApp features.
But are they WhatsApp calls really free?
1. Is it really Free calls?
No. When you use an application to make a phone call, you are using data. This is the same type of data that you use when browsing the Internet, watching YouTube, or downloading email. This data comes at a cost which you pay your cellular provider. If your service provider charges you for a “data bundle” or has a “data cap” then this absolutely something you need to be aware of.
2. How much does a WhatsApp call cost?
During my testing, I used between 200Kb and 500Kb per minute to make a WhatsApp call. This would usually still be cheaper then a regular cell phone call in countries where you don’t get unlimited free cell and text packages. It is worth noting that if you are using WhatsApp with NO data package and paying out-of-bundle rates, then the price of this so-called Free WhatsApp voice call can actually be higher than the price of making regular mobile calls.
HOWEVER, if you make the phone calls over a WiFi network, then you no longer incur the mobile data rate as the phone uses the WiFi for its internet connection. You do pay the internet service provider so again, not 100% free. Pro Tip: if you use the free WiFi Hotspot located around your city, then the call becomes 100% free.
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3. Who pays for the WhatsApp call?
Beware! It is important to note that when making a regular voice call, the caller is 100% responsible for the cost of that call. The receiver in most countries does not pay to receive the call. However, this is NOT so with WhatsApp voice calls as the receiver of the call also incurs data charges.
Therefore both the caller and the recipient of the call pay their own data costs.
It is critical to remember this when accepting a WhatsApp call as the moment the call is answered, your mobile phone is consuming data that you pay for.
Currently, the WhatsApp application does not alert you if the recipient is on a WiFi or mobile data which would be useful to know in deciding whether to place the call or not.
Of course, if both parties are on a WiFi network, then neither incur the mobile data cost, however then neither party is “mobile” and therefore there are a plethora of other VoIP applications that can be used.
4. How is WhatsApp voice calls different to other calling apps?
It is not. Techies have been using apps like Viber, Tango, BBM to make voice phone calls for years – even making local calls within the same city. The result is cheaper data rates versus exorbitant mobile phone rates.
The big difference is that the apps like Viber, Tango are largely unknown and the BBM community has shrunk therefore WhatsApp’s large universal community virtually makes it a standard and the default go-to voice app.
5. What about Privacy?
There is no Do Not Disturb or Disable phone calls facility in WhatsApp which could work against the initial intention of WhatsApp which was meant for discrete text messaging. Just like being able to disable the “two blue ticks” read notifications that inform the sender when the message has been read, there should be the option of disabling the Call facility too. One should be able to disable the Profile Pics from taking over the phone’s screen as there are inappropriate profile pics…
As there is no authorization to become contacts and of course, spammers have latched onto this voice call facility and randomly call numbers. This is currently happening with unsolicited text messages in WhatsApp but now could escalate to voice too.
Just so people know Whatsapp calls are not free. I live in the UK and was in in Dubai for 3 weeks in March/April 2016. Whilst I was there I received whatsapp calls from someone most nights after my daughter went to bed. When I got back home I had 2 bills from O2 each one being over £400. I contacted O2 to get a copy of my bill and it looked as if I had made the calls which I definitely did not. When in Dubai I had data roaming switched off and was connected to my daughters wifi provider. This meant I could send whatsapp messages whilst in her appartment but not when I was away from her appartment. Even though I was connected to her wifi when I received the whatsapp calls the data usage was charged to my UK wifi, that is O2. I contacted O2 when I found out and they were good enough to waive some of the charges but not all of the charges. I then went to the cummunications ombudsman who investigated the problem and even though they got O2 to waive some more of the bill, but not all of the bill, they said the problem of the calls not using my daughters wifi was a problem with whatsapp. I have tried to contact whatsapp, which is owned by facebook, but They are not answering my emails and I do not have a number that I can ring them on. So people need to be aware that even though a whatsapp call id ‘free’ to the person making the call it is not free to the person receiving the call. If you are within the EU your calls will be capped to approximately £40 pounds in total and you receive a warning from O2 if you are with them. But if you are outside the EU you do not have this protection so if you answer a call from someone and you suspect it is an international whatsapp call do not answer it because the costs are prohibitive. I had one call that was over £90. Obviously I am extremely pleased with how O2 managed the problem.
Do both ends of a call require WhatsApps installed ?
Yes. Both sides do need to have the latest version of the app
what is the cost of a video call and how does it differ when using data bundles
I have been texting a friend in Italy on whatsapp with no problems. but when we try to use the calling, if I call it rings and rings but he doesn’t hear the rings and all he gets is “call missed”. if he calls me, same thing. the numbers are in correct and the text works, so why doesn’t the phone calls work? thanks
Something does not make sense. If you definitely had data and data roaming switched off on your phone, WhatsApp would have to use your daughter’s WiFi connection or you would not be connected at all. An incoming call cannot override this and connect to data roaming.
Plus you say you were “charged to your UK wifi”. This is impossible. You certainly weren’t connected to your home wifi while in Dubai.
The only possible unfortunate scenario was that your roaming was not switched off and you were charged the exorbitant data roaming fees. And you would also only default to data if you got disconnected from your daughter’s WiFi.
Actually, it IS possible that O2 could charge you. If your mobile device or computer has an option or a feature or an app which can “log in” to a random wifi station of an affiliated provider, then that could provide the result you got. “Skype Wifi” does this a lot around airports.
See O2 Wifi: http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE?New,Kb=Companion,question=ref(User):str(Mobile),CASE=50046
Does messaging cost anything? I will be in USA and want to keep in contact with someone in Australia. Calls not necessary but messages both ways. Are there fees for either if us?
all you need is internet access. Find free WiFi hotspots and then your WhatsApp text and calls will be free.
If I live in south Africa and whatsupp (only texting), someone that is living in Belgium. Will this be the same cost (data used) as when I whatsupp someone that is living in south Africa?
How do cellular networks and say whatsapp share the money I use to buy data?, thank you
my phone has suddenly started to tell me that my wifi will not accept whatsapp calls when I have been phoning friends for some time around the world with no problems.
Can a person, who calls you through a video call on WhatsApp, see you before you accept the call?
You are so crazy
If calling my parents in Spain, from Whatapp USA, to a landline in Spain, what will be the cost.
Well 1 it seems to ME that this is just another American “rip-off”, offering something for nothing and then charging for it. I have friends in Cuba who say they use it (I live in teh USA), and want me to as well, because I pay $00.70c/minute to ring Cuba!! Sounds pretty iffy to ME. Nothing is ever free – someone, somewhere is paying! Chances are it will be YOU! Caveat emptor! I would love to read some POSITIVE advice/feed-back!
Can i call someone who uninstall the app?
If I am connected to my WiFi network, will I have to pay at all? And what ways can I call internationally without having to pay at all?
If you connect to your WiFi then it doesn’t use your cell phone data.